Country Leaders

WPP operates in major markets around the world. Our country leaders are responsible for connecting and strengthening the talent and resources of WPP's agencies in their local markets to deliver transformational growth for clients.

 

Karen Blackett OBE

United Kingdom

Karen has been WPP's country leader in the United Kingdom since 2018, a role she held alongside GroupM UK CEO from 2020 until 2022. She was previously Chairperson and CEO of MediaCom UK.  

Gio Canini

Belgium

Gio has led WPP's business in Belgium since June 2020. Following a career as an academic researcher, he started at WPP in 2007 when These Days, the digital agency he co-founded, joined Wunderman/Y&R.  

JP Donnelly

Ireland

JP was appointed to his WPP role in Ireland in April 2009. Having first joined Ogilvy in 1999, he has since held a number of senior roles across the WPP network, and currently also serves as chairman of a number of domestic and international companies.    

Arthur Fleischmann

Canada

Arthur has managed WPP's operations in Canada since January 2021, in addition to his role as CEO of Ogilvy Canada. Prior to WPP, he co-founded john st. advertising in 2001, which joined the WPP network in 2013.

Rose Herceg

Australia and New Zealand

Rose has been country leader of WPP in Australia and New Zealand since January 2022. She founded Pophouse, one of Australia’s leading agencies, which joined the STW Group in 2007. She became Chief Strategy Officer of WPP AUNZ following its merger with STW in 2016.

Michael Houston

United States

Michael has led WPP's business in the US since June 2022. He joined Grey in 2007 and was named Global CEO of the agency in 2017. Michael has held senior leadership positions at KB+P, Landor and Y&R, and founded a brand consultancy in the 1990s. He is also a member of the WPP Executive Committee.

Eric Kramer

The Netherlands

Eric has led WPP's operations in the Netherlands since November 2017. Prior to that, he occupied the role of CEO at GroupM in the Netherlands. Before joining WPP in early 2007, Eric worked in marketing and sales for leading Dutch and international brands.  

David Lhota

Czech Republic

David has been WPP's country leader in Czech Republic since 2016, having previously led WPP in Central and Eastern Europe. Prior to this, he was CEO of GroupM in CEE, Nordics and Africa.

Simona Maggini

Italy

Simona has managed WPP's business in Italy since May 2020, in addition to her role as CEO of VMLY&R in Italy. She first joined Y&R in 2003, holding a number of senior positions before being promoted to CEO in 2015.

Manuel Maltez

Portugal

Manuel was appointed to his WPP role in Portugal in January 2005. Prior to joining WPP, he held senior roles at some of Portugal's and Europe’s leading advertising and marketing companies, having entered the industry in 1987 working at J. Walter Thompson.  

Kyoko Matsushita

Japan

Kyoko has led WPP's business in Japan since April 2022. She first joined Essence in 2014 as CEO of the APAC region and became Global CEO in 2019. Kyoko has extensive gaming and technology experience, having previously worked at leading international companies including Sony, Electronic Arts (EA) and Gree UK.  

Juan Pedro Moreno

Spain

Juan Pedro has managed WPP's operations in Spain since September 2022. Prior to joining WPP, Juan Pedro spent more than 30 years at Accenture in regional and international leadership roles, most recently as the Chairman and Country Managing Director for Accenture Spain, Portugal and Israel.

 

Chris Reitermann

China

Chris was appointed as President of WPP in China in 2024, a role he holds alongside Ogilvy Chief Executive Officer for APAC and Greater China. Chris first joined Ogilvy in 1996, and has since held a number of senior roles in the business. He has spent the past 24 years of his 28-year stint at Ogilvy helping clients to thrive and grow in China.

FM Schmidt

Germany

Frank-Michael ‘FM’ has managed WPP’s in Germany since January 2023. FM joined the WPP network in 1998 at J. Walter Thompson. He moved to Scholz & Friends in 2003 as CEO in Germany and was later appointed CEO of Scholz & Friends Family, operating across the DACH region in 2008, a position he continues to hold today.

Ranjana Singh

Indonesia and Vietnam

Ranjana has led WPP's business in Indonesia and Vietnam since 2012. She started her career in media at JWT India (formerly Hindustan Thompson Associates) and subsequently worked for WPP’s Mindshare and GroupM, most recently taking on the role as GroupM Indonesia CEO. She also served as a Director of WPP AUNZ from April 2016 until 2022. 

Tebogo Skwambane

South Africa

Tebogo was appointed to her WPP role in South Africa in May 2021, joining WPP from McKinsey where she was Global Partner leading teams serving major clients across EMEA. In 2005, she founded a boutique strategy consulting firm, North Road Consulting, having previously worked at Bain&Company, The Monitor Group, the International Finance Corporation and Brown Brothers Harriman and Company. 

CVL Srinivas

India

CVL Srinivas has been WPP's country leader in India since October 2017. He also held the role of CEO of GroupM South Asia until 2018. Srinivas joined WPP in 1994 as part of the start-up team at JWT India (formerly Hindustan Thompson Associates) and held senior roles across the industry before re-joining the WPP network in 2013.

Arzu Unal

Turkey

Arzu was appointed country leader of WPP in Turkey in 2023. She combines this role with her position as Chairwoman of VMLY&R Turkey and has been an integral part of the business in this market, joining Y&R 30 years ago and rising to become CEO of VMLY&R Turkey in 2004.

 

Stefano Zunino

Brazil

Stefano has managed WPP's business in Brazil since August 2019. He joined WPP in 2005 as J. Walter Thompson Brazil CEO and has held various senior roles at the company in the Americas. In December 2023, he was appointed CEO of the VML Group in Brazil alongside his WPP role.