The announcement was made at WPP's Shanghai Board Meeting.
SMG maintains a complete portfolio of media and related businesses, including television, radio, print media, digital media, home shopping, content distribution, performing arts, training. Under his leadership, SMG's revenue has grown four-fold from Rmb 1.8 billion (US$269.9 million) in 2001 to Rmb 7.5 billion in 2009.
Li is also the chairman of China Media Capital (CMC), China's first and only sovereign private equity fund dedicated to the media sector both within China and abroad. CMC recently announced a partnership with News Corporation's Star China to develop their joint interests in developing growth opportunities in the operational and investment platforms in China and overseas markets.
Another new member of the WPP board is Solomon ("Sol") Trujillo, principal of Trujillo Group LLC. Trujillo is an experienced international business executive, having served as CEO on three continents in media communications organizations. He is a member of corporate boards in many countries, including Silk Road Technologies in China, where he is board chairman.