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Informa to acquire Cannes Lions owner Ascential for $1.6 billion
Mumbai: The festival of festivals for the advertising industry – the Cannes Lions – is changing hands. Informa, an international B2B events, digital services, and academic markets group, earlier today announced that it has agreed to buy Ascential – the owner of the Lions for a hefty 1.2 billion pounds. This acquisition adds the renowned advertising industry conference to Informa’s extensive portfolio of events.
Informa group chief executive Stephen A. Carter said “As the world digitises at pace, our brands, our content and our market positions are becoming more valuable. This is moving Informa into a faster growth lane for performance, expansion and returns, as demonstrated by our full-year target of up to £1bn of adjusted operating profit and today’s recommended offer for Ascential plc”
Carter was referring to the half-yearly results the company announced on 24 July.
Operating profit rose a healthy 18.8 per cent, revenue climbed up 11 per cent and dividends by 10 per cent. The acquisition of Ascential reflects Informa’s commitment to leveraging its market position and digital capabilities to foster growth.
Shares in Ascential, which also owns the Money20/20 fintech event, surged by 26 per cent following the announcement, approaching the 568 pence per share cash offer from Informa. The deal, which is a 53 per cent premium over Ascential’s recent closing price, is expected to boost Informa’s adjusted earnings per share by at least 5 per cent in the first full year, driven by strong revenue growth and anticipated cost savings.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
