Sir Martin Sorrell makes first Cannes Lions 2018 appearance at Irish pub, criticises WPP over its handling of his forced departure
Sir Martin Sorrell has used his first public appearance since being forced to leave the advertising group WPP to criticise the board of his former company, dismiss suggestions that he paid for a sex worker on company expenses, and complain he was not treated fairly.
“What has happened could have come out significantly differently,” he said. “I’ll just leave it at that. There were other courses of action which were open to the company, which they did not take.”
Sorrell dismissed the “scurrilous and salacious stuff that has been thrown around” about his departure in what he called a “ridiculous” press frenzy.
Earlier this month the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported one strand of the investigation that led to his departure was an allegation he used company money to pay for a sex worker, which he strenuously denied.
5 Comments
Good riddance
WPP not treating you “fairly”….welcome to the club Sir Marts…
I thought he resigned?
Q: Where did I see this before? One day, a high flying adman or creative who runs business like a personal Kingdom, aided by an inner circle of ‘yes men’, and charging whatever he wants to company expenses. And now, on his own, muttering in the corner of a pub, saying how the agency model is broken and how he’s coming back into the game- smarter and bigger than before.
A: Oh yes! Every ad boss after getting ‘resigned’.
Try getting fired 9 times…