"Accordingly, the board believes it is not possible for any director appointee proposed by Groupe Bollore to be deemed sufficiently independent to act in the interest of all Aegis shareholders." The emerging boardroom battle echoes very clearly that of Havas. Alain de Pouzilhac, the then Havas chief executive, went up against Bollore and lost. Lord Sharman, chairman of Aegis, urged shareholders to reject the Bollore nominations because of his control of Havas. "As a board, our primary duty is to create value for all our shareholders and that is what we will continue to do.