Regional Chief People Officer - North America

About WPP Production

We are WPP Production - the unified global production company that brings together all of WPP's content producers, studios and craft experts into one connected organisation. We combine world-class human craft with next generation technology to originate, design, and deliver multi-channel content systems at scale. Built for borderless collaboration and powered by deep craft expertise, we are the production engine designed for today's always on, AI driven marketing world.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.

A Hybrid working model

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.

Redefining Regional HR Leadership – WPP Production

The WPP Production Regional CPO is an experienced people leader positioned to architect and directly drive the immediate and ongoing strategic and operational delivery of WPP’s global People & Culture strategy across Production, throughout the region.

This pivotal role redefines traditional HR leadership by operating as a highly senior, hands-on strategic partner to the Regional WPP Production CEO and regional production leadership. Critically, this individual will achieve impact not through managing a large direct operational team, but by actively optimizing the adoption of WPP's Global HR Centres of Excellence and Shared Service functions. The CPO will own the successful implementation and ongoing management of the new HR delivery model and integrated talent strategy within the Region, ensuring its seamless implementation, strategic adaptation, and execution excellence of talent strategy, organisational health, and cultural development at significant scale and complexity.

Holding ultimate accountability for fostering an exceptional employee experience that fuels production excellence and commercial success, this CPO serves as the central architect of WPP’s integrated strategy by cultivating a high-performing, diverse, and collaborative workforce through strategic direction, expert influence, and astute resource allocation across a federated HR model. www.wppproduction.com

Key Responsibilities

Strategic People Leadership & Advisory

Architect, operationalize, and provide hands-on leadership for the overarching People & Culture strategy for Regional Production, aligning with WPPs global vision and serving as the principal strategic advisor to the Regional CEO and regional leadership teams, with a direct focus on driving the people agenda for immediate and long-term organizational transformation.

Translate global directives into impactful regional actions, ensuring seamless strategic and operational alignment with the Global WPP Production CPO and wider WPP HR leadership network.

Act as the definitive HR representative at the highest Regional Production leadership levels, influencing strategy and decision-making, and elevating WPP's reputation externally as an employer of choice across the region.

Orchestration of Global HR Services & Operational Excellence

Serve as the critical strategic orchestrator, and primary liaison between WPP Production Regional CEOs plans and WPP's Global HR Centres of Excellence and Shared Service functions, taking ultimate accountability for the successful regional deployment and day-to-day effectiveness of this new HR delivery model.

Ensure the complex regional needs are actively serviced to ensure global programs are seamlessly and effectively deployed at scale, and their full strategic and operational benefits are realised on the ground.

Drive accountability and optimise service delivery from these key enabling functions, ensuring integrated operational excellence and stringent compliance across all people-related processes in partnership with Finance, IT, Operations, and Legal.

Talent Strategy & Workforce Optimization

Lead the enterprise-wide implementation of a client-centric talent agenda orchestrating the day-to-day delivery of scalable talent solutions that fuel Production excellence and business results for clients, leveraging WPP's global capabilities.

Strategically manage the market people cost component of the Regional Production P&L, optimising talent ROI through robust workforce planning processes in close partnership with Finance.

Drive growth through strategic talent deployment, orchestrating talent mobility, strategic skill-building (via L&D COEs), and adaptive organisational design to ensure tangible business outcomes and commercial impact. www.wppproduction.com

Architect and manage robust performance standards and accountability frameworks, utilising advanced data and insights from Global HR COEs (e.g., talent analytics, engagement surveys) to drive continuous improvement and resolve complex employee relations matters with the WPP ER COE.

Culture, Transformation & Inclusive Growth at Scale

Direct and strategically oversee the rigorous implementation and on-the-ground execution of WPP Production operating model from a comprehensive people perspective across the region, ensuring clarity of roles, precise talent alignment, and robust execution excellence, especially within the context of active organizational model restructuring.

Lead enterprise-wide change management initiatives, with a hands-on approach to implementing new structures across multi-market organisational structures and driving profound cultural transformation to shape the next chapter in the region.

Architect and manage programs that champion radical collaboration across agencies, markets, and functions through inclusive HR policies, scalable leadership development (via L&D COEs), and advanced talent programs, actively breaking down silos.

Provide executive leadership for the strategic implementation of WPP's global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) strategy across the region, deploying impactful programs and policies to foster an inclusive environment where all talent can thrive.

Partnerships & HR Capability Building

Proactively architect and lead the cultivation of deep connectivity, teamwork, and strategic partnerships across all critical people stakeholder groups, from executive leadership to individual employees, and specifically forging a unified HR team across all Production in the region.

Mentor and coach HR Business Partners across the region, including fostering an integrated regional HR function that operates as one WPP Production People team. This involves actively embedding the unified WPP Production Regional people strategy and driving consistent operational execution. Empower them to ensure consistent delivery of strategic people plans and exceptional, commercially astute support to business leaders, particularly through periods of significant change. www.wppproduction.com

Qualifications And Experience

Strategic Leadership & Influence - Proven executive leadership experience operating within a highly complex, multi-market, global matrix organisation. Demonstrated ability to lead, influence, and drive significant alignment.

Change Leadership - A proven change agent with extensive experience leading large-scale organisational and cultural transformations, simplifying complex processes, and embedding agile ways of working across diverse geographies.

Strategic & Operational Delivery at Scale - Extensive experience in the end-to-end strategic design, operationalisation, and flawless execution of People & Culture strategies, programs, and initiatives across a vast, diverse region, demonstrating capability to deliver high-impact results in a complex, multi-brand environment.

Organisational Change Leadership & Commercial Acumen - Drives and implements significant organizational change initiatives, demonstrating robust commercial understanding. Critically, this includes the practical application and embedment of complex employee relations guidance and governance, with a proven track record of expertly leveraging internal and external ER advisory to achieve commercially sound and legally compliant outcomes within a change context. Builds trusted, influential relationships with senior leaders and employee representatives, serving as a key architect in shaping people strategies that underpin successful business transformation.

Data-Driven Decision Making - Proficient in leveraging sophisticated HR and financial data analytics to inform strategic workforce planning, talent investment, and critical business decisions, demonstrating a strong commercial mindset and quantifiable impact.

The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range from $155,000 to $390,000. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click [here] for more details.

Why work here

At WPP Production, you’ll help shape the future of content production at a truly global scale. We bring together world-class talent, cutting-edge studios, and advanced technology to solve some of the most complex creative and production challenges in the industry. You’ll work in a collaborative, borderless environment where craft excellence is valued, innovation is encouraged, and AI and next-generation tools are used to amplify not replace human creativity. With access to diverse projects, global career opportunities, and the backing of WPP’s unmatched network, this is a place where you can grow your skills, make real impact, and create work that performs for every audience, across every channel, at every moment.

Inclusion and Impact

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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