When you work in advertising, and you’re rather high up on the totem pole too, you really should know to tread carefully when discussing topics like gender bias in the workplace.

Enter Saatchi & Saatchi Executive Chairperson Kevin Roberts, a big dog at one of the world’s leading creative organisations. He sat down for a lengthy interview on Friday, and managed to throw himself under the bus with some antiquated comments.

Below from Fin24:

Roberts said he doesn’t spend “any time” on gender issues at his agency, saying the issue is “way worse” in sectors such as financial services, where there are “problems left, right, and centre”.

“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,” Publicis Chief Executive Officer Maurice Lévy said on Saturday in a statement…

Roberts’s remarks don’t uphold the no-tolerance policy toward behaviour or commentary in the “spirit of Publicis Groupe and its celebration of difference,” according to the statement. “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,” Publicis said in the statement, which also was released internally to employees.

His comments aren’t quite as sexist as Cell C’s CEO Jose Dos Santos, his interview back in April a real eye-opener (HERE), but Kevin should know better than to dismiss an issue that still needs serious readdressing.

[source:fin24]