Lesser's New Role: Global CEO of GroupM

Former InfoSum Chairman and CEO Brian Lesser has returned to WPP as the new Global CEO of its media investment arm GroupM. He succeeds Christian Juhl, who after five years in the role is moving to become WPP's President, Corporate Development.

Data collaboration platform InfoSum announced only a week ago that Lesser was leaving, with COO Lauren Wetzel stepping up into the CEO role. Lesser (pictured) joined WPP with the acquisition of 24/7 Real Media in 2007, and in 2011 he became founding CEO of the marcoms giant's audience profiling and targeting division Xaxis, now part of the GroupM Nexus media performance organization. From 2015 to 2017 he was GroupM's North American CEO, leaving to help set up AT&T Advertising & Analytics, serving as CEO of what is now known as Xandr. He rejoins WPP in September, with Juhl continuing in the role until then.

WPP Chief Exec Mark Read comments: 'I would like to thank Christian for his contribution to the success of Essence, GroupM, WPP and our clients over the last nine years. He has built a strong foundation for the ongoing transformation of GroupM, the integration of its offer, and accelerated future growth. I look forward to working with him in his new WPP role. Brian is one of the industry's most highly regarded executives with a track record of success in data- and technology-driven marketing. GroupM, its agencies and its brilliant people are in many respects the engine of WPP. Brian not only knows GroupM inside-out, but also has a strong vision for the future of the business. We are delighted to welcome him back to WPP'.

Lesser says he is 'thrilled to be rejoining' the company, adding: 'I look forward to building with my talented colleagues, collaborating with our industry partners, and investing with our fantastic roster of global clients'.

GroupM manages more than $60 billion in annual media spend on behalf of its clients, and is online at www.groupm.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.