Sorrell shows his cojones to support GroupM against bully critics and takes another potshot at ‘POG’
Here’s my chum Mark Sweney from the Guardian bearding WPP’s Sir Martin Sorrell (left) on the alleged bullying activities of his media buying giant GroupM, recently criticised by both Richard Desmond of Channel 5 and (on its grip on TV production companies via GroupM Entertainment) by Pact boss John McVay.
At first SMS (who fancies himself as a cricketer) plays the straightest of straight bats to the bullying issue but then, rather more entertainingly, can’t resist a broadside at what he calls ‘POG,’ the proposed merger between Publicis Groupe and Omnicom. What is the bloody thing going to be called?
Straight bat or no, GroupM’s 33 per cent share of the UK TV ad market should be a cause of concern to competition authorities. Where it differs from its rivals is that GroupM negotiates for all its member media agencies – Maxus, MEC, Mindshare and even the giant MediaCom – while other groups leave it to individual agencies.