--- title: Kevin Roberts, Publicis Exec, Quits After Inequality Remarks description: The executive of a top advertising company has stepped down following comments he made on the issue of gender inequality in the workplace canonical: https://time.com/4436494/publicis-kevin-roberts-gender-inequality/ author: Kate Samuelson article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-08-03T12:06:39.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T09:03:03.823Z og:title: Advertising Executive Resigns After Gender Equality Furor og:description: Kevin Roberts said the debate over gender discrimination is “over” og:url: https://time.com/4436494/publicis-kevin-roberts-gender-inequality/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta181f08c7eb560c5/6988a0ebe20a871240a91e7d/kevin-roberts-resigns.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2560 og:image:height: 1440 og:image:alt: Telecom Annual General Meeting Held In Auckland og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Advertising Executive Resigns After Gender Equality Furor twitter:description: Kevin Roberts said the debate over gender discrimination is “over” twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta181f08c7eb560c5/6988a0ebe20a871240a91e7d/kevin-roberts-resigns.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Top Ad Exec Resigns After Gender Inequality Remarks Spark Fury > Sponsored content. 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Worth Your Time is TIME's culture recommendation newsletter, edited by culture editor Eliza Berman. Each week it surfaces the books, shows, films and ideas TIME's editors think are worth your attention, and explains why. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Does TIME have a culture newsletter? Yes. Worth Your Time is TIME's culture newsletter, published weekly. #### Who writes TIME's culture recommendations? Culture editor Eliza Berman writes Worth Your Time, drawing on TIME's critics and culture desk. #### Is Worth Your Time free? Yes. It is a free newsletter available at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-worth-2026q3/newsletters?i=94de8e0e-6574-4802-b3ce-a3ee0e65463c&cr=time-nl-worth-2026q3-v1) by [Kate Samuelson](https://time.com/author/kate-samuelson/) ## Kate Samuelson Aug 3, 2016 12:06 PM UTC  Board member Kevin Roberts attends the Telecom annual general meeting in Auckland, New Zealand on Sept. 28, 2012. Board member Kevin Roberts attends the Telecom annual general meeting in Auckland, New Zealand on Sept. 28, 2012. Hannah Peters—Getty Images by [Kate Samuelson](https://time.com/author/kate-samuelson/) ## Kate Samuelson Aug 3, 2016 12:06 PM UTC A high-powered top executive of advertising company Publicis Groupe has stepped down following [controversial comments](http://motto.time.com/4432800/saatchi-advertising-exec-kevin-roberts-gender-sexism/) he made on the issue of [gender inequality](http://time.com/tag/gender-equality/) in the workplace. Kevin Roberts, head coach of Publicis and also the chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi, told [_Business Insider_](http://www.businessinsider.com/kevin-roberts-on-women-in-leadership-roles-2016-7) the debate over gender discrimination is “over” as far as advertising goes, and that other industries have it a lot worse. He also dismissed comments made in a tweet by former advertising firm BBH president [Cindy Gallop](http://time.com/3694020/leadership-lessons-female-execs/?utm%5Fsource=feedburner&utm%5Fmedium=feed&utm%5Fcampaign=Feed%3A+timeblogs%2Fcurious%5Fcapitalist+%28TIME%3A+Business%29): > [](https://twitter.com/cindygallop/status/750733876121706496) In response, Roberts said: “I think she’s got problems that are of her own making. I think she’s making up a lot of the stuff to create a profile, and to take applause, and to get on a soap\[box\].” Following his controversial comments, Roberts was put on leave by Publicis Groupe, who said diversity and inclusion in the workplace are non-negotiable. “Promoting gender equality starts at the top and the Groupe will not tolerate anyone speaking for our organization who does not value the importance of inclusion,” it said. “Publicis Groupe works very hard to champion diversity and will continue to insist that each agency’s leadership be champions of both diversity and inclusion.” Publicis Groupe announced on their website that Roberts has resigned from the company, effective on Sept. 1 this year. 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