WPP Names Houston President of US Business

Marcoms giant WPP has promoted Michael Houston to the role of President of its business in the US, the group's largest market.

WPP's portfolio of agencies includes global data products and tech company Choreograph; a share in marketing data, insight, and consultancy company Kantar; artificial intelligence and proprietary data provider Xaxis; and data and measurement-driven media agency Essence. Houston (pictured) will now represent WPP in its largest market worldwide, where it employs approximately 20,000 people and has annual revenues of around $6 billion.

Most recently, Houston served as Global CEO of WPP's ad agency group Grey, which he joined in 2007. He previously held senior leadership positions at KB+P, Landor and Y&R, and he founded a brand consultancy in the 1990s. Additionally, he sits on the board of humanitarian group Concern Worldwide, and on the Boards of the Institute of International Education, Effie Worldwide and the AdCouncil.

Mark Read, CEO of WPP, comments: 'Michael is admired and respected across the industry and has made an exceptional contribution during his fifteen years at Grey. I am delighted that he is taking on this important new role for WPP, supporting our people and agencies and bringing the best of WPP to our clients'.

Web site: www.wpp.com .