Authority slams top ad man

The Employment Relations Authority has slammed one of New Zealand's top ad men, calling him "discourteous, disruptive and uncooperative".

Greg Partington's company, Ogilvy NZ, has been ordered to pay $27,000 plus GST in costs to former deputy managing director Margaret Whitten, on top of last month's $350,000 compensation for constructive dismissal.

It must also pay $15,000 compensation and $3000 costs to Sergio Guida, for hurt and humiliation.

Authority member Marija Urlich said Partington, Ogilvy's managing director, was "discourteous, disruptive and uncooperative" throughout the Whitten investigation. "Ogilvy aggressively and without merit opposed every aspect of Mrs Whitten's claim."

The former deputy managing director claimed constructive dismissal and redundancy after the offer of a directorship was withdrawn when she complained about a replacement being appointed before she'd accepted the new role.

The company also repeatedly threatened to take Whitten to the High Court.

The other costs award was in favour of advertising creative director Sergio Guida, who went to the authority after selling his company to Ogilvy, then being made redundant shortly thereafter.