Keith Weed joins WPP board

Weed (pictured) retired from Unilever in May 2019 having held the position of chief marketing and communications officer for the past nine years. During that time he led the company’s sustainability programme.

Weed is president of the UK Advertising Association, a board member of Business in the Community, a member of McLaren F1’s advisory board, president of the History of Advertising Trust, and a board member of Grange Park Opera. He is also an honorary fellow of the Market Research Society.

He was named the World’s Most Influential Chief Marketing Officer by Forbes in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and Global Marketer of the Year by the World Federation of Advertisers in 2017.

Roberto Quarta, chairman of WPP, said: “Keith is one of the world’s most influential and successful marketers. He has a deep understanding of our business, the ways in which technology is transforming marketing, the sectors in which we operate, and our FMCG clients. We are very pleased to welcome him to the WPP Board.”

Weed added: “I have worked with WPP for many years, leading brand-led businesses around the world. I look forward to contributing to WPP’s future, leveraging my understanding of building brands in a rapidly changing world – from digital and data to content creation and sustainability.”

The appointment is effective from 1 November 2019.