The New York Post reported on a lawsuit charging JWT Worldwide Chairman and CEO Gustavo Martinez engaged in sexist, racist and abusive behavior. Martinez allegedly made comments about raping co-workers, grabbed a female associate by the neck, called Blacks “monkeys” and “apes” and spewed anti-Semitic remarks. Surely this couldn’t have happened at a WPP agency, as the holding company’s people “represent perhaps the most diverse example of diversity” imaginable—especially during Women’s History Month. Martinez, incidentally, is a native of Argentina. Then again, diversity doesn’t negate ignorance, so Martinez could represent perhaps the most perverse example of perversity in the field. Meanwhile, WPP issued an internal memo stating, “WPP lawyers have been conducting an inquiry into previous correspondence on these matters since Feb 25 and has found nothing as yet to substantiate these charges.” Oh, and it appears the lawyers are also investigating Kinetic Worldwide CEO Mauricio Sabogal for a blog post he wrote that allegedly contained “offensive and discriminatory treatment and views of Americans.” Sabogal, incidentally, is a native of Colombia. The recruiters at Campbell Ewald are probably inquiring about poaching Martinez and Sabogal right now.
The Editor in Chief of Campaign magazine is confirming the woman's story, apparently.
ReplyDeleteHe heard some of the guy's slurs with his own ears.
http://www.campaignlive.com/article/et-tu-gustavo/1386963
This is going to get interesting :/