WPP AUNZ lures Sunita Gloster from PwC to newly created role of chief customer officer

WPP AUNZ has appointed Sunita Gloster to the newly created role of chief customer officer (CCO) as part of its growth agenda in Australia and New Zealand.

Gloster joins less than a year after her previous stint at PwC’s CMO Advisory. This year she launched the CMO Growth Agenda the invitation-only capability development program for senior marketing leaders.

Prior to PwC, Gloster was chief commercial and strategy officer at Network Ten, joining in May 2017 from the CEO role at the AANA.

Gloster brings more than 25 years’ experience from the media and marketing industry both locally and internationally, having held senior leadership roles with global advertising agency networks and worked with marketers, media and the consulting sector.

Her new CCO role will report to WPP AUNZ’s new CEO, but in the interim Gloster will work closely with WPP AUNZ executive director, John Steedman and join the WPP AUNZ Leadership Team. 

Says Steedman: “Sunita is an exceptional connector of people and opportunity and a catalyst for action. She has a high level of credibility with our people locally and internationally, our clients and the market. Having Sunita focused on and championing our clients’ needs will be beneficial across all our partnerships.”

Steedman said the CCO role was a timely and pivotal leadership appointment for WPP AUNZ, with a key focus on growth and creating a leadership profile for the Group: “Through the lens of our clients, this role will ensure the WPP AUNZ offer addresses the needs of customers and partners in a challenging and complex time for marketing communications. The role will also draw upon expertise from WPP Global, while exploring new strategic partnerships that support and better integrate the existing operational units to drive growth for WPP AUNZ clients.”

Says Robert Mactier, chairman, WPP AUNZ: “Sunita is recognised for her leadership across the industry and has a unique perspective on the evolving needs of our clients through her varied executive experience.  Critically she has played a central role in many of the key issues that have shaped the industry in recent years and will sharpen our vision for change and growth by bringing a stronger marketer perspective to our agenda. This role is a critical new piece in how we shape WPP AUNZ.”

Says Gloster: “It is critical marketing continues to prove and reinforce its efficacy as a driver for sustainable growth.  That agenda remains a key challenge and opportunity not only for brands and organisations, but all the players in the media and marketing sectors.

“The spotlight is on WPP to navigate the acceleration in media, communications, customer experience and technology with an approach that meets the evolving needs of the market and enables marketers to deliver growth. The opportunity to be one of the architects in the plan that shapes WPP AUNZ for the future is one I couldn’t refuse.”

Gloster will take up her role at WPP AUNZ in January 2019.