In June of 2020 Mark announced WPP’s set of commitments to combat racial injustice and support Black and minority ethnic talent, which included pledging $30m over the next three years to fund inclusion programs and support anti-racism charities. Since then he has continued to take steps to improve diversity and inclusion, launching an initiative called NextGen Leaders which sees WPP working with 300 colleges and universities, including HBCUs, to build a diverse future talent pool. Of the program’s first 850 participants, 50% were students of color. Mark also established a Global Inclusion Council where underrepresented voices can advise on D&I goals, recommend new systems and identify barriers to progress. In October 2020, WPP appointed its first Black Board Member, Tom Ilube, while for the first time from 2021, Mark introduced D&I goals into WPP Senior Leaders’ annual incentive plans.