HomeNotificationsNewslettersNextShare
Advertising

Saatchi & Saatchi chairman Kevin Roberts has resigned following his controversial gender diversity comments

kevin roberts saatchi

Kevin Roberts

Kevin Roberts.

Kevin Roberts, the executive chairman of advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi and head coach at parent company Publicis Groupe has resigned.

The announcement comes just days after he was placed "on leave" by Publicis following controversial comments he made to Business Insider about gender diversity in the advertising industry.

In an interview published Friday, Roberts had declared the gender diversity debate in the advertising industry was "over."

In a statement, Publicis Groupe said: "The Supervisory Board and the Chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe took note of Kevin Robert's decision to step down with effect from September 1st 2016, prior to his retirement date due in May 2017."

Kevin Roberts also provided his own statement, apologizing his "miscommonuction" had caused upset and offense:

"Fail Fast, Fix Fast, Learn Fast" is a leadership maxim I advocate.
When discussing with Business Insider evolving career priorities and new ways of work/life integration, I failed exceptionally fast.
My miscommunication on a number of points has caused upset and offence, and for this I am sorry.
I have inadvertently embarrassed Saatchi & Saatchi and Publicis Groupe, two companies I love and have been devoted to for almost 20 years.
I have expressed my regret and apology to the companies for the furor my remarks and language stimulated, and I extend this to colleagues, staff and clients.
So that we can all move forward, I am bringing forward my May 1, 2017, retirement from the company, and will leave the Groupe on September 1, 2016.
There is a lot of learning to reflect on, and within the thousands of tweets, comments and articles there are many powerful and passionate contributions on the changing nature of the workplace, the work we do, what success really looks like, and what companies must do to provide women and men the optimal frameworks in which to flourish.
I believe that new thinking, frameworks and measures are needed to make more rapid progress on diversity in all its forms, in all professions and occupations. Hopefully, the focus on this serious and complex issue will gather momentum.

More follows