WPP has appointed Brian Lesser as GroupM’s global CEO, succeeding Christian Juhl, who will become President of Corporate Development at WPP. Lesser, formerly CEO of InfoSum, has a decade-long history with WPP, including leading GroupM North America from 2015 to 2017. He will begin his new role in September 2024, with Juhl aiding the transition.
Lesser’s career highlights include creating the Media Innovation Group and founding Xaxis, a programmatic media buying platform. He previously led AT&T Advertising & Analytics, now Xandr, before joining InfoSum in 2020. Known for his technological innovation, Lesser aims to enhance consumer experiences and business solutions.
Juhl, who became GroupM CEO in 2019, will focus on strategic development in his new role. He significantly grew GroupM, securing major wins like the partnership with Coca-Cola.
WPP CEO Mark Read praised both leaders, thanking Juhl for his contributions and expressing confidence in Lesser’s vision and experience. Lesser expressed excitement about rejoining GroupM, emphasizing innovation and collaboration. Juhl reflected on his successful tenure and welcomed Lesser back to the team.