WPP’s Sorrell: Agencies are obsessed with winning business just for the trade press headlines
Agencies are too focused on winning accounts for the trade press headlines, the boss of the world’s biggest marketing group WPP has said.
Sorrell: The ‘noise’ around account wins determines the standing of agency bosses
Speaking at Advertising Week in New York, WPP chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell said that around the world, agencies are still obsessed with getting coverage in the likes of US advertising title AdAge or UK title Campaign.
During the on-stage interview with New Yorker writer Ken Auletta, Sorrell said: “Our industry is too competitive. We are more keen to have the headline in AdAge or Campaign than reality.”
Pope: “Catholics are OBSESSED with following the catechism”.
The irony – you work for WPP!
No Martin
They are obsessed with winning awards. Because it is the only way the rank and file stand out in your behemoth
Funny little man. Did he forget he oversees a number of award obsessed agencies? Large ego’s competing for headlines and rankings instead of competing for tangible client value.
These industry events need to pull Sorrell up on his commentary at times. He regularly offers up thinking that contradicts reality in his vastly overrated empire.
it’s hilarious and sad that some contributors to this thread:
1. take a media story about some minor comments made by Sorrell as a personal insult
2. criticise a man who has achieved more than they ever could in 1000 lifetimes
Hope someone sent a memo to Connaghan?
I agree with Bob; I read Sorrell’s comment not as him saying “everyone else does it, but we don’t”. Instead, to me, it sounded like he was saying “as a whole industry this is something that we’re all falling into”.
He contradicts himself a lot, I agree with you 100%. Most of the agencies under his remit, are obsessed with new business wins, often at the expense of their people. But hey, a new pitch win creates a great headline.
A bit rich coming from the kingpin.
How the feckless hang on the words of an accountant.