WPP chief executive Martin Sorrell says Donald Trump’s presidential hopes should not be underestimated – and “who knows” what he’ll mean for business
Donald Trump and his hopes of becoming US president should not be underestimated, according to the chief executive of advertising giant WPP.
Sir Martin Sorrell, who is the best paid chief executive in the FTSE 100, also suggested it was unclear what impact Trump would have on the business world.
He said that the Republican frontrunner is currently attempting to “tack” to the “extremes” but could turn his attention to the “centre” in a presidential campaign.
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In an interview with podcast Media Focus, Sorrell said: “I think you already pick up that Trump is moving more to the centre. You also pick up that Trump doesn't have specific policies, but he could probably cut and paste – he could probably go and look at every candidate… and just take what he considers the best [policies].
“So I don't underestimate Trump. And Trump's daughter, Ivanka, who I know a little bit, is superb… Any man that can produce a daughter like that hasn't done everything wrong.”
Asked whether Trump represents a danger to business, Sorrell said: “We don't know what Trump stands for… from a business point of view, who knows?”
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Others in the business world have taken more negative views on the prospect of Trump.
This week, fund manager Richard Woolnough – who manages around £35bn at M&G Investments – said investors should focus more on the impact Trump could have than on a so-called Brexit.
And earlier this month the Economist Intelligence Unit named Trump as one of the biggest risks to the world – ahead of a Brexit and the rise of jihadi terrorism.
However, research from Brunswick recently found that Trump was slightly preferred by mergers and acquisitions (M&A) experts to Democrat frontrunner Hillary Clinton.