Memo from Michael Roth

We continue to feel the pain of the senseless acts we have seen escalate over the last several weeks. In the U.S., we are facing head-on the long-term effects of racial injustice, with ripple effects around the world. All as we continue to battle a deadly global pandemic and the resulting economic distress.
 
Earlier this week, I recommitted to ensuring IPG is a safe and fair place to work – and a company with a core value system in line with our people. We asked for ideas on ways we could take more actions to do so. In response, a common theme we heard from our people was to see IPG donate to non-profit organizations operating on the frontlines of fighting police brutality, helping protestors with legal issues, as well as supporting global human rights in areas outside the U.S. – in effect, to put our money where our mouth is.
 
As a result, IPG is making significant monetary contributions to the following three organizations. Take a minute to read more about them, and we invite you to join us, if you would like, in supporting them:

• Campaign Zero
• The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
• Amnesty International

In addition to making donations to the above organizations, we are closing our corporate offices around the world tomorrow to allow our people a day to heal, reflect and act. Many IPG companies are joining us in taking this step or are taking other steps like it.
 
We are more committed than ever to ensuring that IPG is an inclusive place where everyone wants to work, and feels comfortable and able to succeed. And a place where clients want to do business. 
 
This is not something that is new to us. We have been committed to diversity and inclusion formally for nearly two decades. But there’s an even greater sense of urgency now. And a sense that not enough has changed. We hope the steps we are sharing today will begin to accelerate progress. 
 
This week, our diversity and inclusion teams have also been hosting meetings in the U.S. to provide employees of color with support, as well as sessions for allies, with more to follow. For more information and support, contact our Diversity and Inclusion office.
 
As I mentioned on Monday, we will look to refine our existing D&I goals and their impact on executive compensation to reflect more current action items as well as leverage our partnership with the Unstereotype Alliance to continue to fulfill our responsibility to create advertising messages that are a source of positive social change.
 
While there is still much to do, both in our workplace and in our personal lives to combat injustice, we are hoping that you can have a peaceful and restful weekend. We will be thinking of all of you after a very difficult and sorrow-filled week. 

Michael