Watch Now - IPG CEO Michael Roth: How to Take Action and Make Change Happen

Michael Roth, who has been Chairman and CEO of Interpublic (IPG) since 2005, recently told his firm in an internal memo that people want "actions, not statements of support" regarding racial inequality. For Roth, those actions start with accountability; IPG is the only advertising agency holding company to disclose its Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) data showing the racial composition of its workforce.

All Jack Myers Leadership Conversation are available on-demand here. Roth discussed other actions both he and IPG are taking to improve diversity, increase staff retention, and build on successes they've had with both the data and creative sides of the business.

Topics that Myers will ask include:

• What does allyship mean for IPG and how is the purpose of allyship aligning with the need for action?
• What does the EEOC data that IPG shared say about IPG and about the ad industry more broadly?
• How has IPG's 2018 acquisition of Acxiom factored into the firm's approach to data and analytics?
• Given the firm's depth in data and programmatic buying, where does creative fit in with the business model?
• What is the open architecture model, and what does it mean for how agencies are run?
• How can agencies improve talent retention, especially among more junior levels of the organization?
• What policies are in place for returning to the office? How do you plan to reopen offices? How flexible will you be with employees who want to work from home?
• How do you foster creativity, especially during such unpredictable times?
• What's the outlook for IPG and the advertising business for 2021 and beyond?

This commentary by David Berkowitz

Also read:
IPG CEO Michael Roth: How Open Architecture Transforms Business and Drives Growth by David Berkowitz

IPG's Michael Roth Outlines Road to Success for Agencies by Charlene Weisler

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The opinions expressed here are the author's views and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillage.com/MyersBizNet.