• by Fern Siegel , September 6, 2023

Havas has acquired Australian Public Affairs (APA), a noted strategic communications consultancy.

APA will become part of H/Advisors, Havas’ global strategic communications advisory network. This will be H/Advisors’ first owned operation in Australia, part of its expansion in the APAC region.

The company will be renamed H/Advisors APA.

CEO Tracey Cain, Deputy CEO Phil McCall, and CFO Kathryn Higgs will continue in their roles. Cain founded APA 27 years ago.

Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and Global CEO, Havas, and Chairman, Vivendi, called the business deal an opportunity to "further accelerate our plans for developing our public affairs, financial PR and strategic communications offering across the APAC region.

James Wright, Group CEO Havas Creative Network Australia, said: “With complementary skills and alignment, H/Advisors APA will be perfectly positioned to fulfill requirements of corporates, governments and NFPs in need of a new approach."

Havas is owned by Vivendi.