CEO of WPP Creative and VML Jon Cook Steps Down

Jon Cook, Global CEO of VML and CEO of WPP Creative, is stepping down after more than 30 years with the company. 

He will remain with the company through March 2027 to ensure a seamless and collaborative transition. Eric Campbell, currently CEO of VML North America, will take over from Jon at that time. 

“This has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever made in my life,” says Jon. “But after three decades of pouring everything I have into this agency and all of WPP, it is time to build something new. VML and WPP Creative are operating from positions of tremendous strength and this is the right moment for other voices to lead.

“ I am immensely proud of our teams, the iconic work we produce with our clients and the one-of-a-kind culture we have built. I look forward to working closely with Cindy and the WPP and VML leadership teams over the coming months to execute a thoughtful transition.”

Three decades of marketing leadership

Jon has spent more than 30 years with VML – helping guide and shape it from an emerging digital agency into one of the largest creative and marketing agencies in the world. 

In February of this year, Jon took on the additional responsibility of CEO of WPP Creative, which involves leading a portfolio that includes VML, Ogilvy, Grey, Burson, AKQA, Landor and Design Bridge & Partners. 

This portfolio was launched as part of the company’s Elevate28 strategy. 

Under his leadership, VML has earned several accolades, including being named the number two creative network of the year at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, taking home 53 Lions. 

“Jon is a true builder – of iconic client partnerships, world-class creative businesses and a culture grounded in optimism, generosity and genuine care for people,” says Cindy Rose, CEO of WPP. “I am deeply grateful for his immense contribution to VML, WPP and our industry. Jon will remain with us through March 2027 to support a seamless transition.” 

A leadership transition at VML

Eric will become Global CEO of VML in March 2027, while still continuing his work as CEO of WPP Creative North America. 

He has been with VML for more than 25 years and held several central leadership roles, including President of VML, Global President of VMLY&R, Global Chief Client Officer and CEO of VML North America. 

According to VML, Eric will be partnering with Jon “immediately” to begin transitioning global responsibilities. 

“It feels completely natural for Eric Campbell to step in as Global CEO of VML,” says Jon. “Eric has been my partner and close friend for more than 25 years, and he understands the heart of this agency as well as anyone on Earth.

“ I trust him with this entire professional family of mine with everything I have, and I truly believe there's no better person to take VML into the next era. We'll be working hand in hand over the coming months.” 

Who are WPP’s key partners?

• Google: WPP and Google's partnership is a 5-year co-innovation agreement to embed Google's frontier AI models and cloud infrastructure directly into WPP Open, WPP's marketing operating system.
• Adobe: WPP and Adobe expanded their global partnership in February 2026 to integrate Adobe's AI and content platforms with WPP’s agentic marketing platform, WPP Open.
• NVIDIA: WPP and NVIDIA are partnering to build a generative AI-enabled content engine that transforms digital advertising by combining industrial design data with photorealistic 3D and real-time rendering.
• Microsoft: The partnership between Microsoft and WPP is a long-term collaboration combining Microsoft's cloud and AI tools with WPP's global advertising and marketing network.