Chris Wade, WPP’s longtime communications and corporate affairs chief, is leaving the holding company after 13 years, a company spokesperson confirmed to ADWEEK. Michael Frohlich, former Weber Shandwick EMEA CEO, will step into the role.
Wade first announced his leaving in a LinkedIn post, and described the move as a voluntary decision aligned with broader changes underway at WPP.
“After 13 wonderful, eventful years at WPP, I’ve decided it’s time for a change,” he wrote. “I’ve been considering what’s next and, as WPP prepares for a change of its own, it felt like a good moment to do something new.”
Wade used the post to reflect on his tenure, which spanned multiple crises and milestones—from the 2017 NotPetya cyberattack, its 2018 CEO transition, to WPP’s exit from Russia in 2022.
“I’m very grateful to WPP for the opportunities it has given me,” he wrote, adding that he plans to take time off with family before deciding on next steps. Wade also praised his team and thanked the journalists who covered WPP “not only with rigour but with care.”
Wade’s exit comes during a turbulent period for WPP. In recent months, the company has lost out on major business opportunities. Rival Publicis Groupe won Coca-Cola’s U.S. media business from WPP. It whiffed on securing Spectrum’s $450 million account, which went instead to Horizon. And in June, it lost both Paramount’s media business and Mars’ $1.7 billion media account to Publicis.
WPP has also faced layoffs across its media agencies following the rebrand of GroupM to “WPP Media.” Earlier this year, a mandatory four-day return-to-office policy caused disruption at the company’s New York headquarters, where staff reported overcrowding and a shortage of desks.
“I’ll miss being part of the (largely) organised chaos, I’ll miss the views from Sea Containers and 3 World Trade Center, and I’ll miss my amazing colleagues,” Wade wrote. “But above all I’m excited to make a change and explore what comes next.”