Digital agency WPP have been left red-faced after their clumsy attempt to poach staff from rival agency Publicis Groupe found its way into the public domain.
This is an example of in-house recruitment lacking in any subtlety or tact, two attributes paramount to the process of extracting 'passive' candidates from a current position. It is no surprise that such a blatant attempt to steal rival talent has not been received with good grace - indeed, top-tier candidates will not be flattered by this scatter-gun, mass email approach and WPP's "Talent Team" have now made their recruitment drive an uphill task.

According to AdAge, who broke the story, "Publicis executives didn't respond -- but a lawyer for the holding company has responded with a standard letter warning against further action".