WPP CEO Jens Monsees has decided to step down as CEO as the company transitions from a public company to a fully integrated business within WPP.
The decision follows the completion of a Scheme of Arrangement that made WPP the sole shareholder of WPP AUNZ on Tuesday, and it was subsequently delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
Monsees has been CEO since October 2019 and has led the company through a ‘transformation’ to build its capabilities in experience, commerce, data and technology.
“Jens has made a major contribution to WPP AUNZ during his time with the company,” says WPP CEO Mark Read.
“Despite the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, he has delivered significant progress in transforming WPP’s business in Australia and New Zealand, which is very well positioned for the future.
“We have fantastic agency brands in Australia and New Zealand – which are among our most important global markets – and we are very excited about their potential to grow and to meet the needs of our clients in a fast-changing world.
“I would like to thank Jens for his dedication and all he has done for WPP AUNZ, and the wider WPP family. He leaves with our very best wishes for the future.”
A new WPP leader will be appointed and in the interim the business will be led by the agency brand leaders, supported by WPP AUNZ chief financial officer Chris Rollinson and other members of the central team, through an executive committee chaired by WPP chief operating officer Andrew Scott.
“I am very proud of what we have achieved together as one team, leaving WPP AUNZ as a more future-proof, growing and performing business,” Monsees says.
“I am leaving many great colleagues behind. The strategic progress we accomplished and the strong financial turnaround we achieved are testament to the great collaboration of our people across the business and their ongoing commitment to serving our clients.
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank the WPP AUNZ board, the local and global executives, the entire WPP community, and my family for their support during such an important journey. I am looking forward to the next exciting chapter ahead.”
Monsees departure has been rumoured for some time since WPP announced it would take back full control of the Australian and New Zealand operations.
During his time with WPP, there were a number of high profile departures including Ogilvy CEO David Fox, GroupM CEO Mark Lollback and WPP AUNZ chief customer officer Sunita Gloster.
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