WPP chief Cindy Rose’s bumper pay deal may see her earn over £14m for her first yr within the job

New WPP boss Cindy Rose could be paid as much as £14.2million this year under a bumper deal announced in the ad giant’s annual report.

Rose, who took over in September, was handed a ‘golden hello’ in cash and shares totalling £5.9million to compensate for bonuses forfeited at previous employer Microsoft.

That took her total remuneration for 2025 to £6.8million when added to her salary and benefits.

WPP said the potential for a new deal had been discussed during recruitment, suggesting it had helped lure Rose. It justified the deal as a tool to recruit in a highly competitive market.

The package includes fixed remuneration of £1.7million plus bonuses, which could take it up to a maximum of £11.1million, rising to £14.2million should the value of share awards rise by 50 per cent by the time they vest.

Rose has had a rocky start. In October, she admitted company performance was ‘unacceptable’ as it issued a profit warning.

Golden hello: WPP says the bumper pay deal helped lure new boss Cindy Rose to take the job