WPP leaders named role models for women in business and champions of gender diversity

Acknowledgement of WPP leaders reflects ongoing work to improve gender balance across agency

Twelve leaders across WPP have been recognised in the 2019 HERoes Women Role Model Lists, supported by Yahoo Finance.

The three lists celebrate the achievements of women in business and the male champions who support them, showcasing individuals who are leading by example and driving change to increase gender diversity in the workplace.

UK Country Manager for WPP, Karen Blackett OBE; Taiwan Country Manager for WPP and Vice Chairman for Ogilvy Greater China, Shenan Chuang; Turkey Country Manager for WPP and CEO for GroupM Turkey, Demet Ikiler; and Managing Partner for WPP’s Corporate Practice, Aisling Ryan, were all named as role models and champions in the 100 Female Executives category.

Agency CEO Mark Read was also recognised as one of 40 Advocate Executives who continue to support female talent in their companies. Since becoming CEO in September 2018, Read has made culture a cornerstone of the agency’s new strategy.

His commitment to creating a more inclusive agency has led to an increase in the proportion of women at the most senior levels: the proportion of women on WPP’s board has increased to 42 percent, and the number of women leading the agency’s 20 biggest global brands has doubled under his leadership.

In addition, seven female leaders in WPP agencies were recognised as inspirational role models making a significant contribution to gender diversity in their organisations: Mel Edwards, Global CEO at Wunderman Thompson; Sue Unerman, Chief Transformation Officer at MediaCom; Caroline Frankum, Global CEO of Profiles Division at Kantar; Nicole Lonsdale, Chief Planning Officer at Kinetic; Shelina Janmohamed, Vice President for Islamic Marketing at Ogilvy Consulting; Emily Kucharski, Associate Business Director at Wunderman Thompson; and Jo Wallace, Creative Director for UK & EMENA at Wunderman Thompson.

Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: “The acknowledgement of so many of our female leaders in this year’s women in business HERoes and Yahoo Finance lists is a reflection primarily of their own achievements, but also of the ongoing work to improve gender balance across our agency. We are encouraged by this recognition and will continue our efforts to improve diversity of all kinds in our teams.”

The HERoes 100 Women Executives category include Karen Blackett OBE, UK Country Manager, WPP (3); Sue Unerman, Chief Transformation Officer, MediaCom (12); Caroline Frankum, Global CEO, Profiles Division, Kantar (31); Shenan Chuang, Taiwan Country Manager, WPP and Vice Chairman, Ogilvy Greater China (40); Jo Wallace, Creative Director for UK & EMENA, Wunderman Thompson (44); Mel Edwards, Global CEO, Wunderman Thompson (63); Demet Ikiler, Turkey Country Manager, WPP and CEO, GroupM Turkey (75); Aisling Ryan, Managing Partner, The Corporate Practice, WPP (84); and Nicole Lonsdale, Chief Planning Officer, Kinetic (85).

The HERoes 50 Women Future Leaders category include Shelina Janmohamed, Vice President, Islamic Marketing, Ogilvy Consulting (9) and Emily Kucharski, Associate Business Director, Wunderman Thompson (28).

The HERoes 40 Advocate Executives category names Mark Read, CEO, WPP (12).