Advertising giant WPP has appointed Roberto Quarta to succeed chairman Philip Lader and to join the board as a non-executive director.

Quarta will join the board in January, before his ascension to chairman next summer.

Quarta is currently chairman of Smith & Nephew plc, a FTSE 100 global medical technology company and chairman of IMI plc, a FTSE 250 engineering business. He is also a partner at the private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and a non-executive director at Spie SA.

Lader announced his plan to step down after 14 years as chairman in the company’s last annual report issued in April 2014, but was requested to continue until Quarta could step in.

Lader said: “Roberto brings to WPP extensive, diverse experience in corporate governance and global commerce… This completes our refreshment of the board.”

Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of the group said that Quarta’s experience and background will help to “develop WPP’s strategy in new markets, in new media, in data investment management and the application of technology.”

Quarta said: “It is a great honour to join the board of WPP, a global leader in its field and an outstanding success story in British business. I look forward to working with the board to help the company as it continues to build leadership positions in the fast changing media markets.”

In October, WPP reported slowing sales growth in its third-quarter revenues, but continues to grow at a faster pace than rivals Publicis and Omnicom.