His role will see him work particularly with Millward Brown Vermeer to bring its communications and marketing capability offer to government clients worldwide
WPP’s Government & Public Sector practice has appointed Sean Larkins as Director of Consulting and Capability. He joins from the UK government where, as Deputy Director of Government Communications, he led the reform of its communications on behalf of the Prime Minister’s and Cabinet Office.
He was also responsible for the Government Communication Service’s professional development programme for nearly 4,000 civil servants. Larkins will work across the practice, particularly with Millward Brown Vermeer to bring its communications and marketing capability offer to government clients around the world.
“Governments worldwide increasingly use communications as a tool for policy delivery by influencing citizen behaviour. This has created new demands for government communications functions to deliver long-term, strategic, evidence-driven and highly impactful communication,” said Dr Michelle Harrison, CEO of WPP’s Government & Public Sector Practice.
“This, combined with digital transformation, has made internal capability a priority for government communications leaders. We are delighted that we will now be able to support our clients in this area. Sean is the ideal person to lead this for our clients and a wonderful addition to our leadership team.”
The arm started in 2014. WPP agencies across the group work with their clients to support the delivery of integrated government communications, with specialist capability in behavioural insight, digital government communications, country branding, and government recruitment communications.
It recently announced the launch of hubs in London, Brussels, the Middle East and North Africa, Australia and New Zealand, and East Africa, with plans to launch in Singapore and Washington DC.
