GroupM’s Irwin Gotlieb Resigns as Global Chairman

Irwin Gotlieb is stepping down as global chairman of GroupM as he moves into a senior advisory position with WPP.

Gotlieb was the first global CEO for GroupM when the company was established in 2003. He has been serving as global chairman since 2012. Kelly Clark, who became global CEO of GroupM in 2016, will continue to lead the company.

Clark commented: “Irwin is a one-of-a-kind visionary, and his mark on our company and the entire media business is indelible. I am one of many in this industry who count Irwin as a friend and mentor. We’re glad that he will still be available to us and our clients in his new role.”

“Irwin has always been the driving force behind the creation and development of, first Mindshare, then GroupM, and more recently WPP’s focus on developing our technology assets, first-party data and content,” said Sir Martin Sorrell, the CEO of WPP. “We will not miss him, however, as he will continue to be available to the group as a trusted strategic advisor.”

“I’m fortunate for the many opportunities this industry has afforded me, and I enter this new chapter with tremendous gratitude and optimism,” added Gotlieb. “I thank Sir Martin for his support over the years, and I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to WPP’s continued market leadership in an advisory role.”