Kirk McDonald, North American CEO at GroupM, Exits

variety.com:

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Kirk McDonald, a veteran ad executive who has served as the face of WPP‘s large GroupM media buying consortium to U.S.

advertisers, is leaving the company as it once again sets about to refashion its executive ranks. McDonald, who joined GroupM in 2020 after a stint at the ad-tech unit known as Xandr, is set to leave at the end of 2023, the WPP unit confirmed Monday. “Leading GroupM North America has been an enormous privilege.

You are passionate and uncompromising in your pursuit of excellence,” McDonald said in a memo to staffers Monday. “It’s been an honor to be a part of this team leading the way forward with the best in the industry, and a joy to have learned so much from all of you.” There has been speculation in the industry for some time that McDonald might leap to a different executive opportunity.

McDonald is the latest senior executive at GroupM to leave. The WPP unit, one of the most influential buyers of advertising inventory in the industry, has continued to churn through top management at its North American operations.