Chris Wade, Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs at WPP, has officially stepped down from his role.

The announcement was made by WPP’s outgoing CEO, Mark Read, in an internal email to staff.

Michael Frohlich will succeed Wade. He currently serves as Global Chief Client Transformation Officer and EMEA CEO of The Weber Shandwick Collective.

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In a farewell note, Wade reflected on his time at the company, stating: “After 13 wonderful, eventful years at WPP, I’ve decided it’s time for a change. I’ve been considering what’s next and, as WPP prepares for a change of its own, it felt like a good moment to do something new.”’

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Express pride in his team’s achievements over the years, Wade said: “Whether we were uniting adland to support the UN Development Goals, surviving the NotPetya cyber attack, navigating the CEO transition in 2018, relaunching the company under new leadership and a new brand, building a modern corporate affairs function, prioritising safety, mental health and jobs during the pandemic—I’m so proud of how the team stepped up every single time, always with skill, patience, good humour, and total commitment.”

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Wade’s career began as a Senior Press Officer at Trinity Mirror, where he later became Communications Manager.

He went on to serve as Head of Communications at Guardian Media Group, before being promoted to Group Director of Communications.

He joined WPP as Head of Communications for the EMEA region, eventually rising to the role of Chief Communications Officer. His departure marks the end of a significant chapter in WPP’s corporate communications leadership

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