British promoting large WPP is attempting to find a brand new CEO after the corporate introduced early Monday morning that its present chief, firm veteran Mark Learn, would cede the reins by the tip of 2025.

“After seven years within the position, and with the foundations in place for WPP’s continued success, I really feel it’s the proper time handy over the management of this superb firm,” Learn mentioned. “I’m excited to discover the following chapter in my life and might solely thank all of the good folks I’ve been fortunate sufficient to work with over the past 30 years, and who’ve made potential the large progress we now have achieved collectively.”

But WPP, which operates dozens of businesses starting from Hill & Knowlton to Landor & Fitch, has grown weaker below Learn’s watch. Shares are down by a 3rd over the course of 2025 up to now, and have fallen by half over the course of Learn’s seven-year tenure. Learn has spent 30 years on the firm, a lot of them as a lieutenant to the corporate’s founder, Martin Sorrell. Sorrell exited the corporate in 2018 amid a probe of allegations of misconduct, and Learn, who spent a lot of this time constructing new digital operations, turned the corporate’s new chief.

Throughout his time within the high position, Learn has tried to steer WPP by means of a tough local weather. Massive advertisers like Procter & Gamble, Unilever and Ford Motor have begun specializing in the cash they spend with firms like WPP, attempting to winnow down not solely the variety of corporations they work with however the charges they pay them.  They’re additionally in a position to buy media time and acquire client info extra simply on their very own. WPP and Interpublic Group, one other of the sector’s huge holding firms, have tried to give attention to new expertise that mines and analyzes client knowledge, however have additionally needed to merge a few of their largest and most recognizable property.

All of this has led advertisers to maneuver away from Madison Avenue’s essential inventory in commerce, the 30-second TV business, and focus as an alternative on methods that will not generate as a lot income and work.

Beneath Learn, WPP merged company giants like J. Walter Thompson and Younger & Rubicam with knowledge and tech specialist corporations in an enormous to make them extra related to trendy advertisers. In doing so, nevertheless, the corporate undermined the company manufacturers and recognizability.

WPP just lately overhauled its media-buying company GroupM, shedding many workers and downplaying particular person operations comparable to Mindshare and Wavemaker whereas highlighting new talents to make use of synthetic intelligence to plot media plans and placement. However the transfer wasn’t accomplished out of power. GroupM had misplaced many pivotal accounts in recent times.

Rivals have additionally examined new methods to compete. Interpublic Group is about to merge with its bigger U.S. modern, Omnicom Group, someday this 12 months. Publicis Groupe of France has grown bigger by assimilating companies that work to harness influencers.

Learn’s settlement to remain by means of the tip of the 12 months means the corporate will give attention to “supporting a easy transition to his successor,” mentioned Philip Jansen, chairman of WPP’s board of administrators, in an announcement. However maintaining WPP shifting amid a quickly altering sector will probably be something however easy.