Read's predecessor Martin Sorrell, who left WPP in April following an investigation into misconduct, has been described as a big personality and a forceful leader that changed the face of the ad world.
As far back as a dozen years ago, Read was considered to be one of Sorrell's right-hand executives and someone in whom Sorrell believed.
He eventually left to work at consultancy Booz Allen Hamilton's entertainment and media practice before founding WebRewards, a consumer-affinity company that ultimately sold to Bertelsman.
Asked in April which direction WPP should look to the future, multiple executives told Ad Age the largest holding company should look for a woman or ethnically diverse candidate to take over.
Hiefield, who said she worked with Read closely since the inception of Possible, calls him smart, approachable and said he's someone whose leadership she's benefited from.
As many of the challenges for the industry drag on, many industry experts say Read will need to steer the ship in a new way.
Michael Farmer, chairman and CEO of Farmer & Co., said WPP is like other holding companies in that it has suffered declining prices and shortened relationships for the work it does, making it difficult for the company to show continued share price growth.
He added that there needs to be a means for WPP's global account leads to access all the holding company's resources as opposed to a team or a collection of a few.
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