Intermediary apologises "unreservedly" to WPP
Marketing intermediary Oystercatchers has apologised "unreservedly" to WPP for getting involved in a breakaway venture with staff who were still at the time employed by WPP agencies.
Campaign reports that the apology is part of a legal settlement between Oystercatchers and WPP agencies Everystone and Brand Union.
Oystercatchers admits supporting Crispin Jameson, the chief strategy officer of The Brand Union and chief executive of Everystone, and David Blyth, a principal consultant at Everystone, as they tried to start new venture The Great Game.
According to Campaign, Blyth settled and apologised in February, admitting to breach of contractual obligations and misuse of WPP's property and proprietary information after the dispute went to the High Court.
In the apology Oystercatchers writes: "Our conduct in supporting these individuals, when we knew they worked at Everystone and The Brand Union, by contracting with them to provide services, introducing them to prospects and jointly pitching for business, was totally unacceptable.
"Our conduct was plainly wrong as a matter of law. We accept that Everystone and The Brand Union were entirely justified in issuing legal proceedings against us. We have now reached a confidential settlement with Everystone and The Brand Union."