WPP announces Jon Cook departure and Eric Campbell succession

WPP has announced that Jon Cook, the Global CEO of VML and CEO of WPP Creative, will depart the company to pursue new opportunities. Cook, who has been with the organization for three decades, will remain in his current leadership roles through March 2027 to facilitate a transition period.

Eric Campbell, the current CEO of VML and WPP Creative in North America, has been named as Cook’s successor for the global VML CEO position. Campbell will begin working with Cook immediately to oversee the handover. While Campbell will take over the global VML role, WPP has not yet named a successor for Cook’s position as CEO of WPP Creative.

During his tenure, Cook was instrumental in the 2024 merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, which expanded VML’s presence across more than 55 markets. In February 2026, he assumed leadership of WPP Creative as part of the company’s Elevate28 strategy, overseeing a portfolio that includes Ogilvy, Grey, Burson, AKQA, Landor, and Design Bridge & Partners.