Vice Media’s Shane Smith Hints of Possible IPO

Evening Standard: Shane Smith, the bearded founder of Vice Media, did a star turn at WPP’s annual meeting this week. Sir Martin Sorrell’s ad agency has a stake in the fast-growing, youth-focused media company. But unlike some fund managers, Smith wasn’t mounting the barricades over Sorrell’s contentious pay package for 2014. “This wouldn’t even be an issue in America,” he said. Perhaps Smith’s relaxed attitude is not that surprising. He dropped heavy hints at the meeting that Vice may float soon —  which would trigger a payday for Smith to put Sorrell’s package in the shade.