Sorrell: The worst thing about going from hero to zero is starting again without scale

Tim Burrowes

March 20, 2019 9:41

Adland’s best known executive Sir Martin Sorrell has reflected on the experience of going “from hero to zero” after his acrimonious departure from WPP.

During a wide-ranging interview at Advertising Week Europe in London, Sorrell discussed his plans to reunite creative and media, revealed that WPP has agreed to pay him out and addressed his legendary email habits.

Sorrell:

Early in the interview Sorrell was asked about his famous trait of personally replying to emails at all times of day and night, and industry speculation about how he managed to do it while running the world’s biggest communications group.

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Tim Burrowes

Tim Burrowes is the publisher of Mumbrella and Unmade. He co-founded Mumbrella in 2008 and sister title Unmade in 2021. He's worked in the UK, Middle East, Asia & Australia and has specialised in writing about the communications world for the last 25 years. He wrote the book Media Unmade, published in 2021, and became the presenter of MediaLand on ABC Radio National in 2025.