Saatchi & Saatchi executive chairman QUITS after gender debate storm
SAATCHI & Saatchi executive chairman Kevin Roberts has resigned in the wake of the gender debate storm.
Executive chairman Kevin Roberts has resigned following a gender row
The company's parent group Publicis confirmed his departure would take place next month.
Mr Roberts, 66, sparked controversy when he claimed that some women lacked "vertical ambition" and suggested that a lack of women in leadership roles was not "problem" in the advertising industry.
He admitted he had "inadvertently embarrassed" the firm with his "miscommunication".
I failed exceptionally fast
Mr Roberts said many women and men wanted to be happy and "do great work" instead of progressing up the management ladder.
But the head of Publicis Maurice Levy condemned the comments and the firm today confirmed his resignation.
The firm, in a statement, 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."
The 66-year-old sparked controversy after claiming women lacked 'vertical ambition'
The Saatchi & Saatchi boss admitted he had 'inadvertently embarrassed' the firm
British-born Mr Roberts, in a statement, that he released following his decision to step down said: "'Fail Fast, Fix Fast, Learn Fast' is a leadership maxim I advocate.
"I failed exceptionally fast."
Saatchi & Saatchi confirmed his departure today
Following Mr Robert's original comments, Maurice Levy, CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi's parent company Publicis Groupe, wrote to staff stressing its position on inclusion.
A statement said: "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."