WPP appoints ex-Unilever CMO Keith Weed to its board

Keith Weed, the former marketing boss of FMCG giant Unilever, has been appointed to the board of WPP as a non-executive director.

Weed retired from Unilever in May after 35 years with the company, ending with a nine-year stint as its chief marketing and communications officer. During his tenure he picked up a number of awards, including Global Marketer of the Year by the World Federation of Advertisers in 2017.

He is also president of the UK Advertising Association, president of the History of Advertising Trust, a member of McLaren F1’s advisory board, a board member of Business in the Community and a board member of Grange Park Opera.

“Keith is one of the world’s most influential and successful marketers,” said Roberto Quarta, chairman of WPP.

“He has a deep understanding of our business, the ways in which technology is transforming marketing, the sectors in which we operate, and our FMCG clients in particular. We are very pleased to welcome him to the WPP Board.”

Meanwhile, Weed said he looked forward to contributing towards the ad network’s future and leveraging his understanding of building brands in a “rapidly changing” industry – “from digital and data to content creation and sustainability.”

The appointment will be effective as of November 1.