About

David Roth

CEO, The Store – WPP, Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia, Chairman BrandZ and BAV Group

David started his career at the House of Commons working for a member of the UK Parliament. He swapped politics for the cut and thrust of advertising. Joining Bates Dorland, he became main board director for strategy, Managing Director of the consulting and digital divisions and CEO of the worldwide retail and technology centre of excellence. David joined Kingfisher’s B&Q plc, sitting on the main board of directors as UK and International Marketing and Strategy Director. David was on the management team that led B&Q’s international expansion to Eastern Europe and Asia including China where he lived in Shanghai for a while.

At WPP David is CEO of The Store, EMEA and Asia, the WPP Global Retail Practice and Chairman of BrandZ and BAV Group. David leads WPP BrandZ, the world’s largest brand equity study. David is an acknowledged expert in Branding and Consumer change in China. He is a leading authority on digital, Artificial Intelligence and voice recognition in retail.

David has authored a number of books and studies, including “A History of Retail in 100 Objects”; “The Third Era of Digital Retailing”; “Smart Shopping – How Artificial Intelligence is transforming the retail conversation”; “Retailing to the customer of one. How mass customisation and IoT makes the personal possible and profitable”;  “The Thoughts of Chairmen Now: Wisdom and Insights from China’s Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs”; “The China Dream” and his latest Book “Brand Stories” celebrating the enduring power of iconic brands. He is advising extensively on the consumer impact of COVID in China and across the world including the radical transformations the COVID impact will have that will redefine retail.

David is also a documentary film maker his latest two films are China business related. A film on Haier and Alibaba.

He broadcasts and lectures around the world including BBC, CCTV China, Phoenix TV China, CNBC, Yale, CKGSB and Cambridge Universities and The World Economic Forum, Davos.

David is a former non-executive director of the NGO, “TFT”, an organisation dedicated to sustainable production. He is Chairman of the Centre for International Business and Management (CIBAM) where Academics, Business and Policy Makers meet with activities taking place at Queens’ College, University of Cambridge.

David is an enthusiastic photographer with a mission to move from enthusiastic to good.

Twitter: davidrothlondon, Blog: davidroth.com