In a strategic shift that’s creating ripples across the global advertising landscape, WPP’s Laurent Ezekiel is making a high-profile return to Publicis Groupe. This move coincides with a major reallocation of Coca-Cola’s global marketing business—one of the industry’s most coveted accounts—further signaling an era of renewed alignment and leadership recalibration at Publicis.
Ezekiel, who previously served as Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at WPP, had joined the holding company in 2019 from Publicis, where he held leadership roles within Digitas and other network agencies. At WPP, he was pivotal in leading growth initiatives and spearheading integrated client solutions across multiple markets. His return to Publicis comes at a time when the group is poised to capitalize on its recent creative and media wins—Coca-Cola being a key jewel in that crown.
A Return That Reflects Strategy and Synergy
Ezekiel’s comeback is not just symbolic—it’s deeply strategic. As Publicis deepens its engagement with The Coca-Cola Company, his global experience, strong client relationships, and integrated marketing acumen are expected to play a significant role in delivering on the beverage giant’s evolving demands. The Coca-Cola account, which spans over 200 markets, is among the largest and most complex in the world, requiring seamless collaboration across creative, media, data, and tech.
Sources close to the development suggest that Ezekiel will assume a senior global role (exact title yet to be confirmed) that will align with the expanded Coca-Cola remit and potentially other key global accounts.
Coca-Cola’s Evolving Agency Ecosystem
The move follows recent shifts in Coca-Cola’s global agency ecosystem. After awarding Publicis a substantial share of its marketing business in 2021 as part of its “Global Marketing Network,” the beverage giant has continued to streamline operations, aiming for more integrated and agile creative-media solutions worldwide. Publicis has been a core pillar of that ecosystem—alongside WPP, Interpublic Group, Dentsu, and others—with capabilities spanning content creation, commerce, personalization, and data analytics.
Now, with Ezekiel back in the fold, Publicis is expected to reinforce its ability to serve Coca-Cola with greater speed, global consistency, and creative impact—particularly as brands seek more unified storytelling and performance-driven campaigns in a fragmented media world.
Industry Reactions and What’s Next
Industry insiders are viewing Ezekiel’s return as both a smart play by Publicis and a reflective move by the executive himself—returning to familiar terrain during a moment of high stakes and opportunity. His leadership style, which blends commercial sharpness with collaborative ethos, aligns with Publicis CEO Arthur Sadoun’s vision of a “Power of One” model, where agencies deliver integrated, client-centric solutions.
While WPP has yet to announce a replacement for Ezekiel, the departure comes at a critical time for the holding company, which has recently undergone internal restructuring and leadership reshuffles across key markets.
For Publicis, however, the return of one of its former stars adds momentum to a year marked by aggressive growth, big wins, and bold transformation.
