Tag: Havas

Australia – Havas has announced its agreement to acquire Hotglue, an independent media agency and creative production company, as a strategic move to bolster its growth in the Australian market.

Founded in 2010, Hotglue has become renowned for its integrated social, digital, media, and content services. It has rapidly scaled in recent years, serving leading brands like L’Oreal, Dulux, and Transurban, among others. As the ‘glue’ in its integrated model, Hotglue aligns seamlessly with Havas’ integrated model.

With this acquisition, Hotglue is set to enhance Havas’ ability to deliver advanced media and activation solutions throughout the customer decision journey. It will also meet marketers’ growing demand for integrated strategies that maximise consumer engagement across various media and e-commerce channels.

Furthermore, Hotglue’s addition to Havas Village Australia will enhance and extend the group’s existing media, digital, and content services. Hotglue will merge with Havas Media Melbourne, creating a larger, more dynamic team with enhanced expertise and leadership across digital, e-commerce, media, and activation functions. 

Havas’ acquisition of Hotglue is the latest move to accelerate its Converged global strategy and shift towards a more client-centric, audience-first, and integrated approach.

Upon completion of the transaction, subject to customary conditions, the new Havas Media Melbourne team will be led by Hotglue’s founders: Nick Smith, Lewis Hearn, and Matt Hearn.

The combined team will include over 65 professionals at the Melbourne agency, expanding its scale and growth potential. This will elevate Havas’ Melbourne presence to over 120 staff across media, creative, PR, health, and digital project management.

Speaking on the acquisition, Smith said, “Since our inception 14 years ago, Matt, Lewis, and I set out to create the independent agency we always wanted to work in—one our clients deserved and an environment where our staff had the opportunity to flourish. It’s been a fun ride, and we’ve been successful in achieving just that.” 

“When Havas knocked on our door and we got to know Virginia’s future vision, Havas’s sense of purpose, and their strategy for the future, it became abundantly clear that this was the next logical step for Hotglue and our team of over 55 dedicated staff. We’re thrilled to bring our fantastic culture, social, media, and production capabilities and incredibly skilled workforce into the Havas network. This move not only adds support to existing clients but further establishes Havas as a formidable presence in the Melbourne market,” he continued. 

Meanwhile, Yannick Bolloré, chairman and CEO of Havas, said, “We are thrilled to welcome the Hotglue team to our Havas family. Hotglue is a forward-thinking business that perfectly aligns with Havas’ global Converged strategy, sharing our deep focus on clients’ ever-increasing needs for cross-functional, fully integrated communications solutions driven by standout creativity and the best technology. The momentum they’ve created through their integrated approach to digital, media, and content services is remarkable, and we are excited to see how their addition will support our continued, mutual growth.”

Virginia Hyland, CEO of Havas Media Network AUNZ, also said, “Following Hotglue’s success over many years, I have always admired the pedigree of the talented team, their strategic smarts, and their consistent delivery of high-quality results, which has driven their agency’s growth and success. Integrating Hotglue into Havas Media Melbourne will enhance our scale and ability to offer comprehensive solutions across the consumer decision-making journey for our clients. This acquisition supports our progressive Havas Converged strategy and operating system. I look forward to warmly welcoming the Hotglue team as we grow our Melbourne Village footprint, adding even greater depth of skills and expertise to our talented team.”

James Wright, group CEO at Havas Creative Network AUNZ and global chair of Havas PR Network, also commented, “As we look to strategically scale in Melbourne, it’s important we add greater talents and capability to our media agency business. With the expertise and brilliance of Nick, Lewis, Matt, and their team, we will have a significant foundation to further attract exciting new clients and talent to the Havas Group. We look forward to bringing the team across and building an even more powerful Melbourne Village.”

Singapore – YouGov, the international online research data and analytics technology group, and advertising agency Havas have announced the expansion of their data partnership, which powers Havas’ client insights.

In this expanded partnership, Havas and YouGov’s collaboration now supports Havas’ Village approach, integrating media, creativity, and talent collaboration to provide customers with a more meaningful brand experience.

The new deal also increases the market coverage of the partnership, from 18 to now 26 markets across the globe. Havas also expanded the relationship to encompass Havas Media Network, Havas Creative Network, and Havas Health & You agencies, allowing the entire network to benefit from the YouGov Profiles and YouGov BrandIndex data.

YouGov and Havas also continue to collaborate on three global custom research studies for in-depth client analysis: ‘Meaningful Brands,’ a flagship survey analysing brand impact and equity over 15 years; ‘Connect,’ a study on brand association and influence throughout the consumer decision journey; and ‘Content,’ an in-depth survey on the effectiveness of over 35 content types. 

The collaboration grants Havas access to YouGov’s connected living data approach, enhancing custom study data with insights from YouGov Profiles and YouGov BrandIndex. This global partnership provides Havas with continuously updated data sets.

Dan Hagen, global chief data & technology officer at Havas Media Network, said, “As we aim to deliver upon our One Havas ambition and power the convergence of creativity, data, technology, media, and production across our global network, YouGov will be a key data partner for the future. Our expanded partnership will greatly enhance what we can offer our clients and bring in insights from key markets across Europe, LATAM, MENA, and APAC. YouGov has a global reach and connected data capabilities, which have enabled us to integrate their data at a respondent level into our data and tech platform, Converged, in markets around the world.”

Also speaking on the partnership, Steve Hatch, CEO of YouGov, shared, “We are pleased to deepen our partnership with Havas and honoured at the level of trust they have placed in our data-driven insights. With YouGov’s unique combination of data from our proprietary panel, our connected data abilities, and our best-in-market research tools, we are proud to enable one of the world’s largest global communications groups to gain a deeper understanding of consumers and make more informed business decisions. This expansion of our partnership reflects our shared commitment to delivering the most actionable insights to companies and institutions around the world.”

Singapore – AIA Singapore has partnered with Havas Village Singapore’s integrated specialists from Socialyse, Havas Play, and Arena Media Singapore to launch its latest campaign, raising awareness about the importance of having adequate critical illness (CI) coverage.

AIA Singapore’s campaign features a heartfelt 5-minute film titled ‘Confessions of a Liar’ that spotlights the intricacies of familial bonds, conveyed through the playful dynamic between the middle-aged protagonist and his mother through the different seasons in his life, including a phase of critical illness. 

The protagonist opens the film with a humorous speech in front of his loved ones as he reflects on the playful exchanges he had with his mother through the years. His humour would remain as he recounts their enduring bond that stayed even in the challenging times of illness, serving as a resilient force that keeps them together despite the adversities of cancer. 

The campaign film aims to drive awareness about the need to be adequately protected against critical illnesses and for Singaporeans to have accessible CI coverage like AIA’s UCC plan, which covers up to 150 medical conditions and 73 critical illnesses across any stage. 

The campaign comes after Havas’ Arena Media Singapore was reappointed by AIA Singapore as its media agency of record (AOR). Arena Media Singapore currently oversees the campaign, which was rolled out using a multi-channel approach, including TVC, out-of-home executions, video, programmatic, and social ads.

Kenny Yap, managing director of Socialyse, Havas Play, and Havas Red, said, “At Havas, we are all about being meaningful. That is, to deliver work that makes a positive difference to the brands and businesses we work with, from our client partnerships to consumer engagements. We are humbled by the integrated opportunity to collaborate with AIA Singapore to launch this heartfelt thematic film with a touch of humour, elevating awareness and importance of critical illness coverage.” 

Global – Havas has announced new leadership appointments, including Alberto Canteli, as chairman and CEO of Havas Nordics, Benelux, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, who will take on additional global duties. Rana Barua, as group CEO of Havas India, will now supervise South East and North Asia.

Barua, who is based in Mumbai, will take on further duties that will cover North and South East Asia. In his new role as group CEO for India, South East & North Asia, Barua’s duties have expanded to encompass overseeing nine more markets. 

Throughout his nearly three-decade career, Barua has spent the last five years overseeing Havas’ operations in India, which employ over 2,000 people across Havas Creative Network and Havas Media Network. 

Alberto Canteli, who is based in Dubai, will continue to lead Havas Nordics, Benelux, Central & Eastern Europe, and the Middle East as chairman and CEO. He will also take on additional duties, working with Donna Murphy, global CEO of Havas Creative Network and Havas Health & You, to supervise special projects. 

Canteli has changed its focus area to be the identification of global growth possibilities and the development of practical plans. This includes looking into potential new clients, growing the services offered, and supporting cross-selling campaigns. Canteli has been with Havas for a long time and has been in the company’s global expansion for more than 20 years. 

Speaking about his appointment, Barua expressed, “I am extremely excited and thankful to the global leadership team for entrusting me with this additional responsibility. These nine distinct markets in South East & North Asia, provide multiple and diverse occasions for collaboration for both our global and local clients. I look forward to working closely with the regional teams and each country’s leadership to create more meaningful engagements and opportunities for our talent and clients.” 

Meanwhile, Canteli said, “During moments like these of continued disruption and transformation, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to combine my regional responsibilities in Europe and the Middle East with a new role that will facilitate a closer collaboration with our global leadership team. AI, Web 3.0 and Blockchain among other advancements, will have a strong impact on our industry and it will be a privilege to contribute to the transformation and turnaround of our business moving forward.” 

Furthermore, Yannick Bolloré, chairman and global CEO, Havas, commented, “I would like to warmly congratulate Alberto and Rana on their new, expanded roles. Their proven leadership skills, vast expertise and innovative thinking will create new synergies and accelerate growth, allowing our teams to further build on Havas’ integrated approach and offer our clients the best possible outcomes.” 

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.”

India – Havas has announced the acquisition of Indian consultancy firm PR Pundit, marking the debut of Havas’ public relations arm Red Havas in the Indian market. On closing, the firm will be rebranded as PR Pundit Havas Red. 

Archana Jain, founder and managing director at PR Pundit, will continue to lead PR Pundit Havas Red, and will be reporting to Rana Barua, group CEO of Havas India and James Wright, global CEO of Havas Red.

PR Pundit has been a valued affiliate of Havas in India for some time. This acquisition cements the association and enhances Havas’ capabilities to extend public relations services in India as part of its bouquet of creative, media and healthcare offerings. 

In parallel, Havas Red’s continued international expansion adds important new expertise and geographic reach to the network’s global clients. The entry in the Indian market is the network’s second addition in 2023, following the opening of Havas Red South Africa earlier in the year.

Speaking of the acquisition, Jain said, “Joining Havas will enable us to enrich our services and geographic reach for the benefit of our clients. We are excited to lend our expertise and entrepreneurial drive as well as share our local PR understanding with Havas Red in our common goal of undertaking benchmarking work and fostering long term partnerships, with our people and clients. Our relationship is based on shared values to elevate service capabilities, open doors to new opportunities and embrace best practices from around the world.”

Meanwhile, Barua commented, This acquisition once again reinforces our commitment of delivering comprehensive and impactful solutions to our clients. In our endeavour to offer integrated end-to-end communication solutions, we identified that the PR function was a missing piece.”

She added, “This acquisition brings together, two extremely powerful entities, Havas Red which has presence across 15 global markets with unmatched influence and reach, and PR Pundit, one of the most respected PR agencies in India with unparalleled brand reputation and a robust clientele. I welcome team PR Pundit to the Havas India family. Together with Havas Red, I look forward to the beginning of an exciting journey.”  

Lastly, Yannick Bolloré, chairman and global CEO at Havas, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome PR Pundit to the Havas family. The synergies between PR Pundit’s expertise, Havas India’s clients, and the global PR clients of Havas Red are exceptionally strong, setting the stage for many meaningful collaborations.”

He added, “With the backing of Vivendi and their extensive entertainment assets in India, the expansion into PR, communications and social media is a strategic move that aligns perfectly with the evolving landscape of the market and industry.”

Singapore – Multinational computer software company Adobe and global advertising agency Havas has recently announced an expanded partnership, transforming the agency’s end-to-end content workflows and paving the way for a smarter and more responsible content supply chain.

The collaboration will enable all Havas agencies to leverage Adobe generative AI to deliver personalised customer experiences more efficiently. 

Havas agencies will adopt Adobe GenStudio, enabling them to accelerate the content process from ideation to delivery, while also giving them direct access to Adobe Firefly, to generate content that is designed to be safe for commercial use.

Additionally, Havas agencies will be able to choose which content creation techniques and practices they employ, as well as how they prefer to leverage generative AI when activating new and variant content. 

They will also gain access to audience-specific data insights, enabling impact-based content optimization, and Adobe GenStudio’s seamless collaboration features, which empower cross-functional teams to create, edit and deliver customer experiences in real time.

Commenting on the partnership, Yannick Bolloré, chairman and global CEO, Havas and chairman, Vivendi, said, “This partnership will enable us to harness the latest technologies, combining the strength of Adobe’s cutting-edge software with the deep well of Havas’ brand expertise to create a ‘meaningful AI’ that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of our clients.” 

Meanwhile, Anil Chakravarthy, president, digital experience at Adobe, added, “We’re excited to see how Havas redefines content creation and innovates with our solutions to embed sustainability and generative AI with Firefly into their content supply chain.”

Sydney, Australia – Global entertainment company VA Media has appointed Organic Pacific and Havas to support its ambitions to grow within the APAC region and internationally. 

Organic Pacific and Havas’ area of responsibility includes the development of a global strategy, international brand profiling, and an industry event approach for VA Media. 

The win for the Havas-owned agencies is another in a string of recent wins for the Group.

VA Media is an Australian-based, ad-supported video on demand (AVOD) network and an enterprise partner of YouTube in the APAC region. Its flagship YouTube channels include Movie Central, True Crime Central, Horror Central, We Are Pride, and Documentary Central.

Partnering with leading studios, major film companies, and distribution businesses, VA Media connects content creators with audiences to monetise their content across YouTube, Facebook, SNAP and other AVOD streaming platforms. 

The agency appointments follow a series of high-profile internal hires, with Isabella Ronzel, previously working as network partnerships manager at News Corp Australia, now joining as head of brand marketing and commercial partnerships. Kristen Bedno was also onboarded as the head of content partnerships  and acquisitions for North America in March this year to expand the footprint in the US. Lastly, Hannah Barnes, a former Foxtel executive who joined in 2021 as Director of Unscripted, is now also managing VA’s newly created original production arm. 

Mark Ashbridge, CEO at VA Media, said, “VA Media works side by side with the best creative talent to create, curate and optimise great content, achieving proven and quantifiable results. We’re excited to appoint Organic and the Havas Network to assist our ambitious growth plans and inform the industry about VA Media in the Asia Pacific region and globally.”  

Meanwhile, Annabelle Gigliotti, managing partner at Organic Pacific, said, “VA Media is enjoying exceptional success in the evolving AVOD landscape and team Organic are looking forward to working with VA Media on promoting its global brands. This space is growing exponentially and with watch-time hours on owned and operated channels of over 270 million hours in the last 365 days, equal to over 30,000 years of content consumption, the opportunities are endless.”

Singapore – Global advertising agency Havas has announced the promotion of Darrell Nelson as the CEO of Havas Japan, and Aga Giedroyc as the CEO of Havas Thailand, taking over former Havas Thailand CEO, Santiphong Pimolsaengsuriya.

These appointments follow Havas’ recent leadership appointments in Malaysia and Cambodia, moving towards its growth plan in the involved regions.

In his new role, Nelson will collaborate closely with his teams to drive new business and local client strategies, focusing on leveraging Havas’ integrated capabilities for growth. He will also continue to serve as the APAC head of cultural strategy.

Meanwhile, Giedroyc is now tasked with leading Havas Thailand’s business operations and implementing comprehensive plans for growth. Her experience with Havas has played a crucial role in catalyzing the agency’s transformation, forging trusted relationships with clients, and spearheading digital capabilities across the network. She will also be continuing her current role as the EVP of corporate development for Havas SEA, Japan, and Korea. 

Speaking on his appointment, Nelson said, “I am thrilled to take on the leadership role and contribute to Havas’ ongoing expansion in Japan. I feel incredibly fortunate to already have an amazing and diverse team in place, dedicated to driving impactful and creative work for a great roster of clients here in Japan.”

“Our integrated Village model, which seamlessly combines creative and media efforts while collaborating with our Vivendi partners, continues to be the driving force for growth. As we continue to expand with new offerings in market, we are in a great place to continue the momentum we have in Japan and across the region right now”, he added. 

Also sharing her thoughts on her promotion, Giedroyc mentioned, I am eagerly anticipating this journey, where I’ll work alongside a remarkable team to infuse Thailand’s unique creativity into Havas’ ethos, ensuring we continue to shape meaningful brands that truly matter through a synergy of creativity, media, and entertainment.”

Meanwhile, Alberto Canteli, CEO/chairman Havas, Nordics, CEE & Middle East, SEA, Korea & Japan, commented, “The new leadership structure aims to accelerate the development of the collaborative Village model and strengthen our position in the crucial Southeast Asian and North Asian markets. Darrell has consistently demonstrated his commercial acumen and ability to grow our business in Japan. Aga’s proven ability to build and enhance capabilities in the region will augment our value proposition in Thailand and reinforce our commitment to creative excellence and smart media accountability for growth and momentum.”

Cambodia – Global communications group Havas has announced the appointment of seasoned media and marketing specialist Rastislav Kanuch as the CEO of Havas Cambodia. 

Kanuch will lead Havas Cambodia through a journey of transformation and exponential growth. He will report directly to Alberto Canteli, CEO and chairman of Havas, Nordics, CEE and Middle East, SEA, Korea, and Japan. 

His responsibilities will encompass collaboration and partnerships, driving new business momentum, and nurturing and leading future-ready teams. 

Kanuch brings with him over 15 years of executive experience. Prior to his appointment, he served as a board member and CEO at UNIMEDIA, one of Slovakia’s largest national media agencies. With a significant emphasis on client service, empathetic leadership, and consistently exceeding customer goals, he had been credited with the agency’s increase in revenue and profitability. 

Commenting on the appointment, Alberto Canteli said, “Rastislav is a crucial addition to our team, integral to our ambition for this market as we strengthen our client-centered collaborative model. His extensive experience in leading agencies to success makes him the ideal candidate, and his expertise will build upon our achievements in Cambodia, propelling Havas Cambodia into its next phase of growth and expansion.”

Meanwhile, speaking about his new role, Kanuch said, “I am thrilled to be part of Havas. The group presents a distinctive integrated offering, supported by a wealth of resources across its global network. With a structure poised to deliver truly innovative solutions that today’s clients demand, I am eagerly looking forward to embracing this new challenge. My aim is to strengthen our commitment to creative excellence and intelligent media accountability, forging new opportunities that will accelerate our growth and momentum in the market.”