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| The allegations against WPP's former chief, Martin Sorrell, pile up | The allegations against WPP's former chief, Martin Sorrell, pile up |
| (7 months later) | |
| Several allegations have emerged about Sir Martin Sorrell in the wake of his resignation as chief executive of advertising giant WPP, which was investigating claims of personal misconduct. A company probe is understood to have found no evidence that company money was misused. | Several allegations have emerged about Sir Martin Sorrell in the wake of his resignation as chief executive of advertising giant WPP, which was investigating claims of personal misconduct. A company probe is understood to have found no evidence that company money was misused. |
| As reports have emerged about the circumstances surrounding Sorrell’s exit, allegations about his conduct have piled up. Sorrell strenuously denies any wrongdoing. | As reports have emerged about the circumstances surrounding Sorrell’s exit, allegations about his conduct have piled up. Sorrell strenuously denies any wrongdoing. |
| Roberto Quarta | Roberto Quarta |
| Role: executive chairmanTime with company: three yearsPay in 2017: £475,000 | Role: executive chairmanTime with company: three yearsPay in 2017: £475,000 |
| The Italian-American businessman, who is 69, has taken on Sir Martin Sorrell’s executive responsibilities while the company looks for a successor. The shareholder advisory group Glass Lewis has expressed concern about his ability to juggle his new duties as he is also chairman of another FTSE 100 company, the medical equipment firm Smith & Nephew. | The Italian-American businessman, who is 69, has taken on Sir Martin Sorrell’s executive responsibilities while the company looks for a successor. The shareholder advisory group Glass Lewis has expressed concern about his ability to juggle his new duties as he is also chairman of another FTSE 100 company, the medical equipment firm Smith & Nephew. |
| Paul Richardson | Paul Richardson |
| Role: finance directorTime with company: 26 yearsPay in 2017: £3.8m | Role: finance directorTime with company: 26 yearsPay in 2017: £3.8m |
| The finance chief of WPP has worked hand in glove with Sorrell for 22 of the 33 years that WPP has existed, having been appointed to the position in 1996. | The finance chief of WPP has worked hand in glove with Sorrell for 22 of the 33 years that WPP has existed, having been appointed to the position in 1996. |
| Sir John Hood | Sir John Hood |
| Role: pay committee chair, non-executiveTime with company: four yearsPay in 2017: £110,000 | Role: pay committee chair, non-executiveTime with company: four yearsPay in 2017: £110,000 |
| The New Zealand businessman oversees the company’s pay arrangements, which have come under scrutiny due to the multimillion-pound share awards that Sorrell has typically been awarded. The 66-year-old former vice-chancellor of Oxford University will handle discussions with shareholders about the financial package handed to Sorrell on his exit. Some investors are angry that he is being treated as a “good leaver”, entitling him to at least £14m in payments, despite a lack of transparency about the allegations levelled against him. | The New Zealand businessman oversees the company’s pay arrangements, which have come under scrutiny due to the multimillion-pound share awards that Sorrell has typically been awarded. The 66-year-old former vice-chancellor of Oxford University will handle discussions with shareholders about the financial package handed to Sorrell on his exit. Some investors are angry that he is being treated as a “good leaver”, entitling him to at least £14m in payments, despite a lack of transparency about the allegations levelled against him. |
| Nicole Seligman | Nicole Seligman |
| Role: senior independent director, non-executiveTime with company: four yearsPay in 2017: £91,000 | Role: senior independent director, non-executiveTime with company: four yearsPay in 2017: £91,000 |
| The former president of Sony Entertainment is a highly respected legal mind who has provided legal counsel for a string of major companies and is a former clerk for a US supreme court justice. The 61-year-old, who also defended Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, is also a former associate editorial page editor for the Asian edition of the Wall Street Journal, the newspaper that first revealed details of WPP’s investigation into Sorrell. | The former president of Sony Entertainment is a highly respected legal mind who has provided legal counsel for a string of major companies and is a former clerk for a US supreme court justice. The 61-year-old, who also defended Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, is also a former associate editorial page editor for the Asian edition of the Wall Street Journal, the newspaper that first revealed details of WPP’s investigation into Sorrell. |
| Jacques Aigrain | Jacques Aigrain |
| Role: audit committee chair, non-executiveTime with company: five yearsPay in 2017: £130,000 | Role: audit committee chair, non-executiveTime with company: five yearsPay in 2017: £130,000 |
| The dual French-Swiss citizen has enjoyed a long and prestigious career in the financial services industry, 20 years of it with the Wall Street bank JPMorgan Chase. | The dual French-Swiss citizen has enjoyed a long and prestigious career in the financial services industry, 20 years of it with the Wall Street bank JPMorgan Chase. |
| Tarek Farahat | Tarek Farahat |
| Role: non-executiveTime with company: two yearsPay in 2017: £87,000 | Role: non-executiveTime with company: two yearsPay in 2017: £87,000 |
| Farahat, a 54-year-old Egyptian-Brazilian, spent 26 years with the household goods firm Procter & Gamble, in marketing and executive management roles, eventually becoming president. P&G is the world’s biggest advertiser and a major client of WPP. | Farahat, a 54-year-old Egyptian-Brazilian, spent 26 years with the household goods firm Procter & Gamble, in marketing and executive management roles, eventually becoming president. P&G is the world’s biggest advertiser and a major client of WPP. |
| Ruigang Li | Ruigang Li |
| Role: non-executiveTime with company: eight yearsPay in 2017: £80,000 | Role: non-executiveTime with company: eight yearsPay in 2017: £80,000 |
| One of the company’s key sources of insight into the Chinese market, he is the founding chairman of CMC Capital Partners and CMC Holdings, Chinese platforms for media and entertainment investment and operations. The 49-year-old has been described as China’s Rupert Murdoch thanks to his media empire-building. | One of the company’s key sources of insight into the Chinese market, he is the founding chairman of CMC Capital Partners and CMC Holdings, Chinese platforms for media and entertainment investment and operations. The 49-year-old has been described as China’s Rupert Murdoch thanks to his media empire-building. |
| Sol Trujillo | Sol Trujillo |
| Role: non-executiveTime with company: eight yearsPay in 2017: £90,000 | Role: non-executiveTime with company: eight yearsPay in 2017: £90,000 |
| Trujillo has been chief executive of multiple companies across the world, including Orange and Telstra, over three decades. Trujillo, 66, has particular experience in communications and technology and was an early champion of high-speed broadband. | Trujillo has been chief executive of multiple companies across the world, including Orange and Telstra, over three decades. Trujillo, 66, has particular experience in communications and technology and was an early champion of high-speed broadband. |
| Daniela Riccardi | Daniela Riccardi |
| Role: non-executiveTime with company: five yearsPay in 2017: £80,000 | Role: non-executiveTime with company: five yearsPay in 2017: £80,000 |
| Riccardi is WPP’s retail guru, offering insight into consumer goods. The Italian is the chief executive of the luxury crystal firm Baccarat and was previously the chief executive of the international fashion brand Diesel. | Riccardi is WPP’s retail guru, offering insight into consumer goods. The Italian is the chief executive of the luxury crystal firm Baccarat and was previously the chief executive of the international fashion brand Diesel. |
| Hugo Shong | Hugo Shong |
| Role: non-executiveTime with company: five yearsPay in 2017: £80,000 | Role: non-executiveTime with company: five yearsPay in 2017: £80,000 |
| A marketing and publishing expert with extensive experience of China and other Asian markets. The former journalist formed China’s first technology venture capital firm, IDG Capital Partners, which was to invest in a string of China’s most successful internet companies such as Baidu and Tencent. | A marketing and publishing expert with extensive experience of China and other Asian markets. The former journalist formed China’s first technology venture capital firm, IDG Capital Partners, which was to invest in a string of China’s most successful internet companies such as Baidu and Tencent. |
| Sally Susman | Sally Susman |
| Role: non-executiveTime with company: five yearsPay in 2017: £80,000 | Role: non-executiveTime with company: five yearsPay in 2017: £80,000 |
| Susman, 56, is the executive vice-president of corporate affairs at the world’s largest pharmaceuticals company, Pfizer. She also has far-reaching experience in corporate responsibility and governance. | Susman, 56, is the executive vice-president of corporate affairs at the world’s largest pharmaceuticals company, Pfizer. She also has far-reaching experience in corporate responsibility and governance. |
| Allegations about his conduct, revealed in an account of his departure by the Financial Times, include: | Allegations about his conduct, revealed in an account of his departure by the Financial Times, include: |
| Two employees saw him entering a premises in London’s Shepherd Market, Mayfair, that is occupied by sex workers for the purposes of their trade. | Two employees saw him entering a premises in London’s Shepherd Market, Mayfair, that is occupied by sex workers for the purposes of their trade. |
| That WPP staff were concerned he may have used company funds to pay for the alleged visit, after previously having concerns about his use of expenses. | That WPP staff were concerned he may have used company funds to pay for the alleged visit, after previously having concerns about his use of expenses. |
| Sorrell had a reputation for bullying his executive assistants and had created a fear culture at the company’s headquarters. | Sorrell had a reputation for bullying his executive assistants and had created a fear culture at the company’s headquarters. |
| Staff feared he was misusing company resources for himself and his wife Cristiana. | Staff feared he was misusing company resources for himself and his wife Cristiana. |
| He sacked his long-serving chauffeur on the spot after the driver refused to start work at 7am, five hours after driving Cristiana home. | He sacked his long-serving chauffeur on the spot after the driver refused to start work at 7am, five hours after driving Cristiana home. |
| Sorrell’s representatives told the FT that “great care and attention” was always taken by the company and the chief executive over his expenses and that he “denies there was any misuse of funds”. | Sorrell’s representatives told the FT that “great care and attention” was always taken by the company and the chief executive over his expenses and that he “denies there was any misuse of funds”. |
| A spokesman previously told the Guardian: “Sir Martin signed a non-disclosure agreement when he stepped down which precludes him from discussing any of the circumstances surrounding his departure. He has rigidly adhered to this obligation and will continue to do so. | A spokesman previously told the Guardian: “Sir Martin signed a non-disclosure agreement when he stepped down which precludes him from discussing any of the circumstances surrounding his departure. He has rigidly adhered to this obligation and will continue to do so. |
| “As regards the allegations [that company funds were paid to a sex worker], Sir Martin strenuously denies them. He will be making no further comment at this time.” | “As regards the allegations [that company funds were paid to a sex worker], Sir Martin strenuously denies them. He will be making no further comment at this time.” |
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