Wire and Plastic to Wealth and Power

MENTION WIRE and Plastic Products and you are likely to be met with blank stares. However, this was the vehicle that launched arguably the most influential individual in world marketing, Sir Martin Sorrell. Sorrell’s career began in sport under Mark McCormack at IMG but his big break came when he left his position as FD at Saatchi & Saatchi to buy the small kitchen product manufacturer. 25 years and numerous acquisitions later and WPP is looked to as a bell weather for the global economy. Sorrell’s words are hung on by analysts and CEOs alike. His latest pronouncements? Despite turmoil in the Middle East, emerging markets are where growth is to be found and valuations of tech stocks like Facebook and even Apple represent a bubble, but what does he know? - 28/2/2011