Havas Group’s merged media PR micronetwork experiencing significant business expansion, client wins, award recognitions, more
Red Havas, the micronetwork of merged media agencies operating in 14 markets around the world, today shared highlights from the first half of 2022.
“Over the past three years, we’ve radically transformed the Havas PR network into Red Havas and nearly doubled in size during that time,” said James Wright, Global CEO of Red Havas Group and global chairman of Havas PR Global Collective. “Our merged media positioning has attracted a huge influx of new clients and talent who are in search of new thinking and a challenger mindset.”
Recent Red Havas’ business expansion includes the formal launch of Red Havas Middle East, and Red Havas Spain, new corporate affairs practices at Red Havas agencies in Australia and Italy, and the specialized global healthcare PR offering, Red Havas Health.
New business wins across the micronetwork this year include Abbott and Purina (Italy), Charlotte Tilbury (Middle East), ConvaTec (U.S.), Department for Education (U.K.), Ipsen Pharmaceuticals (France), GetYourGuide (U.S.), Me&U (Australia), Molson Coors (U.K.), Olay (Philippines), Siemens Betriekskrankenkasse (Germany), Philippine Digital Asset Exchange (Philippines), Telefónica (U.S.), Turismo de Tenerife (Spain), The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (U.S.) and Vita Coco (U.K.).
Among the agency’s standout campaigns so far this year, the Ol’au Palau tourism initiative follows the globally award-winning Palau Pledge campaign, a joint effort of Red Havas in partnership with Host Havas. It unlocks new experiences and places for tourists to Palau, not according to how much they spend but how sustainably they act. The global Red Havas team has supported the launch of the initiative by securing over 430 pieces of media coverage with a reach of 250 million.
And Red Havas’ #StopWar campaign amplified an international Save Ukraine #StopWar charity telethon to raise cash and awareness of the war in the Ukraine through coordinated outreach by 80 agency PR pros from across 20 markets who rallied together to support Havas PR Kyiv. Red Havas helped reach 80 million+ people with the live broadcast and millions more post-broadcast. Millions were raised, and people in 50+ European cities marched in solidarity with Ukraine.
New Redsters in the mix
Among the notable promotions and new hires, Rachael Sansom was promoted to CEO of Red Havas U.K., and Claire Davies was appointed head of strategy and planning in the U.K. Additionally, Lisa Campbell was promoted to General Manager of Red Connect, the agency’s global content and creative production agency.
The micronetwork’s new hires are largely focused on bringing additional strategy, data, sustainability and corporate affairs capabilities to the forefront. In Italy, Valentina Burlando was appointed practice leader of corporate and finance and Vittoria Ghirlanda named sustainability manager. Kadriye Dal was hired as Germany’s director of strategic data planning while Michael Schulz was named its director of strategic planning. And in Australia, Nicole Phillips was appointed client services director of health, and Matthew Thomas was named executive director of corporate affairs.
Awards and recognitions
New and old alike, Red Havas leaders continue to be tapped to serve as jurists in communications award programs and to win awards in their own right. For example, Cannes Lions 2022 appointed Australia’s Executive Director Kate Smailes and Middle East’s GM Dana Tahir as judges, and Cannes Young Lions 2022 appointed Australia’s Managing Director Steve Fontanot and Executive Director Alex Bryant as judges. In addition, CEO James Wright will serve as a judge for this year’s Creative Pool awards, while U.S. EVP Lesley Sillaman was selected as an Annual 2022’s judge.
Additionally, Red Havas Group is highly decorated for its recent campaign work. The adidas Liquid Billboard campaign won the Grand Prix at Cannes Lions for Outdoor; a Gold; 2 Silvers and a Bronze Lion in other OOH categories, as well as various Grand Prix, Golds, Silvers and Bronzes at other global and regional awards. Red Havas Italy’s J&J Medical campaign earned a Life Science Excellence Award for Best Communication Campaign, and the British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card “Tastes Like Companionship” campaign was shortlisted for a Provoke SABRE in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Redsters on stage, on air and in print
As for the thought leadership Red Havas has put out in 2022, it published its annual Red Sky Predictions report in February, its “New Lens on Brand Experience” whitepaper in March, and hosts the “Red Sky Fuel for Thought” podcast each month. CEO James Wright participated in a PR Week roundtable discussion on the changing shape of the communications industry, a PR Week panel on health equity, a thrive2030 interview, NewsWhip webinar on internal communication, and a PR Week article on what Twitter could look like a year from now.
France’s Director of Health, Roxane Philippe, participated in the Santexpo congress, which brought together French actors of health in 2022, while CEO Carola Salvato and Vice President Corrado Tomassini, both with Red Havas Health Italy, spoke at the RCS Academy Healthcare Talk Event on public and private healthcare. U.S. EVP Davitha Tiller spoke on a Vivvi x Havas Group webinar on self-care for working parents and at the Vision Monday Magazine Leadership Summit on the year’s hottest social trends.
Philippines Business Director Mel Panabi wrote an article on corporate purpose for Marketech-APAC. U.S. EVP Lesley Sillaman penned a CommPro piece on crisis communication while Spain’s General Director Ana Picó was featured in Control Magazine and U.K.’s CEO Rachael Sansom discussed upcoming trends in PRmoment. Tom Manning, Australia’s creative lead, wrote a piece in Adnews on creating remotely.
“Our winning strategy,” said Wright, “is to continue to own the earned, and now, to also earn the owned (channels, content and strategy) for our clients.”
About Red Havas Middle East
Established in 2001 with its regional HQ in Dubai, Red Havas Middle East provides clients a fully integrated public relations offering, including social, digital PR and influencer relations.
While it has long been known as the region’s premier luxury, fashion, beauty and lifestyle agency, Red Havas has expanded its portfolio to include a diverse set of clients that range from insurance, government, finance, tech and retail to oil & gas, pharma, environmental, FMCG, F&B and hospitality brands.
#WeAreHavas #RedHavasME
About Havas Middle East
Havas Middle East is part of Havas Group, one of the world’s largest global communications groups. Based on a client-centric model across all its disciplines, Havas Middle East is a full-service, fully integrated communications powerhouse, operating seamlessly across Creative, Media and PR. Over 200 of the world’s brightest and bravest, working in a place we call the Havas Village.
Our Havas mission: To make a meaningful difference to the brands, the businesses and the lives of the people we work with.
Havas Group integrated Vivendi in December 2017. With 20,000 employees in more than 100 countries, Havas Group is committed to creating meaningful connections and having a positive impact in the world through creativity, media and innovation.
#WeAreHavas #HavasME #MeaningfulDifference
Further information: havasme.com and havasgroup.com
About Havas Group
Havas is one of the world’s largest global communications groups. Founded in 1835 in Paris, the Group employs 20,000 people in more than 100 countries. Havas Group is committed to being the world’s best company at creating meaningful connections between people and brands through creativity, media and innovation. Based on a client-centric model across media and creative, Havas Group is the most integrated company in its sector. We operate with three business units (creative, media and health & wellness) within our Havas Villages all over the world where teams share the same premises, ensuring agility and a seamless experience for clients. #makingbrandsmeaningful.
Further information about Havas Group is available on the company’s website: havasgroup.com.
About Red Havas
Red Havas is part of the Havas PR Global Collective, the PR and communications arm of the Havas Group that comprises approximately 40 agencies around the world and more than 1,300 employees. Red Havas’ strategic “Merged Media” model brings together traditional and digital publishing, content, social media and data within a single infrastructure. For further information, please visit: www.redhavas.com.
Contact:
Tanya Kassab
Marketing & Communications
Havas Middle East / Red Havas Middle East
tanya.kassab@havasme.com
+971 4 455 6732