Cindy Rose has officially stepped in as WPP’s new CEO at a pivotal moment for the world’s largest marketing services group. With the company’s share price down 50% since last year, mounting debt, and talent challenges, the stakes couldn’t be higher. But with her tech-driven background at Microsoft, Disney, and Virgin, Cindy brings fresh operational expertise — and potentially a bold blueprint to reinvent WPP’s future.

In this episode of #MediaSnack, Tom and David unpack what Cindy’s leadership could mean for advertisers, agencies, and the broader media landscape. They explore whether WPP can transform into a more agile, AI-powered powerhouse — or if this is a setup for a future acquisition. Plus, they share actionable advice for brands on how to renegotiate agency terms and future-proof their operating models in this shifting environment.

Timestamps
00:00 – Cindy Rose takes the helm at WPP
04:10 – Why WPP is vulnerable — and undervalued
09:32 – Can Cindy drive real transformation?
15:05 – Breaking silos and rebuilding talent
20:48 – What advertisers must do right now

#MediaSnack is presented by ID Comms, the global media consultancy helping brands achieve better media results.

Want to stay ahead in media? Visit https://www.idcomms.com

Follow ID Comms on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/id-comms/

In this episode of MediaSnack WINNERS, Tom Denford sits down with Sorin Patilinet, PepsiCo’s Global Marketing Effectiveness Lead and author of Marketing Effectiveness: Applying Marketing Science for Brand Growth. Sorin shares his mission to elevate marketing's role in the boardroom by challenging narrow definitions of effectiveness and showing how real impact extends far beyond media ROI. Drawing on his 20-year career at Mars and now PepsiCo, he explains how brands can build stronger marketing organizations through rigorous measurement, cross-functional alignment, and analytical confidence—not just creativity.

They discuss the current state of marketing effectiveness, how AI is shaping analytics, and why understanding consumers matters more than obsessing over CPMs. Sorin also reflects on his legacy at Mars, the need for advertiser voices in industry discourse, and offers advice for future marketing leaders.

Get Sorin’s Book: Marketing Effectiveness: Applying Marketing Science for Brand Growth https://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Effectiveness-Applying-Science-Growth/dp/1398621056

Want to stay ahead in media? Visit https://www.idcomms.com

Follow ID Comms on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/id-comms/

In this episode of #MediaSnack Winners, Tom Denford sits down with Terence “Terry” Kawaja, Founder & CEO of LUMA Partners, the digital media M&A advisory firm famous for the LUMAscape. With over $300 billion in deal experience, Terry shares how he built a category-defining business at the intersection of media, marketing, and technology—offering strategic advice with a blend of deep industry insight and sharp humor.

They explore the three-tier landscape of AI adoption, the return of M&A activity after a three-year trough, and what separates successful companies from the pretenders. Terry also shares why psychology matters more than finance in dealmaking, how to spot real innovation in a sea of hype, and why America’s “innovation flywheel” is its biggest comparative advantage.

#MediaSnack is presented by ID Comms, the global media consultancy helping brands achieve better media results.

Find Terry Kawaja on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terencekawaja/

Learn more about LUMA Partners: https://www.lumapartners.com/

Want to stay ahead in media? Visit https://www.idcomms.com

Follow ID Comms on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/id-comms/