Martin Sorrell’s Departure Somehow Devastating to Jr Account Executive
Remarking that he was no longer sure that he wanted to work in advertising, James Walsh, a Junior Account Executive at one of the tiniest agencies owned by WPP, expressed his sadness about Martin Sorrell’s departure.
“I mean, Sir Martin is the whole reason I got into advertising. I’ve read like one or two interviews he’s done, and he really inspired me. Now, I don’t know what to do.” When asked what interviews he’d read, Walsh said he couldn’t remember, and admitted that he more or less just skimmed them.
Sorrell, whose departure is tied to some investigations into “personal misconduct”, had led WPP since 1985 and grown it into a massive agency. He had never interacted with Walsh, who started with his agency in October of last year, and certainly did not have even the slightest clue that he existed.
“I just don’t think it’s fair, how they pushed him out”, said Walsh, “the guy made the company what it is today, he made the ad world what it is today. He should be honored, not thrown out this way! I have a real passion for advertising, but this makes me question everything.”
Walsh, who graduated college last May with a degree in linguistics and who had fallen into his current job after his father called in a favor, said he might leave New York and move back home to a life of simplicity on Long Island. Maybe he’d become like, a teacher, or something.
