Jon Cook will leave WPP in March 2027. Eric Campbell takes over VML

Jon Cook, global CEO of VML and chief executive of WPP Creative, will leave WPP in March 2027 after 30 years at the agency. VML announced the change on 2 October. Eric Campbell, who runs VML and WPP Creative in North America, will succeed him as global CEO of VML.

Jon Cook built VML from a Kansas City digital shop

Cook joined VML when it was a young digital agency in Kansas City. In 2024 he led the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, which created the VML brand used today. In February 2026 he also became CEO of WPP Creative, the unit that groups the holding company’s creative agencies.

VML now works in more than 55 markets, the agency says. It also publishes research such as the Future Shopper study on AI shopping. Cook said that after three decades “it is time to build something new”. He did not say what he will do next. Until March he keeps both of his current roles, so the handover can run in stages, the agency said.

Eric Campbell has spent 25 years at VML

Campbell has worked at VML for more than 25 years. He was president of VML, global president of VMLY&R and global chief client officer. He will keep his North America role at WPP Creative and report to WPP chief executive Cindy Rose. Rose said Campbell “knows this business deeply”.

WPP keeps reshaping its top team under Cindy Rose

The news adds to a string of senior moves at WPP. This week WPP Media hired Laura Ryan from Orion as chief media officer. Earlier the group lost finance chief Joanne Wilson to Diageo.

Cook stays until March 2027. That gives VML clients about six months with both leaders in place before Campbell takes the global job.