Saatchi & Saatchi global executive chairman Kevin Roberts resigns, effective September 1

Less than a week after making controversial comments in a recent interview with Business Insider, Saatchi & Saatchi global Executive Chairman and Publicis Groupe Head Coach, Kevin Roberts has resigned, effective September 1, prior to his scheduled retirement date due in May 2017.

Says Roberts in a statement: “‘Fail Fast, Fix Fast, Learn Fast’ is a leadership maxim I advocate. When discussing with Business Insider evolving career priorities and new ways of work/life integration, I failed exceptionally fast. My miscommunication on a number of points has caused upset and offense, and for this I am sorry.

“I have inadvertently embarrassed Saatchi & Saatchi and Publicis Groupe, two companies I love and have been devoted to for almost 20 years.”

“There is a lot of learning to reflect on and within the thousands of tweets, comments and articles there are many powerful and passionate contributions on the changing nature of the workplace, the work we do, what success really looks like, and what companies must do to provide women and men the optimal frameworks in which to flourish.”