Sir Martin Sorrell Appointed to Alcoa's Board of Directors

Alcoa AA -0.20% announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Sir Martin Sorrell, 66, a director of the company. Sorrell is founder and Chief Executive of WPP, the world's largest advertising and marketing services group with 2,400 offices in 107 countries.

Sorrell founded WPP in 1985 and, through acquisitions and strategic investments, the Group's worldwide companies have grown to include some of the most well-known agencies in the communications services business including: JWT, Ogilvy, Young & Rubicam and Grey, GroupM, Burson-Marsteller, Hill & Knowlton, and Wunderman, amongst others. WPP clients include more than half of the Fortune Global 500 companies, a majority of the NASDAQ 100 and 33 of the Fortune e-50 firms. In 2010, WPP had revenues of $14.4 billion and billings of $66 billion.

"Sir Martin has an enormous reputation all around the world as a remarkable leader and extraordinary individual," said Alcoa Chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld. "Alcoa is fortunate to have the benefit of his sound judgment and outstanding global perspective."

Born in London, Sorrell was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, UK, and obtained an MBA from Harvard University, where he was awarded the Harvard Business School's highest honor, the Alumni Achievement Award in 2007. He was knighted by HM The Queen in 2000.

Sorrell is actively involved in a number of organizations and charities. He is Chairman of the World Economic Forum International Business Council and a member of the U.S. Business Council. In addition, Sorrell serves on the board of directors of the Bloomberg Family Foundation and is a member of the Advisory Board of global investment firm Stanhope Capital. He is a non-executive director of Sorrell Capital in London and Alpha Topco, the holding company for the Formula One Group.