Bessie Lee promoted to newly-created role of WPP China CEO

As WPP's China CEO reporting to Scott Spirit, WPP’s chief strategy officer, Lee will be responsible for mobilising the holding company's resources across disciplines for the benefit of both multinational and local clients.

Furthermore, she will help identify new business opportunities, potential acquisitions and investments, as well as support the group’s ongoing efforts to attract and retain the best talent in China.

"Bessie has done a fantastic job in building GroupM China into not only the leading media agency group in China, but one of GroupM’s strongest operations globally,” said WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell.

TB Song, WPP chairman for Greater China, will continue to play a senior advisory role for the group alongside his role as Ogilvy chairman for Greater China.

Greater China is WPP’s third largest market after the United States and United Kingdom. GroupM, WPP’s media investment management arm, is the largest media agency group in China with billings of over US$5 billion and market share in excess of 30 per cent, according to RECMA.

Lee has been working across WPP companies for 23 years, starting her career in Taiwan with JWT’s media division and subsequently moving to Mindshare in China.

The search for Lee's replacement is currently underway. This process is being led by Mark Patterson, CEO of GroupM Asia Pacific. “My priority is to identify a very high calibre candidate to fill Bessie’s shoes and to lead the highly experienced team we have in China, with the full support of the Asia-Pacific regional and worldwide teams.” he said.

Dominic Proctor, global President of GroupM, said that the agency "owes Bessie a huge debt of gratitude", as she has "led a highly talented team to great success".