From 450 to 5: How WPP Rewired for the Future of Creative Intelligence
PMI CEO, Pierre Le Manh, talks with Stephan Pretorius of WPP about how the world's largest advertising company is using AI to reshape strategy, creative work, and even its business model.
From 450 to 5: How WPP Rewired for the Future of Creative Intelligence
PMI CEO, Pierre Le Manh, talks with Stephan Pretorius of WPP about how the world's largest advertising company is using AI to reshape strategy, creative work, and even its business model.
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Episode Overview
15 July 2025
With guest Stephan Pretorius
In this episode of The Shift Code Podcast, host Pierre Le Manh is joined by Stephan Pretorius, Chief Technology Officer at WPP, to share an unfiltered look at how one of the world's largest marketing groups is using AI to reshape strategy, creative work, and even its business model. Learn how WPP leveraged technology to drive organizational change, discover practical insights on managing large-scale digital transformation, and understand the future of creative work in an AI-driven world.
Meet Our Guest
Stephan Pretorius
Chief Technology Officer at WPP
Stephan Pretorius was appointed as WPP’s first Chief Technology Officer in 2018. He leads the company’s AI and product strategy and currently serves as interim Chair of AKQA. Previously, he was UK Group CEO and Global CTO of Wunderman, joining the agency in 2016. With a unique background combining law and technology, Stephan has been instrumental in transforming WPP from a federation of 450 agencies into five integrated global organizations through technological innovation. As the architect of WPP Open, the company's proprietary AI-powered platform, he has led WPP’s $400 million annual investment in internal product development, revolutionizing how the organization delivers creative and marketing services.
Full Transcript
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