Erin Johnson, chief communications officer of WPP's J. Walter Thompson, has filed a bombshell lawsuit against the agency and CEO Gustavo Martinez, alleging the chief executive made crude jokes about raping employees and used racial and ethnic slurs.
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Martinez, Johnson |
Johnson alleges Martinez made apparent jokes about raping her and other female staff members. He also criticized Jewish and African-American people, according to the suit first reported by the New York Post.
Johnson, an 11-year staffer of JWT, alleges the company reduced her pay and job responsibilities after she complained to supervisors.
In a statement, Martinez said he wanted to "assure our clients and my colleagues that there is absolutely no truth to these outlandish allegations and I am confident that this will be proven in court."
Business leaders will face challenges in the upcoming year, some of which will come as a complete surprise, or beyond anyone's imagination.
Teneo has hired Philipp Grontzki, who is a 20-year veteran of corporate communications and financial journalism, as a managing director in its strategy and communications group.
Rowan Benecke, who co-founded Zeno Group and helmed Burson-Marsteller's tech practice, has joined McKinsey & Co as director of communications for North America.
BCW has named Golin's Matt Coldagelli EVP and leader of its corporate affairs practice in Chicago.
Abby Bailey, who headed corporate communications for Fedex in its Middle East, India and Africa region, has joined Teneo as managing director in Dubai.
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