Philip Jansen, the outgoing BT Group Chief Executive, has been approached about becoming the next chairman of advertising and marketing group WPP, according to a Sky News report.
Sky News reported that Jansen, who is to step down from BT in the spring, is one of a number of prospective candidates to have been sounded out in recent weeks about the post.
WPP signalled last year that it had begun succession planning to find a replacement for Roberto Quarta, its chairman since 2015.
Last year, BT appointed Allison Kirkby as chief executive to replace Jansen, effective from around the end of this month.
BT had previously said Jansen would remain as CEO until Kirkby took over, and he would be available to support the handover until the end of March, at which point he intended to retire from executive life.
City sources told Sky News that WPP’s search was not yet at an advanced stage and there was no certainty that Jansen or WPP would decide to progress his candidacy further.
A former boss at MyTravel and Worldpay, Jansen began his career at Procter & Gamble.
Headquartered in London, WPP’s subsidiaries include Grey, Ogilvy, VMLY&R, Group M and Wunderman Thompson.
Channel 5 rebrands linear and streaming platforms
The UK’s Channel 5 and My5 have relaunched as 5, uniting the broadcaster’s linear and streaming platforms under one brand.
BBC leads nominations for RTS Programme Awards 2025
The Royal Television Society (RTS) has revealed the nominations for its Programme Awards 2025, which take place on March 25 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Comcast agrees $3bn Olympics rights and technology deal
Comcast NBC Universal has agreed a $3bn deal that will keep its NBC network and streaming platform Peacock as the US homes of the Olympic Games through 2036.
BBC secures TV rights for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland international football
The BBC has agreed an exclusive deal to broadcast Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland men’s international football matches in the run-up to the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026.
Shadowbox Studios hires Mike Mosallam as Chief Operating Officer
Global studio operator Shadowbox Studios, the owner of Atlanta’s Shadowbox Studios in the US and Shinfield Studios in the UK, has appointed Mike Mosallam as its first Chief Operating Officer.
