Data Steward Lead: Sales & Marketing

WPP is at the forefront of the largest transformation in the marketing and advertising industry. Under the leadership of our Global CIO, we are evolving our Enterprise Technology capabilities by bringing together over 2,500 technology professionals into a single, integrated global organisation. This team will play a critical role in enabling the continued transformation of our agencies and corporate functions.

The Data Steward Lead is responsible for establishing and embedding robust data governance, data quality, and data management practices across WPP’s Global CRM Programme. This programme is consolidating multiple legacy CRM systems into a single, enterprise-wide Microsoft Dynamics platform.

The role ensures that CRM data is trusted, consistent, secure, and fit for purpose, supporting reliable reporting, advanced analytics, AI-driven capabilities, and regulatory compliance across agencies, markets, and clients.

Operating within a centrally governed yet locally deployed model, the Data Steward Lead balances global data standards with the practical realities of individual markets—preventing fragmentation while enabling scalability.

Working closely with business, functional, integration, and delivery leaders, this role ensures that CRM data is treated as a strategic asset, rather than a by-product of delivery.

• Define and own the CRM data governance framework, including data ownership, stewardship, standards, and decision rights
• Establish and maintain enterprise-wide CRM data definitions, taxonomies, and reference data structures (e.g. client, account, opportunity, pipeline)
• Lead initiatives to improve data quality, completeness, and consistency, embedding controls into both processes and platform design
• Partner closely with the CRM Functional Lead and Design Authority to ensure data considerations are integral to all functional decisions, not treated as an afterthought
• Collaborate with the Systems & Data Integration Lead to ensure data flows and integrations preserve data integrity across the enterprise ecosystem
• Oversee data migration, validation, and reconciliation activities as markets transition from legacy CRM platforms
• Ensure alignment with data privacy, security, and regulatory requirements, working closely with Data Privacy and Risk teams
• Define and track data-related KPIs to monitor adoption, data quality, and value realisation
• Act as the escalation point for data-related risks, issues, and non-compliance across the programme
• The role works closely with the CRM Design Authority and Technology Delivery Programme Board to ensure data governance is fully embedded into functional design, integration patterns, and delivery decisions.

• Proven experience leading data governance and data management initiatives within large-scale, global technology or platform transformations
• Strong understanding of data quality, master data management (MDM), metadata, and data stewardship within complex organisations
• Experience working with CRM and enterprise platforms, ideally within multi-business or federated environments
• Ability to balance global data standards with local operational needs, driving compliance through influence rather than mandate
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging senior business, technology, and compliance leaders
• Experience partnering with system integrators and delivery teams to embed data governance into delivery execution
• A pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset, with strong attention to detail and a focus on long-term sustainability
• Ability to communicate complex data concepts clearly and effectively to non-technical audiences