Oath chief joins the running for Sorrell’s job

Tim Armstrong, CEO at Oath and former chief executive at AOL, is now considered in the race to replace Sir Martin Sorrell as CEO of WPP.

The news follows Sorrell’s much publicised departure from WPP after a now concluded investigation into an allegation of “personal misconduct”, leaving the company with an uncertain future amidst wider reports over a decline in revenues and net sales.

First reported by the Financial Times, sources close to the search process have named the former Google executive a strong contender for the position, having run AOL from 2009 until its $4.4bn sale to Verizon in 2015.

Also in the running is Keith Weed, chief marketing and communications officer at Unilever.

According to analysists at Liberum, both candidates have unique strengths to bring to the role. Armstrong “would have plenty to add in terms of managing the relationship with a key platform partner”, whilst Weed “will know exactly what clients are looking for from their agencies and where WPP sits in the scheme of things”.

However, Liberum said it would also like to see Jerry Buhlmann, CEO, Densu Aegis Network, added to the list.

“Mr Buhlmann would have the advantage both of having been CEO of a listed FTSE company and having deep knowledge of the media buying and planning space, which is WPP’s most important business.”

Since Sorrell’s exit, WPP has been run by co-COOs Mark Read and Andrew Scott; Read is currently tipped as one of the top internal candidates for the chief executive position.