WPP’s Australian bosses should worry about their own performance, says Sorrell
WPP founder Sir Martin Sorrell has swung back at a suggestion from two of his most senior former Australian executives that he is guilty of hypocrisy in attacking the running of the organisation since he departed.
Speaking to an industry podcast, John Steedman, acting CEO of WPP Australia, said Sorrell needs to “get over” his ousting. And Greg Graham, who was group marketing director of WPP locally until earlier this year, accused Sorrell of hypocrisy for attacking the company he built.
But Sorrell told Mumbrella that Steedman should instead focus on the running of the ASX-listed WPP AUNZ.
Sir Martin left WPP in April last year after an acrimonious investigation into what was described as “personal misconduct”
Seriously if i worked for a wpp agency and this guy walked in the door [edited under Mumbrella’s community guidelines] ‘cause I’d know where my pay rise had gone.
He’ll hath no fury like a mumbrella scorned.
I did wonder whether somebody would suggest that. (For readers not up to speed, the commenter is referring to John Steedman’s taking issue with industry websites that allow anonymous comment.)
That’s not the case. I’d have written the story in exactly the same way.
Newsworthy:
WPP, Australia’s largest communications holding group, has hit the lowest share price in its history.
Newsworthy:
John Steedman and Greg Graham have publicly called their old boss a hypocrite.
Newsworthy:
Sir Martin Sorrell, the world’s most famous advertising executive has responded.
Newsworthy:
The new WPP boss is likely to be the best paid executive in Australian advertising history.
Any journalist who wouldn’t report all of that must be very keen to keep WPP happy.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
This TL;DR is even more entertaining than the original article.
Also, pedant in me would be ashamed if I didn’t ask @Thin Skin Tim who “he” is, and why will he hath no fury?
Well said Sparrow and Steady, and well done Mumbrella for covering it.
Time to grab the popcorn and pull up an armchair…
[Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]
“Bitch bitch”
“How dare he bitch at me”
“How dare he reply to my bitching at him”
“How dare he bitch at me for replying to his bitching at me”
“How dare he think he can bitch at me….”
Ad infinitum.
Newsworthy:
WPP, Australia’s largest communications holding group, has hit the lowest share price in its history.
All the rest belongs in New Idea.
…really?
This ain’t the AFR. Industry gossip is always going to be (a much loved) part of this forum.
I was approached by WPP about an executive level position but we couldn’t agree on the money. I felt low-balled and now I know why. They’ve got a 5.5M dollar salary they have to pay.
Steady wouldn’t like it for someone to plot ‘time appointed acting Chairman’ and WPP AUNZ’s share price. For a corporate windsurfer, defined in simple terms as – someone with all care and no responsibility – it’s easy to comment on Sorrell who punted everything and, in most part ‘won’, beyond the dreams of [edited under Mumbrella’s community guidelines] in Australia like the two commenters here who Sorrell made rich without them needing to take any risk of their own.
Everyone is missing the point. “Steady” and “Sparrow” are great mates that go back many years. The fact that WPP AUNZ revenue is down has nothing to do with them. 44% is nothing. They are good blokes. This new guy on $5m will definitely sort out something where there is not a problem?