Head of Executive Compensation

 

The Head of Executive Compensation leads the design, governance and oversight of executive remuneration across WPP. Reporting to the Global Reward Director, the role is a trusted adviser to the CPO, ExCo and RemCo, translating business strategy into executive reward arrangements that support long-term value creation, pay for performance and the attraction and retention of senior talent. The role ensures WPP’s approach remains competitive, responsible and aligned with global regulatory, investor and shareholder expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy and philosophy: Define and evolve WPP’s executive reward philosophy, governance framework and incentive architecture, ensuring alignment with enterprise strategy, culture, performance and external market practice.
• Executive reward design: Lead the design and review of short-term and longterm incentives, benefits, retention and termination arrangements, balancing competitiveness, affordability, risk and shareholder expectations.
• Appointments and transitions: Structure competitive and compliant reward packages for ExCo and other senior leadership appointments, promotions, international moves and exits.
• RemCo governance: Lead the annual RemCo calendar and prepare high-quality papers, financial modelling, recommendations and decision materials for the Committee, CPO and senior stakeholders.
• Disclosure and compliance: Oversee executive remuneration disclosures and monitor regulatory, listing, tax, governance and investor requirements across relevant jurisdictions.
• Risk and controls: Maintain robust governance and controls, including incentive plan rules, discretion, malus and clawback provisions, ensuring decisions are documented and consistently applied.
• Insight and analytics: Lead executive benchmarking, pay-for-performance assessment, scenario modelling and analysis of market, investor and proxyadviser trends to inform recommendations.
• Stakeholder leadership: Partner across People, Finance, Legal, Tax, Company Secretariat, Reward and external advisers and providers to ensure joined-up advice and effective delivery and administration.

Critical Knowledge & Experience

• Significant executive compensation experience gained in a complex global organisation and/or leading reward consultancy.
• Proven experience advising RemCo, Boards, CPOs and senior executives, with the judgement and credibility to navigate sensitive and high-impact decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare clear, high-quality committee papers, recommendations and executive remuneration disclosures.
• Deep technical expertise in short-term incentives and long-term incentives, performance equity, deferred reward, executive benefits, share plans and associated governance and disclosure requirements.
• Strong understanding of public-company remuneration practice, institutional investor and proxy-adviser expectations, and relevant regulatory and listing requirements.
• Experience managing cross-border executive reward matters, including relevant tax, mobility, legal and regulatory considerations.
• Advanced analytical and financial modelling capability, with the ability to translate complex data into clear options and recommendations.

Key Competencies

• Executive reward expertise – applies strong grounding in executive pay design, incentive mechanics, governance and market practice to develop practical, defensible solutions.
• Strategic and commercial acumen – connects reward decisions to business priorities, performance and long-term value creation.
• Executive influence and communication – communicates complex and sensitive matters clearly and builds confidence with senior stakeholders.
• Governance, discretion and judgement – applies sound judgement, integrity and appropriate challenge in a highly confidential environment.
• Analytical rigour – uses financial modelling, market evidence and scenario analysis to develop robust recommendations.
• Collaborative leadership – works effectively across a global matrix, aligning multiple functions, advisers and delivery teams.

 

What we'll give you:

Passionate, inspired people – We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work.

Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.

Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge?

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