The chief executive of British advertising group WPP has enlisted the help of a Los Angeles-based psychologist to rebuild staff morale and restore confidence within the company. Cindy Rose, who assumed leadership of the firm last September, brought in Dr. Michael Gervais, known for his work with high-profile clients including Microsoft and the Seattle Seahawks, to support her efforts in overhauling WPP’s corporate culture.
Gervais, a psychologist who specialises in enhancing performance and wellbeing, made his first appearance before approximately 175 of WPP’s senior global executives during a meeting held last week in London. The gathering took place amid a broader initiative led by Rose to reshape the company’s structure. With WPP having experienced a prolonged period of challenges — including client losses, declining revenues, and a significant drop in market value from £25 billion a decade ago to less than £3 billion currently — Rose has sought to address these issues directly.
Her restructuring plan, branded “Elevate28,” aims to reduce excessive organisational complexity and transform WPP from a collection of competing agencies into a more unified operation. Speaking to staff following a dinner event at London’s Tate Modern, Rose conveyed the emotional toll of the company’s recent difficulties. She noted that some executives had confessed to losing faith in the firm over the past years but expressed renewed confidence in its direction and future. “Hearing words like ‘faith restored’ is lightning in a bottle,” she said, according to an attendee.
The timing of the morale-boosting efforts coincides with a recent uptick in WPP’s market performance. The company’s shares have risen by 19 percent over the last month. Bank JP Morgan, in a note published last week, placed WPP ahead of its advertising peers in terms of new client wins during the first quarter of 2026. Notable contract gains with companies such as Estée Lauder, SC Johnson, and Norwegian Cruise Line have contributed to an estimated net increase of $820 million (£610 million) in client billings, translating to approximately $49 million in additional revenue.
Dr. Gervais, whose agency Finding Mastery focuses on helping leaders and organisations thrive at the intersection of high performance and wellbeing, has been credited by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella for playing a key role in fostering a winning mindset among the company’s leadership teams. WPP’s decision to bring in his expertise signals a commitment to reviving both the firm’s internal culture and its competitive standing in the global advertising market.