Red Havas Australia has reshaped its leadership team to reflect local opportunities and its global focus on key growth areas.
Steve Fontanot (image below), managing director of Red Havas, will take up a new role of commercial managing director for APAC that will include M&A and commercial partnerships. Fontanot will support the Havas APAC leadership team on strengthening the PR offering in the region and will continue in his role as managing director of Havas Blvd.
The managing director of Red Havas role will not be replaced at this time, but a national managing partner bench will drive the strategic direction of the agency across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane offices.
Kate Smailes, executive director of Havas Blvd, has been promoted to managing partner of Havas Blvd & chief client officer with a remit to drive growth across Brand Experience and the automotive and mobility category
Alex Bryant, executive director of Sydney PR, has been promoted to managing partner of consumer & brand, with a remit to drive the consumer and creative offering across the agency.
Sue Cook, practice head of health, has been promoted to managing partner of health and wellbeing supported by Nicole Phillips, executive director. Phillips will join the senior leadership team.
Matt Thomas, executive director of corporate and public affairs, has been promoted to managing partner of corporate and public affairs, with a remit to drive the Corporate PR, Public Affairs and Employee Engagement offering with an expanded remit across the leadership of the Melbourne office.
Haylie Marchant, executive director of Brisbane, has been promoted to managing partner, with a continued remit to grow the Queensland operation and expanded responsibilities across the agency.
James Wright, global CEO of Red Havas, and global chairman of the Havas PR Global Collective, said: “It is an exciting new phase for Red Havas as we grow our global micro-network of agencies. We have great leaders in place to take us into the next evolution of the business and a superb group of future leaders helping us power the business.
“These changes enable the business to strengthen our areas of specialisations, as well continue to develop new offerings as clients evolve. Red Havas Australia continues to be one of the strongest performers for Havas in the APAC region."
Simone Gupta, CEO of Havas PR Australia, said: “Over the past 18 months, myself and Steve have taken the Red Havas senior leadership team in Australia through a number of changes, to ensure we are future fit in this transformed world to grow the business and changing needs of clients.
“The deep expertise and experience of this leadership team reflects key areas of opportunity and growth, and enables us to attract the best talent.”
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