WPP’s Laurent Ezekiel to Rejoin Publicis in Strategic Talent Shift
Publicis strengthens its senior ranks while WPP faces another leadership gap amid client losses and executive turnover.
Laurent Ezekiel, WPP’s Chief Marketing and Growth Officer, is leaving the holding group to return to Publicis Groupe, the agency network where he built much of his career. His move underscores the growing pressure on WPP, which is navigating a period of client attrition, profit warnings and an imminent change at the top.
Laurent Ezekiel
Ezekiel joined WPP in 2019 after more than 16 years at Publicis, taking on the newly created role of Chief Marketing Officer and later becoming chief executive of Open X, the bespoke unit formed to service Coca‑Cola’s global marketing business. During his tenure, he oversaw the development of an integrated agency model designed to offer clients a “modern marketing ecosystem” combining creative, media, data and technology under a single operational structure.
The timing of his departure is significant. WPP recently lost Coca‑Cola’s North American media account to Publicis, alongside other major exits such as Mars and Paramount. At the same time, the group is preparing for CEO Mark Read to step down in September, to be replaced by Cindy Rose. Ezekiel’s exit adds to a sense of instability at a moment when client confidence is already under strain.
For Publicis, his return is a strategic gain. The company has steadily outperformed its holding company peers over the past two years, winning marquee accounts while aggressively recruiting senior talent. Ezekiel’s experience leading Open X gives him deep knowledge of Coca‑Cola’s global marketing needs knowledge that could now strengthen Publicis’ positioning with one of the world’s most high-profile advertisers.
WPP has yet to announce a successor for Ezekiel. In a statement, Coca‑Cola reiterated its commitment to the Studio X model created under his leadership, but it remains to be seen whether the bespoke structure can maintain momentum without its architect.
This latest move highlights the intense competition among the major holding companies for both talent and client portfolios. With account realignments accelerating and the traditional agency model under pressure, the ability to attract—and retain—top leadership is becoming as critical as winning new business.
