CXO MovesAI Leadership & Strategy
David Gaines Joins WPP Media as President, Global Head of Planning
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David Gaines has joined WPP Media as President, Global Head of Planning, marking a significant leadership move as the advertising industry undergoes rapid transformation driven by AI, data, platforms, and evolving consumer behavior.
David joins WPP Media after helping build Media by Mother from the ground up, creating a modern media agency designed around differentiated thinking, entrepreneurial culture, and a talent-first approach. What began as an ambitious startup venture evolved into a credible competitor within the global media agency landscape.
Reflecting on the move, David highlighted the opportunity to apply lessons learned from building an independent agency at global scale, particularly during a period where AI, creativity, culture, and platform ecosystems are fundamentally reshaping how brands grow and communicate.
His appointment underscores the growing importance of strategic planning leadership as agencies and brands adapt to increasingly connected, data-driven, and AI-enabled media environments.
As the boundaries between media, technology, creativity, and commerce continue to blur, leadership roles focused on orchestrating integrated planning and growth strategies are becoming central to the future of modern marketing organizations.
About WPP Media:
WPP Media is the global media investment and media services division of WPP, delivering media strategy, planning, activation, analytics, and AI-driven marketing solutions for some of the world’s leading brands across international markets.