Former WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell has again found himself in the headlines, this time due to his reaction to the departure of a company board member.

Hugo Shong resigned from WPP this week as a non-executive director, and is credited for playing a significant role in the company’s growth in China.

Shong’s resignation comes as Chinese companies Alibaba, Tencent and China Media Capital hold discussions with WPP about purchasing 20 per cent of its Chinese portfolio, with the talks going all the way back to before Sorrell’s exit, according to Campaign.

Speaking to Sky News, Sorrell (who still owns shares in WPP) said he was “very saddened and disturbed” by Shong’s resignation the company’s board, “particularly at a time when WPP is trying to develop and reposition its business in China”.

“Along with Ruigang-Li, over the last [six] years, he has been a significant factor in the growth and development of WPP’s China business in what is now its third largest market. It is not good news,” he said.