The Opportunity
WPP is in the midst of the most consequential transformation in its history. Under CEO Cindy Rose, the three‑year Elevate28 strategy is rewiring the company around AI‑powered creativity, a simplified operating model, a sharper client experience, and a high‑performance culture. Mark Taylor joins as Chief People Officer and one of his first, most strategic hires is the leader who will design the capability engine that makes Elevate28 real for our people.
The Chief Learning & Development Officer (CLDO) will build and lead WPP’s global learning function end‑to‑end – enterprise‑wide sales and client capability, leadership development, AI and craft skilling, and the learning culture that holds it all together. This is a commercial mandate: build the capabilities that reshape how WPP wins, keeps and grows clients, and make learning one of the most visible signals that WPP is the best place in the industry to build a career.
Why This Role, Now
Our clients are buying differently. The pitch is no longer a deck – it is a point of view, backed by data, co‑authored with AI, and brought to life by people who can sit in the C‑suite and talk about the client’s business, not ours. Across WPP’s 30+ agency brands, thousands of client‑facing leaders need a sharper, more consistent commercial playbook: consultative selling, executive presence, sector fluency, and the confidence to lead transformational conversations with CMOs, CFOs and CEOs.
At the same time, AI is reshaping every craft we sell. The CLDO will own the strategy that turns AI anxiety into AI fluency across creative, media, production, technology and client leadership – in partnership with agency CEOs, the COO, the Chief Transformation Officer and the Chief Technology Officer.
What You Will Own
* Enterprise sales capability. Design and scale a global commercial academy that lifts consultative selling, C‑suite engagement, negotiation and business‑acumen for several thousand client‑facing leaders – with measurable impact on pitch win rates, organic growth and client tenure.
* Leadership development. Own the curriculum that develops WPP’s leaders from first‑time people managers through to agency CEOs, anchored in our six leadership dimensions. Partner with the CPO on succession, high‑potential programmes and executive coaching architecture.
* AI fluency at scale. Build the learning strategy that makes AI a core capability for every role – from creative teams using generative tools to leaders making capital‑allocation decisions about AI bets. Partner with the Chief AI Officer and agency leaders to make fluency practical, not theoretical.
* Craft, client & sector mastery. Codify and scale the craft expertise – creative, media, production, data, technology – and the sector fluency (CPG, retail, financial services, tech, pharma) that differentiates WPP in the pitch room and the boardroom.
* Learning culture & infrastructure. Rebuild the global learning ecosystem: platforms, content strategy, coaching practice, measurement, and governance that connects every programme to a business outcome. Move WPP from training‑as‑events to learning‑as‑a‑continuous‑capability‑advantage.
* Team & operating model. Lead a global L&D organisation distributed across regions and agency brands. Build a high‑performing team, set the operating model, and run the function with the commercial rigour of a P&L.
The Candidate
* Enterprise scale. You have led a learning organisation supporting tens of thousands of employees across multiple geographies and are comfortable operating at a CVP, SVP or CLO level.
* Commercial capability‑building. You have built, measured and scaled consultative selling, client engagement and C‑suite‑readiness programmes that changed seller behaviour and moved commercial KPIs – win rates, deal size, client retention, organic growth.
* AI‑native learning leader. You are not just teaching AI; you use AI to re‑engineer learning itself – adaptive paths, AI coaching, simulation, measurement. Candidates with recent, tangible experience shipping AI‑powered learning at scale will stand out.
* Executive gravitas. You earn the trust of CEOs, CROs, CFOs and agency leaders, influencing boardroom conversations about capability investment as credibly as you can design a coaching conversation for a first‑time manager.
* Talent magnet & culture builder. You attract exceptional L&D talent and build teams that clients, employees and leaders describe as indispensable. You treat psychological safety and high performance as two sides of the same coin.
Who You Are
* Open – We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas and respect diverse views.
* Optimistic – We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures for our people, clients and communities.
* Extraordinary – We are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing and provide extraordinary work every day.
What We’ll Give You
* Passionate, inspired people – We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work.
* Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.
* Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem‑solvers.
Compensation & Benefits
The base salary range for this position is £240,638–£296,000 GBP. Individual compensation varies based on job‑related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package. For more details, visit WPP Benefits.
We believe the best work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration and connection. That’s why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
Equal Opportunity Employer
WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
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