July 11, 2018

HAVAS GROUP APPOINTS JAMES WRIGHT GLOBAL CHAIRMAN HAVAS PR COLLECTIVE AND CEO HAVAS PR NORTH AMERICA

by admin in News

The Havas Group today announced the appointment of James Wright as Global Chairman, Havas PR Collective, and CEO of Havas PR North America.

The move will ensure continued alignment of the earned, experiential and content offerings across the organization, as the Group enters the second part of its Together strategy. This new phase aims to streamline the group’s offerings into powerful verticals, totally integrated into the 52 Havas Villages around the world.

The Havas PR Collective is the PR and communications arm of the Havas Group, comprising over 40 agencies around the world and more than 1,500 professionals across multiple disciplines.  In his new role, Wright will both drive the North America business, which has significant expansion plans, and spearhead more unified collaboration to its global offering focusing on best-in-class creativity, technology and innovation.

Currently, Wright is Group CEO of the Havas-owned Red Agency Australia, and responsible for Havas-owned PR agencies across the Asia-Pacific region. He concurrently serves as Chief Commercial Officer for Havas Group Australia/New Zealand. Under his leadership, Wright transformed the Red Agency into a regional powerhouse of creativity and one of the most awarded agencies in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2017, PR Asia named Wright Agency Head of the Year at its annual awards show.  During this period, the wider Havas Group ANZ tripled in size. Wright joined the Havas Group in 2011 from the U.K.

Yannick Bollore, Havas Group Chairman and CEO, said: “We are very excited that James has accepted the opportunity to lead our global PR business. His impact in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region in the PR industry is peerless—and his experience is what we need to deliver a strong, cohesive earned and experiential offer that will attract the best talent and future-focused clients.”

“Between Havas and the Vivendi Group, we have unparalleled access to talent, data, technology and innovation,” said Wright. “This is an incredible opportunity to position Havas PR as the global industry leader that maximizes client outcomes in the changing face of media, technology and consumer behavior. I look forward to working with our teams in the U.S. and around the world to make this vision a reality.”

Anthony Freedman, Chairman Havas Group ANZ, said: “Over the last seven years James has built Red Agency from a handful of people to a multi award-winning team of more than 90 people with an enviable list of clients. It is testament to the great work he has done during his time in Australia that he now has this incredible opportunity in New York. We will miss him of course, but have an excellent team who will continue the great work at Red. I would like to thank him for all he has done for our businesses over the years and wish him well with the exciting adventure that lies ahead.”