Wealth creation should be rewarded, not sneered at: shareholders quibbling over the remuneration package being awarded to Sir Martin Sorrell should take stock of the wealth he creates

Marketing Week, April, 2004 by George Pitcher

I like Sir Martin Sorrell. My more cynical friends and business associates tell me that this is because I have never worked tot him. If that is so, I am happy for this situation to prevail. It has always seemed to me that if one struck up a pleasant, social rapport with, say, Vlad the Impaler--shopping for leather-wear, meeting for a quick latte between beheadings--it would be a shame to spoil things by getting involved in business with him.

I don't mean to compare him to Vlad, but Sorrell is said to be aggressive when it comes to contested takeovers. It's important that takeovers are contested, so that full prices are paid for targets. This is in the best interests of takeover targets' shareholders. It is also important that these assets are made to sweat once they...