Elav Horwitz.
WPP has appointed Elav Horwitz, the global head of strategic partnerships, chief innovation officer, a new role created to solidify leadership in applied AI and deliver technology-driven solutions for clients.
Horwitz will be responsible for connecting WPP's partners with the company's creative and strategic talent, focusing on fostering a culture of collaboration and agile innovation to drive applied AI and client transformation.
She will continue to report to WPP chief technology officer Stephan Pretorius.
"Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at WPP, and Elav's promotion to chief innovation officer together with the world-class team she is assembling underscores our commitment to actively shape the future of our industry," Pretorius said.
"She will be instrumental in ensuring our company remains at the centre of technology-driven innovation, translating the power of applied AI into concrete solutions that drive material business impact for our clients."
A leading voice for responsible technology and innovation, Horwitz also serves as an adviser to influential groups including the Spotify and Meta Creative Councils, and is a founding member of the leadership community Chief.
"Never before has the need for innovation and agility been more critical than in our AI era," Horwitz said.
"We must show our teams, clients and the entire industry what's possible by uniting the best talents, capabilities, partners and a forward-thinking mindset, enabling us to deliver results in a matter of hours and make the future both tangible and democratised."
Horwitz's appointment follows a series of recent hires to bolster WPP's innovation capabilities, including Daniel Barak as WPP's first global creative and innovation lead, Sarah Salter as VP of global partnerships and AI innovation and Mathieu Albrand as director of AI strategy and innovation.
"As we rewrite the marketing playbook for the AI era, we're thrilled to have Elav lead our innovation agenda," said WPP CEO Cindy Rose.
"This appointment underscores our investment to embed innovation into the core of everything we do, ensuring our clients benefit from the most advanced and effective solutions."
The appointment follows the unveiling of WPP Open Pro, the new edition of WPP's AI marketing platform designed to put WPP's AI capabilities in the hands of clients.
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