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Brian Lesser will be the new global CEO of GroupM, WPP’s media investment company.
Lesser succeeds Christian Juhl, who is stepping down after five years in the role. Juhl is set to take a new position within WPP as president of corporate development.
Lesser previously spent 10 years with WPP, including as CEO of GroupM in North America from 2015 to 2017. He is currently CEO and chairman of data company InfoSum, where he has been since 2020.
Lesser will rejoin WPP and begin his new role with GroupM in September. Juhl will continue in his existing role until Lesser starts, supporting the transition while he shifts to his new position.
“Brian is one of the industry’s most highly regarded executives with a track record of success in data- and technology-driven marketing. 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,” said Mark Read, CEO of WPP, in a statement.
Lesser initially joined WPP with the acquisition of 24/7 Real Media in 2007, where he had worked since 2006. He went on to create the Media Innovation Group, building addressable advertising products and technology for GroupM, including one of the industry’s first data management platforms. In 2011 he founded Xaxis, the programmatic media buying platform which now forms part of GroupM’s media performance organization, GroupM Nexus.
“WPP and GroupM are special organizations to me. I have experienced first-hand the culture of innovation and collaboration that leads to exceptional work for advertisers. I look forward to building with my talented colleagues, collaborating with our industry partners and investing with our fantastic roster of global clients,” said Lesser in a statement.
After leading GroupM in North America, he joined AT&T as CEO of AT&T Advertising & Analytics, a $3 billion business today known as Xandr.
Lesser is a tech leader in the media industry, having been at the forefront of programmatic advertising and helping lead the rise of connected TV.
Juhl became CEO of GroupM in November 2019, having previously held the same position at Essence, the digital media agency acquired by WPP in 2015. In his new position he will work on various aspects of the company’s strategic development.
“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,” said Read.
Under Juhl’s leadership, GroupM won notable assignments and played a role in WPP wins including the partnership with The Coca-Cola Company.
