Tag: H/Advisors

Singapore – Havas has recently announced the acquisition of Klareco Communications, Singapore homegrown agency and Southeast Asian corporate, financial and strategic communications consultancy, to strengthen its global strategic communications advisory arm, H/Advisors, in Asia-Pacific.

This acquisition allows Singapore to become a critical base for H/Advisors to steer its international clients through this macroeconomic environment, and will also strengthen Havas’ presence in Singapore through its integrated Village approach.

With a power base in Southeast Asia, the addition of Klareco Communications represents an important next step in H/Advisors’ strategic growth plan. On closing, the agency will be renamed H/Advisors Klareco.

This addition represents another significant milestone, following the successful launch of H/Advisors in Dubai earlier this year and the recent acquisitions of Australian Public Affairs, one of Australia’s most prominent and successful public affairs agencies, and Cunha Vaz & Associados, Portugal’s leading PR and communications consultancy.

H/Advisors Klareco and its senior management team will take on a significant role within the strategic advisory network. The local leadership includes CEO and co-founder Ang Shih-Huei, and managing director and co-founder Mark Worthington who will join the Asia board to help direct and lead the expansion of H/Advisors in Asia-Pacific.

Speaking on the acquisition, Yannick Bolloré, chairman and global CEO, Havas, and chairman, Vivendi, said, “Our partnership with Klareco allows us to draw on their breadth of experience and knowledge of the Asian market as we continue to expand our Havas presence in APAC. We are delighted to welcome the well-respected Klareco team onboard and look forward to achieving great things together.”

Shih-Huei added, “As an independent firm, we have already been working with some of the largest MNCs and leading Asian headquartered companies. H/Advisors allows us to deepen our core communications offering across corporate, financial, digital and public affairs, and expand our expertise in fast growing areas such as sustainability and change communications, to ensure we continue to deliver best practice for our clients. Our teams are excited for this new chapter ahead.”

Worthington also mentioned, “We are delighted to partner with H/Advisors to enhance our standing as a landing point for international firms coming to, or expanding in Asia. Increasingly, boards and management face complex communications challenges as they expand internationally. We are excited to build on our offering to support these challenges, ensuring we have expertise and relationships in the markets our clients need.”

Meanwhile, Stéphane Fouks, executive chairman, H/Advisors, and vice president, Havas, commented, “2023 has been an outstanding year of growth for H/Advisors, with the opening of our Dubai office and the acquisitions of CV&A (Portugal) & APA (Australia) and now our partnership with Klareco, which will strengthen our offering not only in APAC but globally. Klareco is the leading communications advisory in Southeast Asia, and we are delighted to welcome Shih-Huei, Mark and the talent and experience they will bring to H/Advisors.”

Australia – Havas today announces the acquisition of strategic communications consultancy Australian Public Affairs (APA). 

This acquisition will integrate APA within H/Advisors, Havas’s global strategic communications advisory network. This will be H/Advisors’ first owned operation in Australia, with the firm being renamed as ‘H/Advisors APA’.

In line with the continued investment in Havas’ capability across strategic communications and regulated environments, H/Advisors APA’s leading, insight-driven strategic counsel aims to add expertise and geographic reach to the network’s global clients as they continue expansion. It will also further strengthen Havas’ presence in Australia, adding new capabilities to better serve its clients.

The local leadership team from APA that includes CEO Tracey Cain, deputy CEO Phil McCall, and CFO Kathryn Higgs will continue in their roles. H/Advisors APA will be reporting to group CEO of Havas Creative Network Australia, James Wright, while leveraging global connections and opportunities through the H/Advisors network and its leadership.

Speaking on the acquisition, Wright said,  “As the Australian consulting landscape reforms amid recent crises, opportunity is emerging for strong, capable and values-driven global challengers that bring local knowledge and smart thinking.” 

“With complementary skills and alignment, H/Advisors APA will be perfectly positioned to fulfil requirements of corporates, governments and NFPs in need of a new approach. We look forward to integrating Tracey and her team into the Havas Village in the coming months,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Tracey Cain, now the chief executive officer H/Advisors APA, commented,  “For nearly three decades, we have built APA as a high quality, evidence-based firm with expertise in regulated sectors and complex stakeholder environments.” 

“The logical next step for us is to partner with Havas and H/Advisors to expand the services offered and the reach of our client base.  We have ambitious plans and are excited to take the next step with H/Advisors and the broader Havas Group,” she concluded. 

This announcement follows Havas’ November 2022 acquisition of health and pharmaceutical specialist Bastion Brands as part of a strategy to expand capability and increase the group’s specialist advertising and communications offering in the Australian market.