According an internal memo from Grey chairman and CEO Jim Heekin, WPP has appointed Alina Kessel as president and CEO of Team P&G, leading WPP’s relationship with Procter & Gamble across its agencies while continuing to be based in London. Kessel succeeds Tamara Ingram in the position, who went on to become global CEO of JWT.
For the past two and a half years, Kessel has led WPP’s Team GSK, presiding over the holding company’s relationship with pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which recently consolidated its global roster with most of its business split between WPP and Publicis. Prior to that, she served as executive vice president, managing director, global client services for Grey, beginning in 2012. Her relationship with Grey stretches back to 1994. After serving as CEO of Grey Germany, she became executive vice president, global director out of London in 2008. She left two years later to become CEO of DDB Tribal Group Berlin, but returned again in 2012 to accept the executive vice president, managing director, global client services position. She also has previous experience as brand agency leader for P&G.
In the aforementioned internal memo/email, Heekin said “Alina has led Team GSK for WPP with distinction for the past two and a half years” and “I know Alina will bring the same passion, dynamism and skill to her new role.”
We’ve included the message in its entirety below.
I am delighted to announce that Alina Kessel has been promoted to a key post at WPP, our parent company. Alina will become President and CEO of Team P&G, leading this important global relationship across WPP companies, based in London.
Alina has led Team GSK for WPP with distinction for the past two and a half years. Before that she spent more than a year as Grey’s Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Global Client Services for GSK.
Alina has deepened our longstanding partnership with GlaxoSmithKline building a culture of collaboration and innovation, championing outstanding global creative work across all disciplines and winning significant new assignments. Her team has received more than 50 creative and effectiveness awards in the past two years alone.
Along the way, Alina has served as CEO of Grey Germany and was Brand Agency Leader for P&G Brands, creating a new model combining global strategy and integrated communications across disciplines and regions. She was named one of the Top Women Executives in Germany and cited in the U.K. as one of the 100 Women to Watch for FTSE roles.
I know Alina will bring the same passion, dynamism and skill to her new role. Please give her your congratulations and full support as she begins this exciting new chapter in her accomplished career.
Regards,
GREYgroup | Famously effective since 1917
Jim Heekin, Chairman & CEO