WPP pulls out of Eurobest and threatens to leave Cannes

A leaked email chain has made it clear that WPP intends to withdraw completely from Ascential's Eurobest awards in London this November and is in discussions with the organiser about Cannes Lions.

The emails, claim AdWeek, state that WPP's continued participation with the industry's biggest awards show hinges on a talk as WPP chief executive Martin Sorrell and worldwide creative director John O’Keefe are scheduled to have with Ascential chief executive, Duncan Painter.

The implication is that WPP is insisting that Cannes reduce the number of awarded categories and the length of the festival.

At Cannes this year, just after Publicis Groupe announced it would not take part in Cannes Lions 2018, Sorrell told Campaign's Gideon Spanier that the Cannes Lions "has lost its focus" and had "become too much about making money". He added that everyone he'd asked had "questioned the cost". 

"It’s something that should be considered. Is Cannes in June the right place?" questioned Sorrell adding that he had had this discussion with Omnicom boss John Wren. 

In response, Cannes launched an advisory committee "to help shape the future of the festival". 

Some of the industry's most senior marketers including Keith Weed, chief marketing and communications officer of Unilever; Marc Pritchard, chief brand officer of Procter & Gamble; Fernando Machado, head of brand marketing at Burger King; Fiona Carter, chief brand officer, AT&T; and Jan Derck van Karnebeek, chief commercial officer at Heineken, have given "commitments" to be involved.

Eurobest

In the emails quoted by AdWeek, O'Keefe described the awards as "an expensive distraction". 

Despite his requests for WPP not to enter the awards, it seems that WPP agencies in Europe have offered jurors, keynote speakers and 117 entries for Eurobest 2017.

Sorrell instructed O'Keefe in his response to cancel all entries and attendees immediately. 

Both WPP and Cannes Lions have been contacted for comment.