Eklat: Publicis-Gruppe beurlaubt Saatchi-Chairman Kevin Roberts

Die französische Agentur-Holding gab am gestrigen Samstagabend bekannt, dass Kevin Roberts, Executive Chairman des Networks Saatchi & Saatchi und auch Head Coach der Publicis-Gruppe, mit sofortiger Wirkung von seinen Aufgaben beurlaubt wurde. Anlass für diesen Schritt ist ein Interview, dass Kevin Roberts dem Magazin 'Business Insider' gab und das nun hohe Wellen schlägt. In diesem Interview stellt Roberts nach Einschätzung der Publicis-Führung die Agentur-Grundsätze "Diversity & Inclusion" in Frage.

Publicis-Chef Maurice Levy kennt hier kein Pardon und verkündete in einem internen Memo an alle Beschäftigten der Holding, dass er das Verhalten von Kevin Roberts nicht dulden bzw. akzeptieren wird.

Hier der Wortlaut der Presse-Info zur Beurlaubung von Kevin Roberts: "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.

Hier geht es zum Business-Insider-Interview von Kevin Roberts.

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