We noted recently that WPP had a big decision (maybe a number of them) to make with the departure of WPP Creative CEO and VML boss John Cook and now it looks like it’s looking outside with McCann global CEO and former FCB boss Tyler Turnbull (below) tipped for the job.
Cook is due to be succeeded by his long-serving number two Eric Campbell so it’s not very clear how Turnbull fits in. Cook’s WPP Creative responsibilities apparently included Ogilvy too but it would be odd if Campbell sat on top of Ogilvy, given he is already supposed to be looking after the expanded VML and not that well known outside it.
Turnbull, CEO of FCB until that was folded into BBDO following Omnicom’s land grab of IPG was interviewed for the Ogilvy global CEO job according to Ad Age. That went rapidly to Laurence Ezekiel, the former head of WPP’s Coca-Cola agency when he was about the depart for rival Publicis.
It’s all rather reminiscent of the doings at a Renaissance court. Former Ogilvy boss Devika Bulchandani is now effectively CEO Cindy Rose’s number two as newly-minted WPP COO. Ogilvy has always clung jealously to its independence as part of WPP and might wonder if Campbell has the creds to be its overall boss.
Turnbull is new blood and had a good record at FCB, with CCO Susan Credle, winning multiple awards. It’s reasonable to assume that FCB stalwarts were less than thrilled to be folded into BBDO as Omnicom merged its creative networks, although keeping McCann separate.
WPP hasn’t said anything publicly yet but clients will want to know who’s in charge and how it it will work. As will the various account barons within the enlarged WPP Creative. They’re the people with a grip on accounts even as media dominates. In the UK they number, among others, James Murphy at Ogilvy and Johnny Hornby at T&P.
They might be wondering if all this means WPP Creative is going to become the holding company’s one-stop creative arm with a further reduction of agency brands. CEO Rose may have more to say about this when she reveals its Q3 numbers at the end of October.
