WPP Creative hires McCann’s Tyler Turnbull as CEO. He starts in early 2027

WPP has named Tyler Turnbull, the global CEO of McCann, as the next CEO of WPP Creative. Campaign reported the move first on 8 October, and WPP confirmed it the following day. Turnbull will join in early 2027.

He takes over from Jon Cook, who runs VML and has led WPP Creative since it was formed this year. Cook is leaving WPP in March 2027 after three decades. Eric Campbell, now CEO of VML and WPP Creative in North America, will become global CEO of VML when Cook goes.

WPP Creative groups seven agency brands under one boss

WPP Creative was set up in 2026 as part of the group’s Elevate28 plan. It brings together VML, Ogilvy, Grey, Burson, AKQA, Landor and Design Bridge and Partners. According to WPP, Turnbull will link these agencies with the group’s media, data, production and commerce teams through its WPP Open platform.

WPP chief executive Cindy Rose called him a leader with “ambition, global perspective and creative conviction”. Turnbull said the role came “at this pivotal moment”.

Turnbull ran FCB and McCann before the switch

Turnbull started as an intern at Publicis Toronto in 2006. He later worked at BBDO, then took over FCB Canada in 2014. He became CEO of FCB North America in 2019 and global CEO of FCB in 2022.

Omnicom closed its purchase of IPG in November 2025. It kept three creative networks, BBDO, TBWA and McCann, and dropped the FCB, DDB and MullenLowe names. Turnbull moved to McCann as global CEO in December 2025. That reshuffle also put Andrew Robertson in charge of Omnicom Advertising. Omnicom declined to comment on his exit, Campaign reported.

WPP Creative revenue fell 4.9% in the first half

He arrives at a weak moment for the group. In the first half of 2026, WPP’s revenue less pass-through costs fell 4.7% like-for-like, Campaign reported. WPP Creative fell 4.9% and WPP Media 5.4%. North America, where Turnbull built his career, was down 6%. The group has also been cutting jobs through 2026.

McCann now needs a new global chief only months after the Omnicom merger. FCB staff who followed Turnbull to McCann, such as creative chief Andrés Ordóñez, also face a new boss. At WPP, Eric Campbell moves up to run VML worldwide once Cook leaves in March 2027.