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I think SMS would only welcome a WPP takeover if he is walking through the entrance of the WPP offices while Mark Read is walking out. And I wouldn't be too shocked at that happening. Mark Read bought AI company Satalia in 2021 as the AI engine in his strategy. Not sure what progress he has made, but this not has upped the WPP share price and the recent capital market day where he announced an AI investment of £250m per year clearly fell flat with the SP declining on that day and thereafter. Coupled with this he is openly vocal about him having to sort out the 18 years of mess SMS created at WPP, basically blaming.SMS for his own poor performance. Very unprofessional. If the WPP board and SMS could let water flow under the bridge maybe we could see a WPP takeover.
1msn
Looks like Media Monks India is doing exceptionally well looking at your attachment and other news articles. Must be a cash cow for the S4 group. And is in a huge growing market of young tech savvie customers in a digitally led market
IMO, I could only see the benefit being accelerating the Digital element of one of the big 6 which S4 has a number of years head start. This could slot in immediately. However, saying that these companies have the money and time now that digital marketing has become pedestrian to catch up
'As such, this company is now primed for a takeover, as the acquiring company would be buy chunks of the media landscape across multiple countries.'
Only a benfit if you don't have a presence surely. All the Big 6 already operate globally
Auson, sure
On Amazon Prime Video (as of yesterday in the UK) the monthly subscription includes advertising for the first time ever with the option to buy out of this for an additional £2.99/m. With S4's close relationship with Amazon and AWS will this be an opportunity for customers such as, say Phillips, for example to advertise on there through Media Monks integration and understanding of Amazon, AWS and its API. Basically could this be a new revenue opportunity to for Media Monks to work with clients to target BTL and TTL marketing campaigns based on consumer viewings and interests, or, will businesses just dump existing TV adverts on there as they do now across independent commercial channels.
WPP announced last week that they are investing £250m each year on AI. So they see this is the right strategy.
Mark Read stated to Reuters and others-
"AI is transforming our industry and we see it as an opportunity not a threat," he said. "We firmly believe that AI will enhance, not replace, human creativity," he said on Tuesday."
If S4 is providing AI tools to Whoppers to create some in-house work I would hope they under some kind of user license or subscription agreement I can't immediately think how they would get repeat revenue otherwise.
What's annoying is that random non evidenced based comments by the likes of Sanyam and others spooks potential new S4 retail investors and puts them off buying or those that have just bought in doubting their research and selling.