GroupM has announced that Kelly Clark is to take over as global CEO, with president Dominic Proctor stepping down to focus on other “strategic projects” across WPP.

Clark most recently served as chief executive of GroupM North America, and previously headed up the media management division in Europe between 2005 and 2008. He also led Maxus globally between 2008 and 2012, and started his career at J. Walter Thompson New York in 1988.

He now becomes one of the most influential figures in international media, with GroupM – and its businesses MediaCom, Mindshare, MEC, Maxus, Xaxis and Essence – managing a third of the world’s measured media.

“Kelly has demonstrated inspiring leadership at every turn in his career, and he has earned the respect of our clients and our people,” said GroupM global chairman Irwin Gotlieb. “He has broad experience in North America, Asia and Europe and is focused intensely on delivering advantage to our clients. I am looking forward to working with him to build on our momentum.”

Clark commented: “GroupM is in a great position to help our clients win in an incredibly competitive marketplace. Our investments in data, technology and most importantly, our talented people will help us achieve that ambition. It will require a lot of change and a united focus, so I can’t wait to get started with Irwin and our leadership team.”

Regarding the departure of Proctor, Gotlieb added: “Dominic helped make Mindshare and GroupM the successful global businesses they are today. It has been a great pleasure to work side by side with Dominic over many years and we all wish him the very best.”

Proctor joined GroupM as president in 2012, having famously launched Mindshare globally 1997.

He spoke at this year’s Festival of Media Global in Rome, arguing that agencies must transition to become a “data management business as well as media investment management businesses”.