Sexism row Saatchi boss suspended
THE boss of the world’s most famous advertising agency was last night suspended after he claimed that women lack ‘vertical ambition’.
Kevin Roberts, chairman of Saatchi and Saatchi, also said that low numbers of women in senior roles was ‘not a problem’.
His remarks prompted accusations of sexism and misogyny.
But after Saatchi and Saatchi’s parent company placed him ‘on leave’, his supporters said he had been hung out to dry by the politically correct brigade.
Mr Roberts, 66, gave a candid interview in which he suggested female executives in advertising were ‘happier’ working for men than being the boss.
To the fury of feminists and equality campaigners, he said: ‘The debate [about gender bias] is all over. We have a bunch of talented, creative females, but they reach a certain point in their careers … when we are ready to make them a creative director of a big piece of business [but they say], “I don’t want to manage a piece of business and people”.’
Suggesting ‘dinosaur-like men’ were trying to make women conform to ‘Darwinian urges of wealth, power, and fame’, he added: ‘So we are trying to impose our antiquated [ideas] on them, and they are going, “Actually guys, you’re missing the point … I’m way happier than you”.
‘Their ambition is not a vertical ambition, it’s this intrinsic, circular ambition to be happy. So they say, “We are not judging ourselves by those standards that you idiotic dinosaurlike men judge yourself by”.’
Mr Roberts is also ‘head coach’ of the ad agency’s Parisbased parent firm Publicis Groupe, which yesterday suspended him. Maurice Levy, chief executive of Publicis, said: ‘It is for the gravity of these statements that Kevin Roberts has been asked to take a leave of absence .
‘Promoting gender equality starts at the top and the Groupe will not tolerate anyone speaking for our organisation who does not value the importance of inclusion.’
Mr Roberts’ suspension, after 20 years at the agency’s helm, was celebrated by campaigners. Lisen Stromberg – of The 3% Conference, set up in 2010 when that was the proportion of women in top advertising roles – wrote on Twitter: ‘Congrats to Publicis Groupe and Maurice Levy for refusing to tolerate gender bias.’
But Julia Hartley-Brewer, a TalkRadio host, said the decision to suspend Mr Roberts was ‘utterly bizarre’, adding: He has been disciplined for saying out loud what every woman I know thinks.’
Twitter user Peta Tracey called it a ‘ridiculous overreaction’, while Rick Wilson wrote: ‘I think Saatchi have hung Kevin Roberts out to dry.’
Supporters said the remarks by New York-based Mr Roberts, whose wife Rowena is a successful businesswoman, had been misconstrued because he was actually saying women were taking more control of their lives.
Following Mr Roberts’ interview, with Australian publication Business Insider, his future depends on the Publicis board which will decide whether or not to take further action.