WPP’s Ogilvy this week moved to address internal controversy about its ongoing work for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the largest law enforcement agency of the Department of Homeland Security.
An email from global chairman and CEO John Seifert appeared to be an attempt to quell growing concern among employees in recent days after a Sludge report included Ogilvy on a list of contractors providing services to CBP and to counter claims on social media that the agency played a role in producing “state propaganda.”
The relationship between Ogilvy and CBP had not previously been reported, and many agency staffers were unaware CBP was a client, according to multiple employees speaking on condition of anonymity.