CMA CGM Group chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé is charting a new course in the global media landscape, with CMA Media entering exclusive talks to acquire Brut., the fast-rising digital-native media outlet known for its dominance on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Already a minority shareholder in Brut. for two years, CMA Media seeks to take full control of the youth-oriented media brand while retaining its editorial independence and leadership team.
Brut., with a monthly reach of over 500m users in more than 100 countries, has emerged as one of Europe’s leading social-first news brand. The proposed acquisition signals a major escalation in CMA Media’s digital ambitions and positions the company at the forefront of a generational shift in news consumption, the company noted.
“This partnership would allow us to accelerate our development across the formats and uses that are reshaping the way information is produced and consumed,” Saadé stated. “It would mark a new step in building a strong, modern media group, ready for the future.”
The acquisition, if finalised, would integrate Brut. into CMA Media’s growing portfolio of news and broadcast assets, which already includes French powerhouses BFM TV and RMC, as well as regional newspapers like La Provence and La Tribune.
Over the past five years, Saadé has been steering CMA CGM beyond its core shipping business, expanding into logistics, air freight, and media. Much like the investments in air cargo and third-party logistics, Saadé’s push into media reflects a broader plan to grow in fast-changing industries that match CMA CGM’s global reach. The media arm is now the third-largest private group in France’s press and audiovisual sector and could soon emerge as a fully international player with the Brut. acquisition.
