Havas has appointed a new group managing director, ahead of dropping its Worldwide and Media branding in Melbourne.
The agency will be the first APAC agency in the network to operate as a single P&L with integrated creative, media and digital arms under the same roof.
It comes as former Naked New York MD Matt Houltham joins the agency as group MD, leading the new integrated offering.
“The industry is evolving and we need to put client and consumer needs above siloed business units to create programs that drive growth for brand,” Houltham says.
“It’s great to be coming home to work alongside some of the best in the business, even the idea of working with Mike Wilson again didn't put me off.”
Houltham has more than 14 years of leadership experience from agencies including Naked Communications New York, Naked Communications Australia, ZenithOptimedia, Mojo and Publicis Digital.
In his new role, he will report directly to Group COO James Wright and work alongside Havas creative group CEO Anthony Gregorio and Havas Media CEO Mike Wilson.
Havas says it aims to be the “most integrated global marketing and communications Group worldwide” with the latest move a strategic shift in its village strategy. Its new structure will also see Havas-owned PR firm Red Agency operate in the same office.
Wilson recently took part in AdNews' Pubcast podcast, discussing “catching hearts and minds” with a global ad strategy, the risk factor and the welcomed resurgence of “big integrated ideas”.
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