Roberto Quarta to succeed Philip Lader as WPP chairman
WPP has appointed Roberto Quarta, current chairman of tech company Smith & Nephew and engineering business IMI , to its board as non-executive director and chairman.
The appointment is subject to his re-election at the Company’s Annual General Meeting in June 2015.
Quartas will succeed Philip Lader, who joined the board as chairman in 2001 and announced his resignation earlier this year. Under Lader's tenure, WPP’s billings have grown from £14bn to £46.2bn and the number of employees (including associates) from 65,000 to 177,000
Ladar said: “[Quartas] brings to WPP extensive, diverse experience in corporate governance and global commerce. This completes our refreshment of the board, which over the last three years has seen the appointment of 10 internationally recognised business leaders from four continents and the phased retirement of long-serving directors,” said
Lader will remain in the role until such time as Quarta steps down as chairman of IMI.
Sir Martin Sorrell, WPP CEO, added that Quarta will help develop the group's strategy in new markets, new media, data investment management and the application of technology.
Full details of Quarta’s remuneration arrangements are to be given in the Directors’ Remuneration Report 2014.