Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG)

IPG has refused to do business with organizations such as the NRA (1). The company received a score of 100 on the 2026 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (2)(3)(4). IPG received a score of 100 on the 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. IPG recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (5)(6). IPG and its subsidiary, Universal McCann (UM), were members of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, which demonetized and suppressed content that it deemed to spread “hate speech” or “misinformation”, discuss “debated social issues in a negative or partisan context”, or “vilif[y]” individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity. These arbitrary guidelines were used to censor mainstream perspectives online (7)(8)(9)(10). However, IPG “announced an agreement with the FTC to cease all coordination that was taking place to direct advertising dollars away from disfavored publishers” and “agree[d] to cooperate with the Trump administration’s investigation into the coordination that took place while GARM was still in place” (11)(12).

IPG’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2)(3). The company’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (4)(5). IPG’s charitable contributions guidelines require that organizations abide by its nondiscrimination policy, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, thereby excluding some religious charities (6).

IPG’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend at least one, controversial training on gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender issues, and divisive racial ideology. The company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (1)(2)(3). The company’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend multiple, controversial trainings on gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender issues, and divisive racial ideology. The company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (4)(5). IPG offered unconscious bias training to all its employees (6). The company does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (7).

IPG’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company potentially agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy. By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2)(3). The company’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy. By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (4)(5). IPG promoted that “Children can begin to show racial bias as young as 3 years old” in its ESG report and supports BLM causes (6)(7). The company opposed various state and local legislation intended to protect parental rights, girls’ sports, bathroom facilities, and gendered spaces (8)(9). IPG opposed legislation in Iowa intended to protect parental rights, girls’ sports, bathroom facilities, and gendered spaces (10). The company opposed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which would prohibit teaching gender identity and sexual orientation to kids in K-3rd grade (11). IPG denounced various states’ legislative efforts to protect election integrity and security (12). The company’s CEO Philippe Krakowsky is a member of the Business Roundtable and Former CEO Michael Roth signed its 2019 Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders (13)(14). IPG’s CEO, signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace, strategize on DEI programs/initiatives with other signatories, and engage boards of directors when developing and evaluating DEI strategies (15)(16). The company’s Global DEI group offers a guide on “Intentional Inclusivity While Working Remotely” and a resource center “Inclusive@Work” (17). IPG’s subsidiary McCann works closely with anti-gun groups and the company’s former CEO Michael Roth is a signatory to CEOs For Gun Safety (18)(19). IPG was a contributing member of GARM’s Action Guide to Reduce Media Greenhouse Gas Emissions and The Global Media Sustainability Framework which provides an action plan for media companies to transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions (20)(21).

IPG provides a benefits package for employees that covers travel/lodging costs for an abortion and transgender medical procedures for covered employees and dependents, including children (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). The company’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits, lab monitoring, and mental health benefits. The company also covers at least five of the following services: reconstructive hair removal, cosmetic hair removal, tracheal shave or reduction, facial surgeries, voice modification surgery, voice modification therapy, lipoplasty or filling for body masculinization or feminization, and travel and lodging expenses. Additionally, the company has potentially pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (6)(7)(8)(9). IPG’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits and lab monitoring, travel and lodging. Additionally, IPG has pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (10)(11). IPG and Universal McCann (UM) were members of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (12)(13)(14)(15). The company also partners with the Anti-Defamation League and other nonprofits to teach “anti-racist” parenting approaches (16). IPG is a corporate partner of the NGLCC (17). The company is also a member of the Civic Alliance, which has pushed back against voting integrity measures (18)(19). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of IPG using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (20).

IPG‘s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company publicly advocated for controversial sex and gender ideology through local, state or federal legislation or initiatives. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). IPG does not operate a PAC at this time and has not lobbied for ideological purposes (3)(4)(5).