Rose Herceg

President, WPP Australia and New Zealand

Rose Herceg has built a career as one of Australia’s most respected business leaders, today leading the world’s largest marketing services company, WPP, in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. 
Rose established herself as a futurist with the 1999 launch of her first business, Pophouse, where she became known for her social forecasting, innovation and business strategy. The business went on to be sold to STW Group, which later became part of WPP. Prior to being appointed as President of WPP in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, Rose was Chief Strategy Officer. 
Never one to not have her finger on society’s pulse, Rose today supports the world’s leading brands with their communications and business strategy. Born to a Croatian migrant family, Rose drives DEI through her leadership of over 3,000 people – a team made up of over 108 nationalities. 
Under her leadership, WPP was named as Australia’s only inclusive employer in the advertising industry, SXSW Sydney’s official partner, as well as one of the Australia Museum’s key sponsors in the creation of the Burra Learning Space – a state-of-the-art education space on Gadigal Country to help children and families learn to care for country. 
She is a regular industry contributor, having spoken at SXSW Sydney, Cannes in Cairns, Asia Tech x Singapore, on BBC’s Asia Business Report among others, and written for numerous titles including The Australian’s Growth Agenda. In 2024, Rose was the Cannes Lions Creative Data Jury President. She also sits on the board of the Advertising Council of Australia, the Australian Association of National Advertisers and the UNStereotype Alliance. 
Rose has written three books – her latest ‘The Power Book’ has been translated into several languages and is selling in Europe, Asia & the Middle East and is now launched in the US market. 
Rose received the Small Businesswoman of the Year Award from Prime Minister John Howard in 2002.