WPP has appointed Tyler Turnbull as Chief Executive Officer of WPP Creative. He will join in early 2027, succeeding Jon Cook.
Turnbull joins from McCann, where he is Global Chief Executive Officer.
The appointment puts an experienced agency leader in charge of WPP's integrated creative business as the group reshapes how its agencies work together for clients. He will oversee a structure that brings WPP's creative agencies under a single leadership role.
Before taking McCann's top global role, Turnbull spent 12 years at FCB, holding leadership positions in Canada, North America and globally.
His arrival also marks a leadership change at WPP Creative, with Cook due to hand over the role when Turnbull joins. WPP did not disclose further details about the transition.
WPP Chief Executive Officer Cindy Rose said the hire reflected the company's priorities for its creative operations and client work.
"Tyler is a world-class leader with the ambition, global perspective and creative conviction to lead the next chapter of WPP Creative. His appointment reflects our determination to bring together the very best of WPP for our clients, put creativity at the centre of growth and set a new standard for the industry. I am delighted that he is joining WPP," Rose said.
WPP Creative is part of a broader group strategy that combines agency brands with shared resources across media, data, production, commerce and technology. Turnbull will be responsible for linking its agency network more closely across those areas.
Agency background
Turnbull's career has included senior roles at some of the largest names in global advertising. His time at FCB and later at McCann gave him experience across local, regional and international agency management, at a time when major holding groups have been under pressure to simplify operations and offer more joined-up services to multinational clients.
Large advertising groups including WPP have been adjusting leadership structures as clients seek fewer internal silos and more integrated delivery across brand, media, commerce and data-led marketing. In that context, the WPP Creative role carries significance beyond a traditional creative agency post because it involves coordinating a collection of established agency brands within one corporate group.
Rose's comments suggest WPP wants its creative operations to play a central role in how it presents itself to clients. The group has been seeking to combine the distinct identities of its agency brands with a more unified operating model.
Turnbull also outlined his view of the role in remarks released by WPP.
"Together with our exceptional teams, my ambition for WPP Creative is to set a new standard for our industry: connected enough to bring WPP's full strength to every client, distinctive enough to protect the unique magic and cultures of our iconic brands, and extraordinary enough to nurture the industry's most creative talent as we drive meaningful business growth for our partners. The opportunity to lead WPP Creative at this pivotal moment is a tremendous honour. I look forward to partnering with Cindy, Jon and the agency leadership teams to unlock the full power of WPP for our clients and create the conditions for the world's best talent to do the best work of their careers," Turnbull said.
Leadership shift
The move comes as advertising groups continue to balance scale with agency identity. For WPP, appointing a new head of WPP Creative suggests a push for tighter coordination across its creative portfolio while keeping its individual brands in place.
Cook's departure closes one chapter for the unit, while Turnbull's appointment brings in an external executive from a rival network. That makes the hire notable in a sector where senior leadership moves can signal broader competitive intent.
WPP did not provide financial terms or further operational details alongside the appointment. It said only that Turnbull would take up the post in early 2027 and succeed Cook in leading WPP Creative.