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Cordiant shareholders approve WPP buyout, sack top executives
LONDON: Shareholders of the struggling British advertising network Cordiant Communications Group removed top executives from the board before approving a buyout by Martin Sorell’s WPP Group. WPP, the world’s third-largest agency company, takes control in August
At the meeting held on 23 July, Cordiant’s chief executive David Hearn, chairman Nigel Stapleton, chief financial officer Andrew Boland were removed from the board. But corporate governance experts said the move was very rare.
An NYtimes.com report says that the buyout by WPP has been highly contested, particularly by Cordiant’s largest shareholder, Active Value Advisors. The major objection raised by the shareholders was that they were not getting a fair due for their holdings. However, over 99 per cent of shareholders voted for the deal because they were left without another choice.
In June, Cordiant had agreed to be bought by WPP in a deal that values the company at about ?10 million ($16.8 million). WPP also bought Cordiant’s bank debt for 100 per cent of its face value. In case of bankruptcy, the shareholders would get nothing, while the WPP deal grants them one WPP share for every 205 Cordiant shares they own, or about 2.5 pence each.
Ultimately, shareholders had their say when they voted 69 per cent in favor of ousting the three executives from the board. “A significant majority of the votes cast by shareholders other than Active Value were in favour of retaining the three directors, Active Value’s votes for removal were sufficient to pass the resolutions,” Cordiant said in a statement.
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WPP and Ogilvy top the global charts as India joins the creative elite: Warc rankings
A record five-year streak for Ogilvy while India secures a top five global spot
MUMBAI: The global advertising world has a familiar king, but a new powerhouse is gatecrashing the palace. In the latest Warc Creative 100 rankings, the industry’s definitive audit of excellence, WPP has once again been crowned the top holding company. Not to be outdone, its crown jewel, Ogilvy, has secured the top network spot for a staggering fifth consecutive year.
It is a “five-peat” that proves Ogilvy’s creative engine is not just running but purring. While many networks rely on one or two superstar offices to carry the load, Ogilvy’s dominance is a team effort across the globe. Hot on their heels is sister agency VML, which took the silver medal for networks, ensuring a WPP clean sweep at the very top of the podium.
The biggest noise, however, is coming from the East. India has officially vaulted into the top five most creative nations on Earth. Once viewed primarily as a back-office for production, the country is now a front-row leader in imagination. Driven by the brilliance of agencies like Ogilvy Mumbai and Leo Burnett India, the nation is proving that its work does more than just look good on a trophy shelf. In a market where every rupee must work twice as hard, Indian campaigns are blending high-concept artistry with ruthless commercial effectiveness.
The individual accolades saw Heineken toast to success as the top brand, finally knocking Apple off its perch. Unilever remains the world’s most awarded advertiser, proving that big business can still have a big heart through its work for Dove and Vaseline.
The title of the world’s most creative campaign went to Publicis Conseil Paris for their AXA “Three Words” initiative. By subtly adding “and domestic violence” to insurance policies to provide immediate relocation cover, the agency proved that the best advertising doesn’t just sell a service, it provides one.
The 2026 rankings also signal a shift in the industry’s DNA. The era of boring business-to-business marketing is dead, with B2B campaigns cracking the top ten for the first time. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence has moved past the gimmick stage. The winners this year used tech not for the sake of a trend, but to drive genuine human emotion.
Whether it is Paris providing a safety net for the vulnerable or India redefining the global creative order, the message from this year’s Warc rankings is clear. The best work in the world is no longer just about catching the eye, it is about changing the world.
