Nancy Hall Appointed CEO of WPP Media U.S.

Nancy Hall has been appointed as the new CEO of WPP Media U.S., succeeding Sharb Farjami, who left the position in October 2025. Hall's appointment follows a nine-month tenure as the company’s chief client officer and a previous role as North America CEO at Mindshare, a WPP-owned media agency. With nearly 25 years of experience in the advertising sector, Hall has held senior positions at notable firms including Epsilon Conversant and Interpublic Group’s Matterkind.

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In her new role, Hall aims to accelerate WPP Media's momentum through innovation, focusing on enhancing the company's data and technology capabilities. She emphasized the importance of cultivating a supportive culture for her teams, stating, “When our people thrive, our clients do, too.” Brian Lesser, global CEO of WPP Media, expressed confidence in Hall's leadership, highlighting her proven track record in delivering strong client results through data and technology.

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WPP is currently navigating a significant transition, moving away from the traditional holding company model to consolidate its operations into four main divisions: WPP Media, WPP Creative, WPP Production, and WPP Enterprise Solutions. This shift is part of a broader $676 million cost-cutting initiative following disappointing financial results, which included major client losses to competitors such as Publicis. The company has faced challenges, including the departure of former CEO Mark Read and ongoing concerns regarding macroeconomic conditions and the impact of artificial intelligence on the industry.

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Hall's promotion has garnered support from various clients. Ryu Yokoi, chief media and marketing capability officer for North America at Unilever, praised Hall as a dedicated partner who encourages innovation while maintaining a focus on client outcomes. Similarly, Brad Audet, chief marketing officer at Mazda Americas, commended her insights and dedication, particularly in areas like AI transformation and media innovation.

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Brian Lesser stated, “Nancy’s unparalleled background and visionary leadership make her the definitive choice to lead WPP Media U.S.” He further noted that Hall's expertise aligns perfectly with WPP's strategic priorities. Hall herself expressed enthusiasm for her new role, stating, “I am thrilled to take on the role of U.S. CEO and expand that work across the organization.”

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While Hall's appointment is effective immediately, the specifics of WPP's potential divestiture of certain business units remain unclear, as CEO Cindy Rose did not disclose which divisions might be affected. Additionally, the company is facing a challenging landscape with projected declines in financial performance.

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• “Nancy’s unparalleled background and visionary leadership make her the definitive choice to lead WPP Media U.S. Her exceptional track record as a transformative leader in data, technology, programmatic, and analytics has consistently delivered impactful client results, aligning perfectly with our strategic priorities across WPP,” — Brian Lesser, Global CEO of WPP Media

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• “When our people thrive, our clients do, too.” — Nancy Hall, CEO of WPP Media U.S.

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• “Nancy is a thoughtful and dedicated partner, passionate about driving the best work for her clients,” — Ryu Yokoi, Chief Media and Marketing Capability Officer, Unilever

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• “brings tremendous insight and dedication to the work that we do together, be it in AI transformation, new audience strategy, or media innovation—and always in the service of putting consumers first. This is an outstanding choice for WPP Media’s clients.” — Brad Audet, Chief Marketing Officer, Mazda Americas

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