How does a kid with a dream become a Mad Man fueling climate madness?
We don’t know what Richard Edelman, Yannick Bolloré, Mark Read, or Philippe Krakowsky dreamed of as kids. But we assume they got into the ad business with good intentions, just like you.
Somewhere along the way, these guys went down a different path — becoming a megaphone for fossil fuel companies and their lies.
What went wrong? We can’t say for sure. But there’s still time to make this industry one we can all feel good about. Join Clean Creatives to cut ties with fossil fuel polluters, and make your inner-kid proud.
Most Likely to Build a Career on Trust While Working With Some of the Most Untrustworthy Polluters: Richard Edelman
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Most Likely to Build a Career on Trust While Working With Some of the Most Untrustworthy Polluters: Richard Edelman 〰️
Richard Edelman grew up in Chicago. But his fossil fuel clients are ruining the whole planet.
When it comes to fossil fuel companies, Richard Edelman is their knight in oil-stained armor. He’s turned his agency, Edelman PR, into a factory churning out lies with impressive pace for the world’s biggest polluters like Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Shell, and many more. He was even named one of The Guardian’s top climate villains (hey, at least he’s the best at something).
But what if there was another path for Edelman? One that his employees everywhere could be proud of? “Trust” isn’t just a buzzword — it’s about teaming up with real problem solvers and cutting ties with dishonest polluters.
Most Likely to Acknowledge the Paris Agreement but Work With Fossil Fuel Companies to Violate It: Mark Read
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Most Likely to Acknowledge the Paris Agreement but Work With Fossil Fuel Companies to Violate It: Mark Read 〰️
Mark Read was just a boy outside London. Now he’s stuck inside big oil’s slimy grip.
WPP, led by CEO Mark Read, has a climate policy that pledges “not take on any client work, including lobbying, designed to frustrate the objectives of the Paris Agreement.” But it’s easy to let your values slip when your fingers are slicked with oil — WPP has the most contracts on the F-List, with 79 from 2023–2024, and ongoing relationships with several lobbying firms, including the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), American Chemistry Council, American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group.
WPP is home to agencies with a long history of inspiring work, like Ogilvy, VML, AKQA, and Grey. But what’s inspiring about helping the most unethical companies lie and pollute? It’s time to get back to making work that shapes the world, instead of destroying it.
Most Likely to Have Their B Corp Certification Revoked: Yannick Bollore
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Most Likely to Have Their B Corp Certification Revoked: Yannick Bollore 〰️
As a kid in Paris, Yannick Bolloré could have followed any dream. But he wound up becoming a nightmare.
If there was one person who should’ve left the family business behind, it’s CEO of Havas Yannick Bolloré. It’s difficult to separate the Havas agenda from Bolloré’s fossil fuel family business, Bolloré Logistics. After Havas won Shell’s media business last year, Bolloré argued that Shell’s decision to work with Havas proved that they are “serious in their transition journey.” But we think Shell knows exactly which family empire they’re marrying into.
As the parent company of four agencies with B Corp certification, we once thought Havas was the path to a climate change breakthrough. With that certification now revoked, we’re not so sure. But it’s not too late. Bolloré can still earn back the trust of his employees – if he’s willing to say “au revoir” to fossil fuels.
Most Likely to Work With the World’s Biggest Polluters Even When You Know You Shouldn’t: Philippe Krakowsky
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Most Likely to Work With the World’s Biggest Polluters Even When You Know You Shouldn’t: Philippe Krakowsky 〰️
Philippe Krakowsky dreamed of becoming a fantasy author. Turns out he’s pretty good at science fiction.
Philippe Krakowsky, CEO of IPG, loves to dance around his commitment to a cleaner future. IPG recently introduced a new review process to ensure that prospective oil and gas clients are in line with the Paris Agreement and have ceased controversial oil and gas production. Great! But wait… without applying this rule to their existing client list with 50 fossil fuel contracts from 2023–2024, can’t IPG just continue to work for big oil without breaking their new rule? Yes, yes they can.
IPG’s employees deserve a company that rejects all fossil fuel clients. If IPG wants to live up to their own standards, it’s time for the person at the top to set an example.
Protect your dreams, take the pledge:
Pledging not to work for fossil fuels polluters is one way to make sure you stay true to your dreams.
As creatives and leaders of agencies, the pledge says that you will decline future contracts with the fossil fuel industry.
As clients, it says you will decline work with agencies that retain fossil fuel industry clients.
To see a list of companies and clients Clean Creatives considers to be fossil fuel clients, click here.