Gen Z perspectives: WPP CEO exits & UNIQLO's keychain kerfuffle

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Happy Friday, MARKETING-INTERACTIVE readers and welcome back to Gen Z Perspectives, your go-to feature where we unpack the week’s top stories and trending topics through the eyes of Gen Z. From the biggest industry moves to viral moments and marketing controversies worth dissecting, we’re bringing the heat with authenticity, awareness and probably a few unfiltered takes.

This week, WPP’s top boss Mark Read made his exit, UNIQLO’s cai fan (mixed rice) keychains stirred up more than just rice, and CapitaLand went full fantasy with a How to Train Your Dragon mall takeover.

Cancel your plans. This one's worth it.

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1. WPP CEO Mark Read to step down after 7 years

WPP's CEO Mark Read will step down from his role and retire from the Board on 31 December 2025. After more than 30 years with the company, including seven as CEO, Read has decided that the time is right for him to hand over to a new leader and the search for a successor is underway.

Read stepped up as WPP CEO in 2018, taking over from Sir Martin Sorrell, and has overseen the company as it has tried to steer his business to cope with the dominance of the advertising market by tech giants Meta and Alphabet.

Read more here.

2. UNIQLO 'Cai fan' keychain kerfuffle: Where does inspiration end and imitation begin?

UNIQLO Singapore's latest foodie merch served up a tasty idea, but it also sparked a spicy debate. The global brand had dropped a customisable key chain inspired by cai fan (mixed rice) where shoppers who spent SG$100 or more could choose acrylic toppings from a buffet of familiar hawker fare to design their very own mini rice plate.

The clash underscores the tricky terrain global brands navigate when trying to authentically celebrate Singapore’s culture without stepping on local toes. When is a tribute a copy, and where exactly does cultural inspiration end and creative imitation begin?