The Burma Campaign UK is celebrating today after WPP confirmed it is to close its office in Burma.
WPP acquired a subsidiary in Burma – Bates Myanmar – when it won its takeover battle for Cordiant Communications. As a result WPP had been added to a ‘Dirty List’ of companies supporting the regime in Burma which was published by the Burma Campaign UK on Wednesday.
“WPP have done exactly the right thing and deserve credit for doing so,” said John Jackson, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “They acquired the subsidiary through the takeover of Cordiant and have moved quickly to extricate themselves from Burma. Their client, British American Tobacco, should learn from WPP’s example. BAT also acquired a subsidiary in Burma through a takeover, but unlike WPP they decided to stay in Burma and cosy up to the country’s brutal dictatorship.”
WPP join a growing exodus of companies cutting their ties with Burma. So far this year these include Kuoni, Abercrombie and Kent, Kookai, Italian sportswear company Lotto, Travelsphere, Scott Dunn Travel, Silk Steps Travel, Intrepid Travel, Bonmarche, AA publishing, and PPR/La Redoute.
British American Tobacco, Carnival/P&O Cruises, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and DHL are also reviewing their operations in Burma.
For more information contact Mark Farmaner, Media Officer, on 020 7281 7377