Martin Sorrell, the CEO of the world’s biggest ad agency, is under investigation over claims of “personal misconduct.”
WPP said in a statement on Tuesday that the company’s board has hired an independent counsel to conduct the probe. The British ad agency added that the investigation is ongoing.
WPP said that “the allegations do not involve amounts which are material to WPP.” It gave no further details.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that the board is investigating whether Sorrell “misused company assets.”
Sorrell said in a statement that that he rejected allegations of financial impropriety “unreservedly.”
“As a significant share owner, my commitment to the company, which I founded over thirty years ago, remains absolute — to our people, our clients, our shareholders and all of our many stakeholders,” he added.
It’s a trying time for the company. Last month, WPP disclosed annual earnings and an outlook for 2018 that caused its stock to plunge as much as 15% in London.
The conglomerate, which own 400 agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, said that sales will be flat this year, and long term earnings growth could drop as low as 5%.
Ad spending by WPP’s biggest clients, which include Ford, HSBC, Unilever and Procter & Gamble, was below average last year and is not forecast to improve.
More broadly, the advertising industry is being rocked by a shift from TV and print ads to digital spots, which are cheaper to produce and easy for companies to make without help from an ad agency.
The firm’s long-time CEO made £70 million ($98 million) in 2015 and £48 million ($68 million) last year.
Since then, he’s taken a pay cut. The company said last year that Sorrell will be paid a maximum of £20 million ($28 million) in 2017.
– CNN’s Alanna Petroff contributed to this report.
