Grey and AKQA China's CEO Sharlene Wu steps down

Grey and AKQA China's CEO Sharlene Wu (pictured) has stepped down from her role to relocate to the US with her family to embrace a new chapter personally and professionally.

"As I close this remarkable chapter, my final day with Grey and AKQA will be at the end of May. But this is only the beginning. I’m energised to dive into the US market, to learn, collaborate, and continue creating work that moves people and moves the world forward," she said in her LinkedIn post.

Wu added: "From Taiwan to Shanghai, my journey has been nothing short of transformative. I’ve had the privilege of working at the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic markets during its most pivotal era. Along the way, I’ve evolved into a creative powerhouse and strategic leader, driving brand transformation at the intersection of culture, technology, and design." 

Having spent nearly two decades shaping the advertising and digital marketing landscape in Shanghai, Wu had helmed senior leadership roles at Ogilvy Taiwan, Jwt Advertising, BBDO Worldwide and Proximity Worldwide, where she had led high-impact campaigns for global brands including Nike, Apple, VISA, Tencent, Unilever, Alibaba, and Volvo.

Each opportunity had sharpened her instinct for creative innovation and deepened her belief in the power of storytelling to connect across borders and platforms, she added.

"I’m endlessly grateful to the visionary mentors and colleagues who shaped my journey - Tze Kiat Tan, Clement Yip, Nirvik Singh, Laura Maness, Chris Reitermann - as well as to our courageous clients and brilliant creative teams. This incredible ride was made possible by your partnership and trust," she said in her post.

Don't miss: WPP moves Grey under Ogilvy in creative agency shakeup

This comes amid WPP's internal restructuring, including moving creative agency Grey under Ogilvy, shifting its current reporting structure from AKQA group.

The move is aimed at strengthening collaboration and unlocking growth opportunities across the WPP network, according to internal memos obtained by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE.

The decision comes ahead of AKQA's anticipated appointment of a new global CEO, prompting leadership teams across Grey, AKQA, Ogilvy and WPP to review reporting lines. Under the new structure, Grey global CEO Laura Maness will report directly to Ogilvy global CEO Devika Bulchandani. 

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