Social Mixer 2024 Singapore
marketing interactive Content360 Singapore 2024 Content360 Singapore 2024
marketing interactive

Kevin Roberts resigns from Saatchi & Saatchi

share on

Kevin Roberts is resigning from Saatchi & Saatchi following his gender bias comments. Roberts was Saatchi & Saatchi executive chairman and Publicis Groupe head coach. Publicis Groupe confirmed the move through a press statement.Soon after the comments he made in the Business Insider interview, Roberts was put on gardening leave. In the interview, Roberts declared the gender diversity debate in the advertising industry to be “over” and that people arguing about gender bias are “debating an issue that isn’t really there”. He stated that many women tend not to have ambitions to become a C-suite executive, but instead are content with doing great work at another level.Publicis Groupe chairman & CEO, Maurice Lévy addressed a statement internally to all Publicis Groupe employees to reiterate the Groupe’s no-tolerance policy towards to such behaviour or commentary.“It is for the gravity of these statements that Kevin Roberts has been asked to take a leave of absence from Publicis Groupe effective immediately. As a member of The Directoire, it will ultimately be the Publicis Groupe Supervisory Board’s duty to further evaluate his standing. Diversity & inclusion are business imperatives on which Publicis Groupe will not negotiate,” the press statement read.

share on

Follow us on our Telegram channel for the latest updates in the marketing and advertising scene.
Follow

Free newsletter

Get the daily lowdown on Asia's top marketing stories.

We break down the big and messy topics of the day so you're updated on the most important developments in Asia's marketing development – for free.

subscribe now open in new window