London — Martin Sorrell has won financial backing from Crispin Odey, an influential London investor, for his new venture after leaving the world’s largest advertising firm. "People have made a lot of money with Martin and he doesn’t look like a man who wants to rest," Odey, founder of hedge fund firm Odey Asset Management, said in a phone interview. "With Martin, you have someone who knows the whole market very well." The support from one of Britain’s best-known fund managers is a vote of confidence in Sorrell, who was ousted as CEO from WPP in April after an investigation into alleged personal misconduct. Sorrell, 73, wants to use acquisitions to build a marketing services business through his company S4 Capital. He has a list of targets and a first deal could be announced in the coming weeks, according to three people familiar with the matter. Odey said he is betting on Sorrell to make an acquisition soon. "He’s got something lined up," Odey said. "The cleverest thing Martin alway...
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