Third head rolls over Ford India's sexist ‘Berlusconi’ ad

Ford India today sacked one of its employees in connection with a disastrously sexist advertisement for its hatchback car Figo which hit the internet late last week, though the ad was not officially released for public consumption.

Advertising company JWT India has already sacked two members of its 'creative' team in connection with the ad that the team produced. Deliberately leaked online, the ad showed comically well-endowed and scantily clad ladies gagged, tied up and stuffed in the boot area of the Figo, with celebrities like former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi – famed for his sexual shenanigans – in the driver's seat.

The employee of the Indian arm of Detroit's Ford Motor Co was held responsible for leaking the ad in his name as an entry for an advertising contest. It was put up on 'Ads of the World', a website used by ad agencies to gain feedback.

''The Ford India employee is no longer with the company. We are also reviewing our processes and increasing our education efforts to help ensure nothing like this ever happens again. We take this very seriously, and, after internal reviews, have taken appropriate action,'' a Ford India spokesperson said.

JWT India managing partner Bobby Pawar stepped down on Wednesday, saying he had to take 'moral responsibility' for the leaked spot.

Vijay Simha Vellanki, who was creative director of Blue Hive, a WPP unit dedicated to the Ford account, also resigned on Wednesday.