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He succeeds Christian Juhl, who leaves after five years to become president of corporate development at WPP.
Brian has been with WPP for 10 years, including serving as CEO of GroupM North America from 2015 to 2017. He will join WPP and begin his new role at GroupM in September 2024. Until then, Christian will continue in his current role and will assist with the transition before assuming his new role.
Brian originally joined WPP when it acquired 24/7 Real Media in 2007. He then founded the Media Innovation Group, developing addressable advertising products and technologies for GroupM, including the first ad management platform. In 2011, he founded Xaxis, a programmatic media buying platform that is now part of GroupM Nexus, GroupM’s media performance organization.
After leading GroupM’s North American business, he joined AT&T as CEO of AT&T Advertising & Analytics, a $3 billion company now known as Xandr. He became CEO and president of data company InfoSum in 2020.
Throughout his career, Brian has been at the forefront of technological advancements in the media industry, from the advent of programmatic advertising to the rise of connected TV. He is known for challenging the status quo to deliver better experiences for consumers and more effective solutions for businesses.
Christian became GroupM’s CEO in November 2019, having previously held the same position at Essence, the digital media agency acquired by WPP in 2015. As President of Corporate Development at WPP, he will be responsible for all aspects of the company’s strategic development.
Under Christian’s leadership, GroupM has grown significantly, winning major assignments and playing a vital role in WPP’s successes, such as its partnership with The Coca-Cola Company.
GroupM has also evolved to reflect today’s world. Today, its streamlined structure primarily serves its high-profile clients through three media agencies: Essence Mediacom, Mindshare and Wavemaker; the media performance organization GroupM Nexus; and the data products, services and technology company Choreograph. GroupM is the world’s largest media investment company, managing more than $60 billion in media spend for its clients each year.
Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: “I would like to thank Christian for his contribution to the success of Essence, GroupM, WPP and our clients over the past nine years. He has laid a strong foundation for GroupM’s continued transformation, product integration and accelerated future growth. I look forward to working with him in his new role at WPP.
“Brian is one of the most respected executives in the industry with a successful track record of data-driven and technology-driven marketing. In many ways, GroupM, its agencies and talented people are the lifeblood of WPP. Brian not only knows GroupM inside and out, but also has a strong vision for the company’s future. We are delighted to have him back at WPP. »
Brian Lesser said: “WPP and GroupM are special organizations to me. I have experienced firsthand the culture of innovation and collaboration that produces great work for advertisers. I am delighted to be joining GroupM again as CEO. I look forward to building with my talented colleagues, working with our industry partners, and investing with our fantastic global clients. »
Christian Juhl said: “It’s been a privilege to lead this incredible company, work alongside such talented people and collaborate with our fantastic clients around the world. We have achieved so much together and I’m very proud of the progress GroupM has made towards its mission of making advertising work better for people. After five years, it’s time for a new challenge and I’m excited to start my new role at WPP. Brian is an exceptional leader and I’m delighted to have him joining the GroupM family again. »
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