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Havas slams the door on WPP takeover chatter
PARIS: Yannick Bolloré has had enough of the gossip. The Havas chief executive told employees on 17 November that his French advertising group is “not in discussions with WPP” about taking a stake in the embattled British rival—despite a weekend of frenzied speculation that sent WPP’s battered shares rocketing 11 per cent.
The Times had reported that Havas was eyeing either a chunk of WPP or its media agency arm, prompting talk that private equity sharks Apollo and KKR were also circling. An American advertising executive poured petrol on the flames by telling Adweek the two sides were in “very serious” discussions. By Monday morning, WPP shares were the FTSE 100’s biggest climber.
Bolloré’s internal memo, seen by multiple outlets, sought to kill the chatter stone dead. “Given the recent press coverage amplifying these rumours and the questions we’ve received from colleagues and clients, we want to clarify that we are not in discussions with WPP,” he wrote. Havas, he noted, delivered 3.8 per cent organic growth in the third quarter—outpacing rivals whilst WPP stumbles.
The Paris-based group does have an appetite for deals, Bolloré acknowledged, but prefers “bolt-on and targeted acquisitions” to mega-mergers. “While we could consider a larger acquisition aligned with our strategy,” he added, “there are currently no ongoing discussions of that nature.”
WPP needs all the help it can get. Its shares plunged 16 per cent in late October to their lowest level since 1998, after another round of missed forecasts. Chief executive Cindy Rose called the performance “unacceptable” and drafted in McKinsey to devise a turnaround strategy. The company’s market value has cratered from £25 billion in 2017 to roughly £3 billion today, putting its FTSE 100 membership in jeopardy.
The frenzy underscores how desperate investors are for consolidation in a sector squeezed by digital platforms and shrinking budgets. Omnicom’s $13.5 billion swoop on Interpublic Group is set to close this month, whilst Dentsu is mulling a sale of its international operations.
For now, though, Havas is keeping its powder dry. Bolloré signed off by urging staff to ignore the “rumours and noise” and focus on the firm’s AI-driven strategy. Translation: don’t hold your breath for a white knight rescue of WPP.
Here’s the full contents of the internal note:
Dear all,
It’s our policy not to comment on market rumors, however, given the recent press coverage amplifying these rumors and the questions we’ve received from colleagues and clients, we want to clarify that we are not in discussions with WPP.
As you know, Havas has delivered strong results over the past months in a world full of uncertainties. In Q3, we achieved organic growth of +3.8%, outperforming the market, reflecting remarkable client wins and expanded collaborations with long-standing partners. Thanks to your commitment and energy, we continue to reinforce our market position and drive growth.
Havas has a strategy of bolt-on and targeted acquisitions that contributes to our strong momentum, alongside strategic partnerships. While we could consider a larger acquisition aligned with our strategy, as stated during our Q3 earnings announcement a few weeks ago, there are currently no ongoing discussions of that nature.
Undistracted by rumors and noise, we remain focused on accelerating the deployment of our Converged.AI strategy, driving group-wide AI adoption, and delivering excellence for our clients and prospects.
Let’s keep pushing forward with ambition and confidence, shaping the future of our industry together.
Sincerely,
Yannick
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Effie Asia Pacific names Cheryl Goh and Dheeraj Sinha jury heads
Grab and McCann leaders to steer Apac’s top marketing awards in 2026
SINGAPORE: The spotlight at the 2026 Effie Asia Pacific Awards will shine not just on the region’s most effective campaigns, but also on two of its most seasoned marketing leaders. Effie Asia Pacific has appointed Cheryl Goh of Grab and Dheeraj Sinha of McCann India as its first pair of heads of jury, tasking them with leading the charge in judging the year’s most impactful work.
Grab Group head of marketing, sustainability, loyalty and support Cheryl Goh, has been part of the ride-hailing giant’s journey since its early days. As a founding team member, she has helped shape Grab into one of Southeast Asia’s most recognised technology brands. Today, she oversees marketing across the company’s ecosystem, spanning product, communications and growth, while also steering sustainability initiatives and customer experience operations.
Unusually for a global marketing chief, Goh also carries direct commercial responsibility, overseeing the full profit and loss of Grab’s loyalty programmes. It is a rare blend of brand-building finesse and operational rigour. A long-time advocate of marketing effectiveness, she is no stranger to the Effie jury room.
“I am deeply honoured to be appointed as a Head of Jury,” Goh said. “The Effies represent creativity that delivers real impact. In a world shaped by AI, platforms and constantly evolving customer journeys, the balance between imagination and measurable results has never mattered more.”
Joining her is, McCann India chief executive officer and one of the most prominent voices in Indian consumer culture Dheeraj Sinha. Over the years, he has worked with brands including PepsiCo, Uber, Spotify, Amazon, KFC and Mahindra, translating sharp cultural insight into sustained business growth.
Beyond the boardroom, Sinha is an author, podcast host and current president of the Advertising Club of India. A regular speaker at Cannes Lions and frequent juror at global competitions, he brings both creative instinct and strategic discipline to the role.
“The Effies are the gold standard for effectiveness,” Sinha said. “We are at a moment where creativity, data and technology are converging to unlock new dimensions of growth. I look forward to celebrating ideas that inspire and prove the commercial power of creativity.”
The Apac Effie Awards pride themselves on recognising work that works. Their rigorous judging process has earned them a reputation as the global benchmark for marketing effectiveness.
With the final entry deadline set for 9 March, the clock is ticking for brands hoping to impress this year’s jury. Under the guidance of Goh and Sinha, only ideas that marry imagination with impact are likely to take home the silverware.
