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Not to long ago, WPP owned 25% of a small agency in Zimbabwe called Imago Young & Rubicam. It turned out that the shop was involved in President Robert Mugabe’s re-election campaign creative.
For those of you who have been in a coma, His Excellency The Honourable Comrade General Secretary Executive President Robert Gabriel Mugabe, is a bit of an asshole who has spent decades dabbling in bloodshed, “-isms” and backward economic policies. Currently, he’s losing a much-needed power struggle for the country.
Dude is not a good person to be doing business with then, now or ever. Supposedly, the agency became aware of the association in June. Tribble reported on it over here. With all the bad press about Mugabe floating around, WPP told the major media outlets that they planned on getting rid of their interest.
And now, it’s done. WPP sold their stake in Imago for just $1 to the majority shareholder, Sharon Mugabe, who is also chief executive. No, no… she’s not Mugabe’s wife or anything. They just share the same last name. The agency will now remove all references to Y&R.
WPP added: “This could never happen with our knowledge or approval and we investigated the situation as a matter of urgency.”
Nice touch selling it for a dollar, no?