The executive chairman of advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi has resigned after suggesting women do not want top jobs in the industry.
Parent company Publicis Groupe said on Wednesday that Kevin Roberts, who had been due to retire next year, will step down on September 1.
Mr Roberts told Business Insider he did not believe a lack of women in senior roles was a problem.
He said many women do not aspire to senior management jobs because "their ambition is not a vertical ambition, it's this intrinsic, circular ambition to be happy".
Mr Roberts was put on leave after the interview appeared last week.
Saatchi's chief creative officer Kate Stanners said Mr Roberts's remarks had upset "a huge amount of employees".
Publicis chief Maurice Levy said: "Promoting gender equality starts at the top and the Groupe will not tolerate anyone speaking for our organisation who does not value the importance of inclusion."