YouGov CEO Departure as Co-Founder Stephan Shakespeare Returns
Portfolio -People | Feb 04, 2025 | Business Cloud
The CEO of YouGov, Steve Hatch, has departed from the company following a substantial halving of the company's share price in the 18 months of his tenure. Hatch, who previously served in an executive role at Meta, took over in 2023 when co-founder Stephan Shakespeare transitioned to a non-executive chairmanship after leading the company for a decade. In a swift response to this leadership change, Shakespeare has resumed the interim role of CEO while the company searches for a new, permanent leader. Deborah Davis, a newer addition to the board, steps in as the interim non-executive chair. Over the period of Hatch's leadership, YouGov undertook significant expansion initiatives, including a £51.2m share placement and £300m acquisition in 2023. This expansion continued with further acquisitions early in 2024, including purchasing KnowledgeHound, a US firm, and GfK GmbH's consumer panel services for £315m. However, the company's stock slid from approximately 950p to 360p today, reducing its market capitalization to around £420m. Despite the downturn, both Shakespeare and Hatch voiced optimism about the future of YouGov, stressing on the leadership team's strength and the company's commitment to its strategic objectives aimed at driving medium-term growth.
Sectors
- Market Research and Data Analytics
- Mergers and Acquisitions
Geography
- United Kingdom – YouGov is headquartered and listed in London, which is an important financial center for its operations.
- United States – The acquisition of KnowledgeHound, a US firm, indicates YouGov's operational and strategic interests in this geography.
- Germany – The acquisition of GfK GmbH’s consumer panel services highlights a focus on the German market.
Industry
- Market Research and Data Analytics – YouGov operates in this industry, offering research data and analytics technology designed to better understand consumer preferences and movements.
- Mergers and Acquisitions – The article discusses several acquisitions by YouGov, including the purchase of KnowledgeHound and GfK GmbH's consumer panel services.
Financials
- 51.2m – Funds raised by YouGov through a new share placing in 2023.
- 300m – Amount involved in a major acquisition by YouGov in 2023.
- 315m – Cost of acquiring GfK GmbH's consumer panel services.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouGov plc | Target | Company | An international research and data analytics group. |
| Steve Hatch | Former CEO | Person | Former Meta executive and CEO of YouGov for 18 months. |
| Stephan Shakespeare | Interim CEO & Co-founder | Person | Co-founder of YouGov and interim CEO after the departure of Steve Hatch. |
| Deborah Davis | Interim Non-Executive Chair | Person | Appointed as interim non-executive chair following Shakespeare's return to CEO. |
| KnowledgeHound | Acquisition Target | Company | A US-based firm recently acquired by YouGov. |
| GfK GmbH | Acquisition Target | Company | Consumer panel services acquired by YouGov in a recent deal. |