Potential successors to Sir Martin Sorrell, the besieged chief executive of WPP, have been identified in preparations for life after the long-serving boss.
Internal candidates have attended board meetings as part of the succession planning and are in contention along with a “constantly refined list of external candidates”.
The preparations, which are outlined in WPP’s annual report published last year, include plans for unforeseen changes at the top “in the event of sudden emergencies”.
Sir Martin’s tenure has been thrown into doubt after it emerged last week that the WPP board had begun an investigation into an allegations of personal misconduct against him.
A source said yesterday that the succession planning for more sudden changes encompassed the current circumstances surrounding Sir Martin.
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