IPG joins global brands’ Russian exodus
Interpublic Group, IPG, the global marketing solutions company, has joined other global brands to suspend operations in Russia. This was contained in an internal memo to IPG’s global employees y the Group’s CEO, Philippe Krakowsky.
Krakowsky said that the decision was taken after a careful study of the impact of the Russian invasion on Ukrainians and the company staff in both Ukraine and Russia.
“Recent and escalating attacks on civilian targets, including hospitals, make it regrettably clear that the trajectory of the conflict is escalating, and the war could well go on for some time. Therefore, we have decided to suspend our operations in Russia”, Krakowsky said.
Backgrounding the seeming delay in suspending operations, he said the Group was wrestling with the issue of how to reconcile the fact that discontinuing “our operations in Russia could mean abandoning our approximately 200 colleagues there, many of whom we’ve been fortunate enough to work with for decades.”
Recounting efforts at striking a balance between company’s culture and value on one hand with being there for colleagues in Ukraine and Russia and its responsibilities as a global corporate citizen on the other, the IPG boss said “when the invasion began, we immediately applied all international sanctions and informed clients in Russia who are prohibited parties that we would no longer continue working with them. Because we have never owned a media business in Russia, we did not have significant concerns that our media buying was either fueling the local economy, or funding media being used by the state.
“Essentially, we hoped that by supporting our colleagues in Russia we could live up to the part of our DNA that values and seeks to protect our people across IPG, yet also live up to the international sanctions against the Russian regime.”
Meanwhile, the IPG boss recalled that following the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the company’s focus has been on “doing what we can to help our associates there. we feel a sense of responsibility to do whatever possible on behalf of people whose lives are being upended and threatened.”
Acknowledging the good work of IPG employees at alleviating the impact of the war on the people, he said, “Some of the stories that have emerged these past two weeks are truly remarkable. We’ve seen IPG people in nearby countries drive to the border to physically assist and provide transportation to individuals and families as they leave Ukraine. Some among us have offered to help refugees get settled as they arrive in a new country, and still, others are hosting displaced Ukrainians in their homes. Several of our agencies in Eastern Europe have made the amazing gesture of opening their doors to anyone fleeing the crisis so that they have a place to work. Our teams are also working on the logistics required for refugees to access housing and medical services. Across IPG, our company has already donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to humanitarian organizations focused on addressing the crisis. Some of our agencies are providing direct monetary support to our affiliates in Ukraine, as well as assistance with IT and other operational needs. For the month of March, IPG is also matching individual gifts from IPG employees to organisations providing assistance to Ukrainians impacted by the war.”
Expressing pride in the war relief efforts of the group’s people, he concluded that the “amazing things our people have been able to accomplish, on the ground, to help their Ukrainian colleagues and the Ukrainian people. The kind of work individuals across IPG, and organizations within IPG, have been doing these past two weeks is something we should all be proud of.”
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