Tag: Havas

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.”

Singapore – TRIPTK, a brand transformation studio within Havas Group, has expanded its regional expertise and global innovation capabilities through the opening of a new APAC regional hub in Singapore.

TRIPTK Singapore will be led by Louise Newson who joins as Principal for Singapore with 14 years of expertise in innovation, foresight, and growth strategy across Asia and Europe.

Meanwhile, Laura Tan and Alyson Ho join the Singapore team as associate strategy directors. Tan has experience in trends, foresight, and business strategy for clients in APAC whilst Ho brings with him background in brand and innovation consulting for global and regional B2B and B2C brands.

Havas said TRIPTK serves as a transformation partner for brands “in search of bold change and meaningful growth.” It was founded in partnership with Havas in New York in 2017 and has expanded globally, with a data and analytics hub in Amsterdam, a design studio in Mexico City, and a Europe regional hub in London. Its multi-disciplinary global team offers data and insight, strategy, innovation and design capabilities to help brands be more purpose-driven, consumer-centric and culturally magnetic. 

TRIPTK has already been delivering work in the APAC region for blue chip clients and TRIPTK Singapore is seen to deepen TRIPTK’s global innovation expertise for its existing partners, which include Netflix, VF Corporation, Diageo, Estee Lauder Companies and Marriott International. The regional hub will also serve a dynamic and growing market of APAC headquartered clients. 

Speaking about her new role, Newson said, “APAC is amongst the fastest growing and innovative regions in the world; by 2040 it is predicted to top 50% of the world’s GDP and drive 40% of global consumption. As Asia rises as a centre for innovation, brand leaders increasingly need a partner that can decode the market and develop culturally relevant propositions. It’s towards this huge opportunity that I’m thrilled to join such a dynamic and capability-rich firm as TRIPTK. The team in Singapore has a strong working relationship forged over many years and we’re already exploring some fascinating client briefs. We’re excited for the future, and look forward to partnering with brands to drive bold change and meaningful growth.” 

“The appointment of this highly talented and experienced team in APAC is one more step on our journey to being a truly global brand transformation partner. The strategic importance and complexity of the APAC region demands a team with deep local and regional expertise who can decode ever-changing market dynamics and develop new strategies, products and services for our clients. I am thrilled to be welcoming Louise and the team into the business,” said Sam Hornsby, TRIPTK Founder and CEO. 

In September, Havas Group tied up with Malaysia-based comms agency Invictus Blue. The partnership between the two aims to provide media and integrated requirements for Havas clients.

Sydney, Australia – Havas Australia has appointed technology platform OIS as its independent and third-party verification partner for its digital, programmatic, and classic out-of-home client campaign investments.

As the OOH sector evolves, the partnership sees Havas clients positioned to meet the challenges faced by advertisers wanting to independently verify their OOH investment, independent of publisher reporting, aligning to already adopted practices in other media.

At any moment in time, OIS tracks hundreds of out-of-home campaigns across Australia and New Zealand, processing billions of verification data points. 

Michelle Lee, group investment director at Havas said, “Our strategy is not to just keep up, we want to be ahead of the curve as out-of-home evolves, as there are some fantastic opportunities for brands and agencies. One example is the shift to programmatic, however, smarter trading and campaign management of existing direct investments is also top of the list, both areas where OIS technology will support Havas teams.” 

She added, “OIS was a standout, from their world-first programmatic solution that tracked a billion plus impressions across multiple markets to their proprietary physical inspection data which we can access to verify quality data for every screen across Australia.”

Meanwhile, Justin Singh, founder and CEO at OIS, commented, “It’s great to be appointed after a competitive review that centred on innovation and has acknowledged our broader suite of proprietary tags, pixels, and physical inspection data solutions. Unlike other verification alternatives in the market which may rely on publisher ‘pops’ or ‘log data’, brands recognise that all OIS solutions are completely third party, aligning to industry best practice and how agencies and brands verify other media channels.”

China – Global communications group, Havas, has acquired Front Networks, an independent creative agency focusing on social and digital marketing in China, which will be integrated into the Havas Creative network. 

Front Networks, which currently has two offices in Beijing and Shanghai, provides a full range of digital marketing services, with a team of more than 200 people. It has always been at the forefront of digital evolution in China and is trusted by more than 200 international clients across sectors such as automotive, finance, sports, software, artificial intelligence, amongst others, including BMW, Rolls-Royce, Vivo, and Microsoft, as well as Bank of China, and Nestlé, amongst many others.

This move will bring additional creative and digital firepower to Havas in China. Havas will be leveraging Front Network’s expertise in timely and effective digital storytelling, creating engaging digital content and channel mapping, as well as its enterprise philosophy of Connectivity + Creativity + Collectivity.

Yannick Bolloré, Havas Group’s chairman and CEO, commented that China has always been of strategic importance to them and he is thrilled to see that they are keeping up the same drive and momentum in this market. 

“By partnering with the best there is to offer in China, Havas Group will surely create more meaningful moments and value for all our clients, consumers, brands and communities. We are delighted to welcome Felix and the teams to the Havas Family,” said Bolloré.

Meanwhile, Karl Wu, Havas Group’s chairman and CEO for Greater China, shared that Front Networks has proven its business strength, agility, and adaptability during China’s digital emergence and evolution. 

“Amidst the arrival of the metaverse, bringing Front Networks on board is an important strategic step to further enrich our digital solutions for our clients in China. Under our one Havas Village roof, we will together continue our mission to create meaningful differences for brands, businesses and people,” said Wu.

Felix Teng, Front Networks’ founder and CEO, said that they pride themselves in having been recognised by Havas, the industry leader in integration and entrepreneurship.

“With the Group’s resources and empowering tools, we will be able to broaden our horizon, extend our solutions and add scale to the depth of our services. Their philosophy is very exciting and we are looking forward to doing more meaningful things together,” added Teng.

The issue of sustainability as seen from the lens of corporate purpose has been growing through the last few years. More and more stakeholders are realizing that corporations and brands need to go beyond just brand promise but, more so, should reflect their own values and their missions. For 2022, we predict that this is further going to evolve.

One of the predictions in Red Havas Global’s 2022 Red Sky Predictions is the evolution of corporate purpose as it evolves from changing stakeholder expectations in the last year or so. For 2022, experts predict that corporate purpose must now be delivered with clear and measurable action.

As communications practitioners, we know the primary key to effective communication is authenticity. For 2022, actions designed to drive and emphasize corporate purpose should show that they can effect change. This stems from the growing realization among stakeholders that many companies and brands are riding on the ‘Sustainability’ bandwagon because it’s considered current and a trend. They create activities and product content to highlight their efforts but for most, it is superficial. It has no real connection to the vision and mission of the company or the purpose of the brand. There’s a term they use for this – greenwashing. This is when a company or brand spends time and effort to market themselves as environmentally friendly or have embraced sustainability – but it’s only just for show, only devised to follow trends.

Sustainability efforts and the commitment to provide meaningful actions and messages should not be skin deep. It should reside from a place of sincere authenticity. Only then can these actions become powerful enough to build and strengthen corporate purpose.

According to Havas Group’s 2021 Meaningful Brand study, there was a marked shift in how people view brands. About 71 per cent of people surveyed showed that they have little faith that brands will deliver on their promise and that only 34 per cent are transparent about their commitments. This clearly shows that audiences are now more cynical when it comes to how they view brands, companies, and businesses.

But despite this cynicism, brand expectation has markedly grown. An amazing piece of data is that 73 per cent of the respondents believe brands must act as soon as possible for the good of society and the planet. More significantly than this, though is that 64 per cent of people have now taken their own concrete steps to more affirmative action – they have signified that they will only buy from companies that have shown that they are not just out for profit but have a sincere desire to effect change and have taken concrete steps towards it.

In other words, consumers of today will take their business to companies and brands that are aligned to their own beliefs and those that are doing something to change the world for the better. It will be interesting to add that these consumers have even signified that they are willing to pay more just to support these brands.

This article is written by Mel Panabi, the business director of Red Havas in the Philippines.

The article is published as part of MARKETECH APAC’s thought leadership series What’s NEXT. This features marketing leaders sharing their marketing insights and predictions for the upcoming year. The series aims to equip marketers with actionable insights to future-ready their marketing strategies.

If you are a marketing leader and have insights that you’d like to share with regards to the upcoming trends and practices in marketing, please reach out to [email protected] for an opportunity to have your thought-leadership published on the platform.

Hong Kong – Global programmatic digital out of home (DOOH) adtech company Hivestack has been selected as programmatic digital out of home (DOOH) partner by a couple of global advertising and media companies including GroupM, Xaxis, Publicis, Havas and dentsu International Hong Kong.

Through these partnerships, Hong Kong-based advertisers will now be able to capitalize on the benefits of programmatic buying, activating against premium programmatic DOOH inventory through the Hivestack DSP via open exchange and Private Marketplace deals.

To date, programmatic DOOH is one of the fastest growing channels in Hong Kong and provides crucial opportunities for media buyers to plan and deliver contextualized, targeted and measurable campaigns at scale across premium DOOH inventory in the region.

Troy Yang, managing director for North Asia at Hivestack, said, “These partnerships are a testament to continued growth of programmatic DOOH opportunities across North Asia, we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with such influential leaders in media and advertising to pioneer programmatic DOOH in Hong Kong.”

Kenny Ip, head of investment for Hong Kong at GroupM, said, “It’s great to have partnered with Hivestack who continue to drive programmatic digital out of home (DOOH) in Hong Kong.”

Andy Chung, managing director at Xaxis and INCA, said, “We are pleased to recognize that Hivestack is the pioneer and specialist in this area, capable of advanced solutions & features. We look forward to working with Hivestack and bringing these benefits to our GroupM clients.”

Meanwhile, Andrew Cawte, managing director at Havas Media Hong Kong, commented, “Thanks to our partnership with Hivestack, we at last have the opportunity in Hong Kong to buy premium programmatic DOOH inventory, at scale. This is game changing for advertisers here.”

Hivestack has seen significant growth in 2021 following several global expansions including China, Hong Kong and Taiwan earlier this year, most recently onboarding new premium supply side partnerships in Hong Kong.

Tammii Pang, head of PMX at Publicis Media Hong Kong, said, “This is an incredibly exciting time for the DOOH market in Hong Kong. We look forward to collaborating with our new partners at Hivestack to leverage their market leading programmatic technology and offer our clients a way to precisely engage audiences outside of the home.”

Meanwhile, Anna Chan, CEO of Media LoB, dentsu International Hong Kong, commented, “As an integrated solutions provider, we are glad to partner with Hivestack to offer a more seamless and innovative consumer journey for our clients, as DOOH is becoming an increasingly vital media touch point.”