Ad holding giant WPP has settled the lawsuit against former J. Walter Thompson CEO Gustavo Martinez

pulse

April 4, 2018 5:57 PM

WPP has settled a lawsuit alleging racist and sexist behavior by ad agency J. Walter Thompson's former chief Gustavo Martinez, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

WPP has settled a lawsuit alleging racist and sexist behavior by ad agency J. Walter Thompson's former chief Gustavo Martinez.
The lawsuit was filed in 2016 by JWT chief communications officer Erin Johnson, who is reportedly receiving a substantial settlement and has resigned from her role at the ad agency.
The terms of the agreement are confidential and will not be disclosed.
The news comes on the heels of WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell being the focus of an investigation by the company's board into possible misuse of assets and accusations of improper behavior.

Ad holding giant WPP has settled a lawsuit alleging racist and sexist behavior by ad agency J. Walter Thompson's former chief Gustavo Martinez.

The lawsuit was filed in 2016 by JWT chief communications officer Erin Johnson, who alleged that Martinez engaged in a pattern of misconduct, creating a hostile work environment that amounted to gender discrimination and a violation of her civil rights.

Johnson is receiving a substantial settlementWPP in Spain, the company said.

Advertising has long struggled with an image problem around issues of diversity and having a work environment hostile to women, but Johnson's case was the first to bring mainstream attention to the problem. More recently, the #MeToo movement has also helped bring the industry's workplace culture to light.

The news comes on the heels of WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell being the focus of an investigation by the company's board into possible misuse of assets and accusations of improper behavior. Sorrell has denied the allegation.

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