After Mars and Coca-Cola, WPP loses its CMO to Publicis

Laurent Ezekiel, WPP’s chief marketing officer and chief executive of OpenX, the bespoke unit for Coca-Cola, is leaving the British advertising agency group. According to Adweek, which viewed a memo confirming his departure, he is set to join French rival Publicis Groupe.

He joined WPP as CMO in 2019, and after it won the Coca-Cola account in 2021, he was appointed CEO of OpenX.

With his return, Ezekiel follows Coca-Cola’s 700 million US dollar North American media business, 1.7 billion US dollar Mars media account, and Paramount to the French advertising group in 2025.

Before joining WPP, Ezekiel had spent 16 years at Publicis Groupe. His departure marks another blow in what has been a tumultuous year for WPP. Earlier this month, the company cut its profit forecast for the year amid reduced client spending and fewer new business wins.

WPP, however, has taken a significant step towards recovery. In July, it announced Microsoft leader Cindy Rose as its new CEO, succeeding long-time chief Mark Read, who had announced his intention to retire earlier this year.