MAM
WPP shares surge on talk of Havas buyout bid
LONDON: WPP’s battered shares sprang to life on Monday as whispers of a takeover bid sent the stock soaring as much as 6.7 per cent in morning trading.
The advertising giant’s shares touched 307.50 pence before settling at 304.20 pence—a gain of 5.5 per cent from Friday’s close of 288.30 pence. The stock opened at 302 pence.
Market chatter suggests Havas, backed by private equity heavyweights KKR and Apollo, is eyeing a move for the London-listed agency network. Neither the suitors nor WPP would comment on the speculation.
The surge offers brief respite for shareholders who have endured months of pain. WPP traded at 879 pence as 2024 drew to a close. Since then, the shares have been in freefall after a string of disappointing results left investors nursing heavy losses.
Whether today’s rally marks a turning point or merely a dead cat bounce depends on whether the rumoured bidders are prepared to put their money where the market’s mouth is.
Updated at 22:10 pm: As the day progressed the WPP scrip had rocketed up to 325.10 pence and then retreated to 319.60 pence – a sharp increase of 10.86 per cent. The stock closed the days trading at 320.10 pence – a jump of 11.03 per cent. Clearly, the share traders believe there is some truth in all the chatter about the WPP takeover.
Digital
The Indian Express appoints Nandagopal Rajan as CEO Digital & Shobhit Singhal as chief technology and product officer
Longtime editor steps up to lead next phase of growth and storytelling
NEW DELHI: The The Indian Express has announced a major leadership reshuffle in its digital division, naming veteran journalist Nandagopal Rajan as chief executive officer (Digital), while also bringing in Shobhit Singhal as chief technology and product officer.
Rajan, who has been with the organisation for over a decade, steps into the role after serving as chief operating officer and earlier as editor of new media. His journey with the company dates back to 2013, when the digital team was a compact setup. Today, it has expanded into a multi-city operation with over 500 employees, reflecting the rapid evolution of the publisher’s online presence.
In a note announcing his new role, Rajan said, “Stepping into the role of CEO of The Indian Express Digital, I am very aware that it is not about a title. It is about responsibility to the vision, to the belief that we must always be content-led, and to every reader who expects credible journalism from us.”
He also acknowledged the contributions of leadership figures such as Anant Goenka and George Varghese, while crediting Sanjay Sindhwani for building a strong foundation for future growth.
In parallel, the company has appointed Shobhit Singhal to lead its consumer product and technology functions, overseeing engineering, design, marketing, growth and subscriptions. Singhal brings extensive experience across digital product ecosystems, having previously worked with platforms such as Disney+ Hotstar and Moloco, and also serving on advisory initiatives with Google.
Singhal’s mandate will focus on strengthening user experience and scaling the publication’s digital offerings, as competition intensifies across India’s online news and media landscape.
The dual appointments signal a sharper focus on technology-led storytelling and product innovation at The Indian Express, as it continues to expand its digital footprint.
With seasoned newsroom leadership and a product-first strategy now aligned, the organisation appears set to push into its next phase of digital growth while staying rooted in its editorial core.
