Sorrell sets record £30m British divorce settlement

by Gordon MacMillan, Brand Republic 24-Oct-05, 08:30

LONDON - Unlike most of his record-breaking deals, this one is unlikely to bring a smile to his face. Sir Martin Sorrell has had to pay out £30m in a record divorce settlement, according to just-released court papers.

Sorrell, who is estimated to be worth more than £75m, had to pay his former wife the huge settlement after they divorced in 2003, papers have revealed.

Lady Sandra Sorrell, who was married to the WPP chief executive for 33 years, was awarded a £3.25m Georgian townhouse and two Harrods underground car parking spaces worth £200,000 as part of the deal.

She was also awarded £2m in bank deposits, £23.4m in cash, plus thousands in stocks and shares.

The figures were revealed in a 24-page High Court judgment in which Lady Sorrell blamed the divorce on the WPP chief's well-documented obsession with work, which has seen him build one of the world's biggest advertising companies, owning JWT, Ogilvy & Mather and Young & Rubicam among others.

His ex-wife said in the papers that she felt "marginalised", that he "dehumanised" her and "discarded" her from his affections and took a mistress.

Mr Justice Bennett complimented Lady Sorrell, 59, and said she should be "justly proud" of bringing up their children. The judge rejected the claim that Sorrell was not a good father.

It has been a bad week for Sorrell and women. Last week, Neil French caused world headlines after he slated women in the advertising business, calling women creative directors "crap".

French gave a speech in Toronto in which he was asked why women were under-represented among the top ranks of creative directors.

He replied: "Because they're crap". French resigned shortly after.

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