John Rogers to join WPP as CFO

WPP announces the appointment of John Rogers as CFO. He will join WPP in early 2020 when he will become a member of the Board.

John is currently Chief Executive Officer of Sainsbury’s Argos, where he has overseen the digital transformation of one of the UK’s leading technology-driven businesses. John will join WPP in early 2020 when he will also become a member of the Board. He succeeds Group Finance Director Paul Richardson, who as previously announced is retiring from the company.

He was Chief Financial Officer of J Sainsbury plc from 2010 to 2016, responsible for business strategy, new business development, Sainsbury’s Online, operational efficiency and Sainsbury’s Bank, in addition to core finance functions.

Previous roles with J Sainsbury plc include Property Director, Director of Group Finance and Director of Corporate Finance. He was Group Finance Director of Hanover Acceptances Ltd and has held senior positions with Monitor Company (now Deloitte) and Arthur Andersen.

John has worked in China, India, Japan, South Africa and the USA, and throughout Europe. He is a member of the Sainsbury’s Bank plc board, a non-executive director of Travis Perkins plc and a member of The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Advisory Council. He also sits on the Retail Sector Council, which acts as a point of liaison between the UK Government and retail sector.

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Commenting on the appointment, Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said, “John is not only an accomplished CFO but also a leader with extensive experience of business transformation. His priority will be to lead a finance function that best fosters investment in creativity, technology and talent in support of WPP’s new strategy for growth.

“I would like to thank Paul for his tremendous contribution over more than two decades with the company, and for his part in making WPP the world leader it is today.”

John Rogers said, “I am really excited to be joining WPP as it embarks on the next stage of its evolution. As a technology-driven business with creativity at its heart, joining WPP was an opportunity impossible to resist and I look forward to playing my part in helping the business deliver its new strategy.”

His contract of employment contains restrictive covenants including an industry non-compete, a non-deal with clients and a non-poach and non-employ of key WPP individuals.