Australia – Havas Media has appointed Molly Blacker as its new national head of strategy, a newly created role aimed at advancing the agency’s “Deliberately Different” strategic offering.
In her new role, Blacker will lead the agency’s strategy team and join an integrated strategy collective headed by Olly Taylor, chief strategy officer at Havas ANZ. She will work with clients to identify growth opportunities and develop culturally driven media strategies.
Kate O’Ryan-Roeder, CEO of Havas Media ANZ, said, “Molly is an exceptional cultural fit for our agency – a rare combination of a people-first leader and a highly respected craft expert. What excites us most is her ambition to bring our local Deliberately Different philosophy to life through a strategic product that delivers genuine growth and impact for clients.
“She has a natural instinct for collaboration and sees huge potential in our wider Havas Village strategy collective. I know her leadership will elevate not only the work we deliver for clients, but also the development of our people and the strength of our integrated offering. Molly’s passion for pushing the industry forward makes her an incredible addition to the team.”
Blacker joins the agency after eight years at Slingshot, most recently serving as head of strategy and creative. During her time there, she worked on brands including Australian Pork, the musical Hamilton, productions by Michael Cassel Group, and the Goodman Fielder portfolio.
Earlier in her career, she spent five years at UM Australia, where she worked with brands including Johnson & Johnson, Tourism and Events Queensland, H&M, and the Government of New South Wales.
Taylor said, “Molly is a star. She understands that modern media cannot rely on reach alone and that impact is everything. I am really looking forward to welcoming her to the Village and our strategy collective.”
Blacker commented on her appointment, saying, “Some people shy away as the media landscape broadens, but this expansion is what I love about Media. To harness this world of possibility, you need a team who see that the best strategic thinking and creativity comes from diversity of thought. This shared belief with Havas Media, and the strategy collective is why I’m delighted to join the Havas Village.”
Her appointment comes as Havas Group ANZ, led by James Wright, continues to expand its integrated capabilities, including AI-enabled strategy and cross-agency collaboration.
The Havas ANZ network includes agencies such as Havas Host, Havas Red, Havas New Zealand, Havas PLAY, One Green Bean, Organic Publicity, Frontier Australia, CSA, and H/Advisors APA, among others.
