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WPP’s Global CMO and CEO of its bespoke Coca-Cola unit, OpenX, Laurent Ezekiel is stepping down and preparing to join rival holding company Publicis Groupe, according to global reports.
Ezekiel joined WPP in 2019 as its first global chief marketing officer. Following WPP’s global win of the Coca-Cola business in 2021, he was elevated to lead OpenX, a customized agency model built exclusively for the beverage giant.
Prior to WPP, Ezekiel spent over 16 years at Publicis Groupe, holding senior roles including President of Digitas North America & International, and Global Client Lead for GSK and Samsung. He was also Worldwide Client Services Director at Digitas and previously held leadership positions across its UK and global operations.
Ezekiel began his career at Saatchi & Saatchi, later working at UBS and Grey, managing key accounts like Masterfoods and P&G. His expertise spans global client leadership, agency growth, bespoke models, and digital transformation, making him one of the most experienced cross-market leaders in the advertising industry.
His departure marks a significant leadership shift at WPP, especially amid rising competition among holding groups for bespoke, client-dedicated agency models.
Ezekiel’s exit from WPP and return to Publicis also comes on the heels of major leadership changes at the holding company, following Mark Read stepping down and Candy Rose taking charge.
It also trails a series of major account wins for Publicis including Coca-Cola’s $700 million North American media mandate, Mars’ $1.7 billion global media account, and Paramount’s business all moving away from WPP.
Still, WPP managed to retain parts of the Coca-Cola relationship, including its Studio X production partnership.
A WPP spokesperson said a successor “will be announced shortly,” according to global media reports.
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