Kevin Roberts, chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi and a head coach at its parent company, Publicis Groupe, is under fire for saying that the gender diversity debate is “all over.”
In an interview with Business Insider, Roberts said gender diversity isn’t an issue in the advertising industry and that he doesn’t spend “any time” on it. He pointed to other industries, such as financial services, where he said there are “problems left, right and center.”
When asked about advertising consultant Cindy Gallop’s tweet about sexual harassment and gender diversity in the media and advertising industries, Roberts said: "I think she's got problems that are of her own making. I think she's making up a lot of the stuff to create a profile, and to take applause, and to get on a soap[box]."
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Roberts said that although he doesn’t see a problem with gender diversity—Publicis Groupe’s staff is half female and 65 percent of Saatchi & Saatchi’s team is female—many women don’t want to take on executive roles. He said agencies should look at that phenomenon in a different sense:
If you think about those Darwinian urges of wealth, power, and fame — they are not terribly effective in today's world for a millennial because they want connectivity and collaboration. They feel like they can get that without managing and leading, so maybe we have got the definition wrong.
Roberts continued:
So we are trying to impose our antiquated [s**t] on [women], and they are going: “Actually guys, you're missing the point, you don't understand: 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 dinosaur-like men judge yourself by.” I don't think [the lack of women in leadership roles] is a problem. I'm just not worried about it because they are very happy, they're very successful, and doing great work. I can't talk about sexual discrimination because we've never had that problem, thank goodness.
Several female communicators took to Twitter to criticize Roberts and his comments. Here’s a sampling of the backlash:
@KRConnect this makes me, a driven female agency employee (Yes! We exist!) never want to work for you. @cindygallop https://t.co/uRiUysLXCy
— Emily Prevost (@emilyprevost) July 30, 2016
@KRConnect you think we are making this up? have you ever actually spoken to a woman? I am grateful to have @cindygallop as a role model.
— Megha Desai (@Meghatron5) July 29, 2016
@KRConnect-my daughter will hopefully one day join our business. she'll get a better deal bc of the courage of @cindygallop. Pls go away now
— macdelaney (@macdelaney) July 31, 2016
PepsiCo’s president, Brad Jakeman, responded with a series of tweets:
@businessinsider proud to say that I am NOT a client of @wwsaatchi & calls 2 friends who R 2 read this. @KRConnect #whitemenofadvertising.
— BradJakeman (@BradJakeman) July 29, 2016
@businessinsider hardly a #lovemark @KRConnect . More like #ignorantmark. #whitemenofadland. #apaulling. #madmenliveson.
— BradJakeman (@BradJakeman) July 29, 2016
@businessinsider what's wrong w/the ad biz right here. #whitemenofadland. @KRConnect suggest u reach out 2 @cindygallop 2 educate urself.
— BradJakeman (@BradJakeman) July 29, 2016
@businessinsider @krconnect on behalf of senior clients everywhere thx 4 proving just how out of touch u really are. #whiteguysofadland
— BradJakeman (@BradJakeman) July 29, 2016
On Saturday, Publicis Groupe released the following statement:
Following the comments made by Saatchi & Saatchi Executive Chairman and Publicis Groupe Head Coach, Kevin Roberts, in a recent interview with Business Insider, Publicis Groupe Chairman & CEO, Maurice Lévy addressed a statement internally to all Publicis Groupe employees to reiterate the Groupe’s no-tolerance policy towards behavior or commentary counter to the spirit of Publicis Groupe and its celebration of difference as captured in the motto Viva la Difference!
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. While fostering a work environment that is inclusive of all talent is a collective responsibility, it is leadership’s job to nurture the career aspirations and goals of all our talent.
Promoting gender equality starts at the top and the Groupe will not tolerate anyone speaking for our organization who does not value the importance of inclusion. Publicis Groupe works very hard to champion diversity and will continue to insist that each agency’s leadership be champions of both diversity and inclusion.
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