Axelrod will join the WPP board and will be responsible for the recruitment, development and retention of WPP鈥檚 people worldwide.
She will work closely with WPP鈥檚 operating companies to create personnel management practices and build an environment and organisation that enables talented people to flourish.
Sir Martin Sorrell, WPP CEO, said: "The critical differentiator in our industry is the quality of our people. Beth's business strategy, personnel management and organisational background will add leadership and insight to our talent-building efforts. Her appointment will clearly enable us to raise our game, as we put talent at the centre of our agenda and make WPP a more distinctively attractive place for talented people in our industry."
Axelrod spent 12 years with McKinsey, during which time she has advised clients on strategy and organisational issues across a broad range of industries, including professional services, consumer products, telecommunications, healthcare and energy sectors.
She is currently the leader of McKinsey's "war for talent" research and client development efforts and a co-leader of McKinsey's global organisation and leadership practice. She co-authored 'The War for Talent', published in November 2001 by Harvard Business School Press.
Axelrod has an masters degree in public and private management from Yale University and a BA in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to McKinsey, she worked in mergers and acquisitions for First Boston in New York and London.
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