Anthony Freedman appointed as chairman, Havas Australia and NZ, signalling further growth plans

Continuing its pioneering Together strategy, Havas has today announced the appointment of Anthony Freedman (left) in the newly created role of chairman, Havas Group Australia and New Zealand. The move signals Havas Group’s intention for further growth and expansion in ANZ.

Freedman will oversee a team of almost 500 people across Havas Sydney, Havas Melbourne, Havas New Zealand, Havas Media, Host, One Green Bean and Red Agency, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Auckland.

He will be supported by five CEOs, Anthony Gregorio and Mike Wilson who continue in their current roles as group CEO Havas and group CEO Havas Media, across Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, James Wright, CEO Red Agency, Carl Ratcliff, CEO One Green Bean and Laura Aldington who is appointed CEO Host after significant success leading the agency as managing director.

Wright will also assume additional responsibilities, with the roll out of Red Agency across APAC, following its successful launch in Singapore last year, as well as taking on the newly created role of chief commercial officer, Havas Group Australia/New Zealand.

Freedman’s appointment across both creative and media agencies follows the March announcement of a global restructure in which the creative and media businesses became business units under one regional P&L, providing clients with a more agile and seamless experience.

This is a further next step in the Group’s Together strategy, following the roll out of 48 Havas Villages across the world, bringing together Havas agencies of different disciplines within a single location.

Freedman’s relationship with Havas began in 2011 following the acquisition of 51% of Host and One Green Bean, agencies that he founded in 2000 and 2007, respectively.

Says Freedman: “I believe the Together strategy provides clients with an answer to the fragmentation surrounding audiences, media, and agencies. Anthony, Mike and James have made exceptional progress with the Villages in Sydney and Melbourne and I look forward to working closely with them, along with Laura and Carl, to help build further success.

“We have ambition for significant growth fueled by closer collaboration between our agencies, allowing us to leverage the true scale of the Group in Australia and New Zealand. We are also planning a number of investments with particular focus on data, content, brand tech and healthcare.”

Says Mike Amour, CEO Havas APAC Group: “This is an exciting time for Havas and we are committed to creating a real challenger to the established larger players in Australia and New Zealand, with a more progressive, more flexible and more client centric offering. Anthony has a proven track record in delivering that, with Host growing to become Australia’s largest independent agency at the time of our acquisition and One Green Bean established as one of Australia’s most creatively awarded PR and social agencies. Anthony is one of the most pioneering entrepreneurs in Australia with outstanding commercial acumen and a restless passion for helping organisations achieve their goals.  We are excited about the potential for further, accelerated growth in Australia and New Zealand, under his leadership.”

Says Yannick Bolloré, chairman and chief executive officer, Havas Group: “Australia is one of our most important markets with a long history of world class strategic and creative thinking. I believe Anthony and his team will have great success helping our clients to capitalize on our converged capabilities.”