Sir Martin Sorrell: Founder of WPP, Businessman, and Philanthropist
Sir Martin Sorrell is one of the most successful and well-known business leaders in the world. He is best known as the founder of the world’s largest advertising and marketing group, WPP Group, and has guided the company to become a global powerhouse. During his time at WPP, Sorrell established an impressive track record of success and pushed the boundaries of business innovation. He is also regarded as a driving force behind the success of the world’s most iconic companies and brands. His visionary leadership has made him a firm favorite with shareholders, clients, and employees alike. In addition to being a successful businessman, Sorrell is also a philanthropist, investotrepreneur, and active campaigner for social and environmental issues.
Early Life and Education
Sir Martin Sorrell was born on February 24th, 1945, in London, England. His father, Jack Sorrell, was an industrial psychologist, and his mother, Elmira, was an executive with the cosmetics company Helena Rubinstein. Martin attended Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School and then went on to study economics at Christ Church, Oxford. After graduating from Oxford, Sorrell went on to gain a master’s degree from the Harvard Business School.
Career
Upon graduating from Harvard, Sir Martin Sorrell joined the global management consulting firm Bain & Company, becoming its London Managing Director by the 1980s. It was while working at Bain where he developed the skills and knowledge that would set him apart as one of the world’s top business leaders.
In 1985, Sorrell established the London-based advertising and marketing company, WPP. The company was initially focused on the UK market, but Sorrell built it up into an impressive global business. By the end of his career at WPP, he had grown the company from a market capitalisation of $577 million to $19.3 billion. He was noted for making several shrewd acquisitions, including the purchase of Young & Rubicam in 2000, TNS Group in 2003 and Kantar in 2007.
Throughout his career at WPP, Sorrell pushed the boundaries of business innovation and was noted for successfully navigating the shift of advertising and marketing to digital platforms. His leadership saw WPP become the world’s largest advertising and marketing group, and he was named the most influential person in the marketing and advertising industry by Campaign Magazine in 2013.
After more than 30 years at the helm of WPP, Sorrell announced his departure from the company in April 2018.
Philanthropy
Sir Martin Sorrell has also been noted for his philanthropic activities. He founded the S4 Capital Foundation, which helps support organizations that address social and environmental issues. He is also a patron of the British Red Cross, sits on the Council of the British School at Rome, and is a long standing supporter of London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital.
He has also provided financial support to a number of charitable causes, including the International Crisis Group, the Royal Academy of Arts, the Eden Project, and the WWF.
In 2020, Sorrell set up the ‘Tech For Good’ venture capital fund, which is focused on making investments in early-stage technology start-up companies that have a positive social impact.
Investotrepreneur
Aside from his philanthropy, Sir Martin Sorrell is noted for his success as an investotrepreneur. He has been a successful adviser and investor, and has held investments in companies such as Facebook, Uber, Amazon, Apple, Google, and more. This is seen as a testament to his insight and foresight in the world of business.
Sir Martin Sorrell is rightly regarded as an outstanding businessman and entrepreneur. His dedication, risk-taking, and unswerving commitment to achieving excellence have made him one of the most successful business leaders in the world. He has also shown himself to be a successful philanthropist and investotrepreneur, proving his ability to succeed in multiple fields. His career and activities have clearly demonstrated that he is the embodiment of the modern, global, and socially-responsible leader.
