MPG, Media Contacts Folded Into Havas Media Group
Havas is shuttering its MPG and Media Contacts monikers as client-facing brands, the firm confirmed Thursday. Those operations will be rebranded and folded into the
newly created Havas Media Group.
The move follows by less than a week the departure of MPG global CEO Maria Luisa Francoli Plaza from the company. At the time, no reason was given for her
leaving, but the agency now confirms that the departure was a result of the restructuring.
Lori Hiltz, who was promoted last September to North American CEO Havas Media, will continue in
that role. She was also North American CEO of MPG but now drops that title. Previously, she had reported to Francoli Plaza. Now she reports to Dominique Delport, who has been appointed global managing
director for the Havas Media Group. Previously, he was CEO of Havas Media France.
The rejiggering of the media operation is part of a broader Havas rebranding initiative that began last
year when the company said it was consolidating its global brand identity under two primary entities: Havas Creative and Havas Media. As part of the creative rebranding effort, flagship agency Euro
RSCG was renamed Havas Worldwide, now a unit of Havas Creative.
In some ways, the moves signal a re-bundling of disciplines to foster more effective integration in the digital age. Or at
least a “moving together of our creative and media companies,” as Havas CEO David Jones put it last September when the broader company rebranding was announced. At that time, the company
also hinted at changes to come on the media side, noting that its disparate media services brands — including MPG and Media Contacts — would receive a “new visual identity” in
2013.
On Thursday, the company cited a need to simplify its integration strategy as the reason for the media restructuring. Alfonso Rodes, Havas Media Group’s CEO, stated: “The
explosion of digital media means that no one can afford to deliver a siloed approach to communications. This new media model integrates our digital expertise at the core of our organization, promoting
greater agility between all our teams and disciplines.”
As part of the reorganization, the group has formed a new executive committee led by Rodes. Delport, in his new role, reports
to Rodes and is in charge of the commercial activity for all countries and all Havas Media Group brands, strategy, new business, digital integration and intelligence.
Michel Sibony takes on
the new role of managing all global planning and buying operations, as well as the group’s digital and specialist offers. Jordi Ustrell becomes the global head of back office operations and will
oversee the global support services, such as IT, HR, legal and finance.
The rebranding takes effect Jan. 24.
Recent MediaDailyNews Articles
-
Broadcasters Sue AereoKiller In DC May 24, 5:21 p.m.
Confirming their efforts to follow over-the-top TV services with legal filings in any market where they ... -
Cigarette Marketers Slice Mag Spending In 2011 May 24, 4:52 p.m.
The five major cigarette marketers nearly cut in half their collective magazine spending in 2011. The ... -
B2B Revenues Rises, Credits Events, Digital Ads May 24, 4:45 p.m.
Overall, business-to-business media revenues are growing, due to an upward trend in B2B trade shows which, ... -
Court Dismisses Defamation Suit Against WPP's Sorrell May 24, 3:31 p.m.
A New York Court has dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought against WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell.Sorrell ... -
MediaCom Races To Win FIA E Championship's AOR May 24, 12:37 p.m.
A start-up race car circuit, The FIA E Championship, has named WPP’s MediaCom as its agency ... -
Networks Tie For Last Month of the 2012-2013 Season, NBC Gains Ground May 24, 10:56 a.m.
The four major networks were in a virtual tie for the last month of the 2012-2013 ... -
Aereo Is Not Just For Cord-Cutters May 23, 6:34 p.m.
Are cord-cutters most likely to subscribe to Aereo? Not necessarily, according to early returns. CEO Chet ... -
Cars.com Drops Flag On NASCAR.com Sponsorship May 23, 6:25 p.m.
Cars.com has a need for speed. The site has a deal with Turner to sponsor a ... -
Worldwide Pay TV On The Rise, Big Growth In Asia May 23, 4:17 p.m.
North American pay TV subscribers may continue to show little or no growth for the first ... -
Activision Blizzard's Campaign Wins Grand Effie May 23, 4:12 p.m.
Video game marketer Activision Blizzards’ ad campaign “The Vet and the nOOb” for "Call of Duty: ...
Be the first to comment on "MPG, Media Contacts Folded Into Havas Media Group"
Leave a Comment