WPP Creative taps McCann global CEO as new chief

WPP has named McCann global CEO Tyler Turnbull (pictured) as CEO of WPP Creative and is set to take up the role in early 2027.

Turnbull succeeds Jon Cook and will oversee WPP's integrated creative offering, bringing together its creative agencies with the group's capabilities across media, data, production, commerce and technology.

He joins WPP from McCann, which became part of Omnicom following its acquisition of IPG. Prior to McCann, Turnbull spent 12 years at FCB, holding leadership roles across Canada, North America and the agency's global business.

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At WPP, Turnbull will be tasked with strengthening connections across its creative brands while making the group's broader capabilities more accessible to clients. The strategy will be supported by its AI-powered marketing platform, WPP Open, as the company looks to position WPP Creative as a growth partner for clients in the AI era.

The appointment comes as WPP continues to reshape how its agencies and capabilities work together, with creativity positioned at the centre of its wider offering.

WPP CEO Cindy Rose said Turnbull's appointment reflects a push to bring more of its capabilities together for clients while keeping creativity central to growth.

“Tyler is a world-class leader with the ambition, global perspective and creative conviction to lead the next chapter of WPP Creative,” said Rose.

Turnbull said his aim is to build a creative business that can draw on WPP's wider capabilities without losing the individual identities and cultures of its agencies.

“Together with our exceptional teams, my ambition for WPP Creative is to set a new standard for our industry: connected enough to bring WPP’s full strength to every client, distinctive enough to protect the unique magic and cultures of our iconic brands, and extraordinary enough to nurture the industry's most creative talent as we drive meaningful business growth for our partners,” he said.

Turnbull’s appointment further shapes WPP’s creative leadership for 2027, following another senior succession move unveiled earlier this month. Cook, who serves as global CEO of VML alongside his WPP Creative role, is leaving WPP after three decades with the business. He will remain in both roles through March 2027 to support the transition, with Eric Campbell set to succeed him as global CEO of VML.

Campbell, currently CEO of VML and WPP Creative in North America, will take on the global VML role in March 2027 while continuing to lead WPP Creative North America.

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