WPP’s global CMO and OpenX CEO Laurent Ezekiel has stepped down and is set to rejoin French advertising giant Publicis Groupe, marking a significant leadership departure during a period of disruption for the British agency network.

According to Adweek, WPP’s global Chief Marketing Officer and OpenX CEO, Laurent Ezekiel, has stepped down and is set to rejoin French advertising major Publicis Groupe. His departure marks a high-level leadership exit at a time of turbulence for the British agency network.

Where did Ezekiel begin—and why is he returning?

Ezekiel originally spent 16 years at Publicis before joining WPP in 2019. After WPP won the global Coca-Cola account in 2021, he was appointed to lead OpenX, a bespoke unit built to serve the beverage giant through integrated creative, media, and influencer services. His decision to return suggests a rekindling of longstanding ties with Publicis at a strategic moment.

Ezekiel’s move coincides with a sweeping client realignment. In 2025 alone, Coca-Cola shifted its $700 million North American media business to Publicis, followed by Mars' $1.7 billion global account and Paramount. This sequence highlights Publicis Groupe’s growing dominance in global media.

How did Coca-Cola respond to Ezekiel’s departure?

According to reports, an internal memo stated that Coca-Cola’s Global CMO, Manolo Arroyo, confirmed Ezekiel’s exit and lauded his role in shaping OpenX and assembling a high-performing, integrated global team. WPP has not yet announced who will succeed him but has confirmed that an announcement is forthcoming.

Ezekiel’s departure follows a profit warning from WPP, attributed to declining client spending and fewer new business wins. In another major shift, CEO Mark Read is set to step down in September, to be replaced by Microsoft’s Cindy Rose.

WPP continues to maintain its relationship with Coca-Cola. The beverage brand has reaffirmed its partnership, with initiatives like Studio X—a content production hub—continuing to be central to their collaboration.

Ezekiel’s exit underscores the rapid evolution of the marketing services industry. As holding companies like WPP and Publicis compete for talent and accounts, the trend is clearly shifting toward more agile, integrated, and performance-driven agency models.