nick robertson - Internet Marketing News and Blogs

ASOS CEO Nick Robertson was at the centre of a firestorm six weeks ago when he labelled affiliates 'grubby'.

In this interview, his first since 'Grubbygate', Nick explains the reasons behind his decision to close down the ASOS affiliate programme. The etailer certainly doesn't seem to have been hampered by its decision...

You have to wonder whether or not ASOS CEO Nick Robertson went on holiday for two weeks by accident, like Withnail of ‘I’ fame. Or did he strategically flee the masses of affiliates baying for his head on pike?

Labelling affiliates ‘grubby’ is looking like the UK internet industry's gaffe of the year so far, but something tells me it wasn’t just a throwaway statement. Crass and insensitive perhaps, and one hell of a generalisation, but presumably Nick has all kinds of reasons that will back up his choice of phrase.

What might these reasons be? Since Nick is on holiday (or in some affiliate-proof bunker) we’re not going to get any clarification anytime soon. But hey, ASOS is a public company, so let’s delve into the accounts for a brief waltz through its history with affiliates… it is rather revealing…