The Daily Telegraph has reported that Rodes Vila has been considering the offer after Bollore approached him before Christmas. Havas has denied the report is true.
Current chief executive Wahl's appointment last July surprised the industry because he was an outsider with no experience of advertising or media. He was formerly the chief executive of French bank Caisse d'Epargne.
Prior to recruiting Wahl, Bollore had tried to attract TBWA\Worldwide chairman Jean-Marie Dru.
Since taking control of Havas, Bollore has built up a 25% shareholding in Aegis Group, the UK media, market research and digital group, which owns Carat. If he plans to elevate Rodes Vila it would increase speculation that Bollore will make a move on Aegis or at the least want them to work closely together.
Rodes Vila is one of three Havas vice-chairmen, the others being Ed Eskandarian, chairman and CEO of Arnold Wordwide, and Jacques Seguela, chief creative officer of Havas.
Rodes Vila's family owns the third largest stake in Havas, and cast its vote in support of Bollore in his battle to win seats on the Havas board. Rodes Vila's father Leopoldo, who founded MPG, is a non-executive director of Havas.
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