WPP has confirmed a leadership transition at VML and WPP Creative. Jon Cook will leave the group in March 2027, and Eric Campbell, currently CEO of VML and WPP Creative in North America, will succeed him as global CEO of VML.
A planned handover, not a sudden exit
Cook will remain in his current roles through March next year to support the transition. The handover begins immediately, giving WPP, clients and teams a visible runway rather than a disruptive break.
“He is an exceptional builder – of enduring client partnerships, world-class agencies and a culture built on generosity, optimism and genuine care for people,” said Cindy Rose, CEO of WPP.
Campbell is a long-tenured internal successor. He brings more than 25 years of experience at VML, including leadership roles across client leadership, global operations and agency management.
From Kansas City digital shop to global creative network
Cook’s exit closes a roughly 30-year chapter with the agency group. He helped build VML from a digital agency in Kansas City into a global creative network, and in 2024 oversaw the creation of VML through the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson.
The combined agency brings together brand experience, customer experience, commerce, data and enterprise technology across more than 55 markets. Cook’s remit expanded in February 2026 when he became CEO of WPP Creative, a portfolio that includes VML, Ogilvy, Grey, Burson, AKQA, Landor and Design Bridge & Partners.
- Cook exits WPP in March 2027 after about 30 years.
- Campbell takes over as VML global CEO from March 2027.
- The transition begins immediately; Cook stays through March for continuity.
- VML was ranked second Creative Network of the Year at Cannes Lions 2026.
Why a named successor matters
For brand-side marketers, leadership changes inside a holding company quickly become account-level questions: who owns the relationship, who protects the brand voice, and whether the agency’s strategic direction stays intact. A named successor with a dated handover reduces that uncertainty.
VML’s recent recognition underlines what is being handed over: second Creative Network of the Year and the most Gold Lions among networks at Cannes Lions 2026, Campaign’s 2026 Global Agency of the Year, and commerce and customer experience recognition from Forrester and Gartner.
What marketers should do now
If your brand works with VML or WPP Creative, ask for a transition lead and a written account-continuity plan. Campbell’s long tenure at VML points to cultural continuity, but priorities and resourcing can still shift with a new global CEO.
WPP said further details on the wider leadership structure of WPP Creative will be announced later. Cook has not disclosed his next move.
Source: MediaNews4U
