WPP is open to buying firms in India for AI push

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

WPP, the world's biggest advertising group, is open to acquiring companies in India that allow it to bolster its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, a top company executive said. «We are open for acquisitions everywhere, including India, for talent and capability,» WPP chief AI officer and Satalia CEO Daniel Hulme told ET. «WPP has a history of growing strategically through acquisitions.

We (Satalia) joined WPP because they know how to look after startups and entrepreneurs.» Hulme also said India has incredible talent in both creativity and technology. «The WPP workforce here is not just strong in creativity but also in technology. We are going to see greater growth in those two areas and better collaboration between those two parts,» he added.

Around 10% of WPP's India workforce comes from a tech background. The company has 11,000 employees in the country across multiple agencies. In August 2021, WPP acquired Satalia, a technology company offering market-leading AI solutions, to bolster its capabilities in experience, commerce and technology.

«The spirit of acquisition for WPP was to augment capability in solving problems across the supply chains. The WPP supply chain includes the creation of content, production and dissemination. Each part of that process requires a different type of AI,» he said.