Havas has set up a Sydney media shop with ex-Naked frontman Mike Wilson at the helm.
Havas Media will take local responsibility for the global LG Electronics and Emirates business and target new business. The agency, along with most other major players, will attempt to land the consolidated federal government contract that is now in play, thought to be worth around $100m.
Alongside Ben Sjorgen and Victor Navarro, general manager of Havas Media and general manager of Ecselis (Havas Media Group's performance marketing brand), Wilson will also be tasked with launching new specialist brands.
See the announcement below:
Havas, one of the world’s largest advertising groups, today announced the launch of a new fully owned media agency in Sydney, to be spearheaded by award winning media personality Mike Wilson.
Mike joins the group after 9 years with multi service agency Naked, which he co-founded, and nurtured into an award winning hot shop claiming several Cannes Lions and Effie wins. Mike’s immediate mandate is to manage the Group’s existing pool of blue chip clients, including new wins LG Electronics and Emirates. He has also been tasked with expansion of the Havas Media Group in Australia and launching specialist brands to provide a strong, integrated offering to clients.
Havas Media Group Australia will replicate the simplified global structure designed to channel the group’s digital, data and content teams into the heart of clients’ teams. Earlier this year Havas announced the restructuring of its global media operations, which saw the creation of Havas Media Group - consisting of just two media brands Havas Media (formally known as MPG) and Arena.
Havas embodies this level of integration within its “Havas Village” approach that brings its creative and media agencies closer together to help drive greater agility, productivity and new business. Replicating this approach forms the foundation of the group’s strategy within the Australian market.
Commenting on the new operations, Dominique Delport, Global Managing Director of Havas Media Group said:
“Australia is one of the most dynamic and exciting markets in the world and we are committed to replicating the success that our creative agency Havas Worldwide has witnessed under the leadership of Anthony Gregorio, CEO of Havas Worldwide. Mike’s introduction came to us at a pivotal time for our Australian operations. Vishnu Mohan, our Havas Media Group CEO for the region, has known and respected Mike for years and, as the wider restructure at Havas developed, it became essential that we brought in someone who has worked across the specialist disciplines within the industry. Mike’s broad minded and cross disciplined approach to media will be instrumental to our success in this important region.”
Mike Wilson CEO Havas Media Group Australia adds:
“The communications landscape has changed beyond recognition over the past decade, particularly with the advent of digital and mobile, yet there has been very limited innovation in the media agency sector. The time is right. Clients demand a 21st century media agency is available to help navigate this confusing landscape. There also needs to be a media agency destination for hungry young media professionals aiming to forge a career which is rewarding and epoch-shaping. With this new way of working Havas Media will be the agency of choice for the ambitious, where they will be supported, nurtured and challenged to be the industry's very best.
Finally, Havas Media will be an agency where all employees will be expected to make a difference. In keeping with the group's 'meaningful connections’ positioning, we will live that promise as a business, and are committed to creating Australia's first 'meaningful' media agency brand in the process.”
Havas Media’s existing team helmed by Ben Sjorgen and Victor Navarro, General Manager of Havas Media and General Manager of Ecselis (Havas Media Group's performance marketing brand) will lead the operations alongside Mike.
Mike Wilson will work out of the agency’s Sydney office and report into Vishnu Mohan, CEO Asia Pacific Havas Media Group. His appointment is effective from 25 November 2013.
Additional information
In line with the restructure at a global level Havas Media Group’s global digital networks such as Mobext (Mobile), Socialyse (Social), Affiperf (Havas’s trading desk) and Artemis (global data platform) and Ecselis will support the two main client facing media brands.
The reinforced Havas Family in Sydney now consists of Havas Media, Arena, Havas Worldwide, Red Agency, The Face, Arnold Furnace, HOST and OneGreenBean.
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