Former Saatchi & Saatchi chairman Kevin Roberts — who resigned from his role last year after he made controversial comments about gender in the advertising industry in an interview with Business Insider — has joined communications and PR firm Beattie Group as its chairman.

Roberts later apologized for his “miscommunication” and later admitted his judgment had been “appalling.”

Beattie stressed that “seven of the company’s ten person leadership team are women” and said Roberts will coach its senior team “and help grow Beattie and its Only brands internationally.”

Beattie was founded by Scottish journalist Gordon Beattie, who is now the firm’s president.

Laurna Woods, CEO of Beattie Group, said: “We are delighted to have recruited one of the world’s most inspirational business minds to help us expand in the UK, North America and Australasia.”

Roberts said: “Beattie is a creative communications consultancy with enormous potential to grow internationally.

“We are an integrated marketing and communications company with foundations in PR, marketing, creativity, content, technology and data.

“We have no plans to become a traditional advertising agency.”

Beattie has eight offices in the UK and trades under three headline brands – Beattie, its creative communications consultancy, 11ten, its student recruitment brand and Only, its suite of specialist marketing boutiques.

Beattie recently announced it is expanding into Canada and opening offices in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.

Roberts added: “Beattie’s 2017 strategy is clear — recruit great people and open offices in line with client needs.

“We’re in for some exciting times as we build the Beattie and Only brands internationally.”

Beattie said it currently has 120 marketing and communications specialists in the UK, and is projecting a global group turnover of £50 million by 2020.