Havas New York has appointed Justine Feron chief strategy officer. The role has been vacant for a number of years – last held by Tim Maleeny, who is now CSO for Havas North America. 

Feron joins from Grey New York (part of WPP) where she served for eight years, most recently as head of brand strategy. Earlier she led the strategy team at Taxi New York and served at both BBDO and Ogilvy. She has advised blue chip brands such as Snickers, Dove, Doritos, Gillette, Häagen-Dazs, and more.  

Now Feron will lead a team of strategists across Havas New York’s client roster, which includes Danone, Keurig Dr Pepper and JBL.    

Feron’s appointment rounds out Havas New York’s leadership team which includes CEO Sarah Collinson, chief creative officer/co-CEO Dan Lucey and chief production officer Melissa Tifrere.    

“Brand strategy is more important than ever before,” stated Collinson who points to agency research concluding that 81% of brands could disappear tomorrow and no one would care. “As an industry we are clearly not doing enough to create meaningful brands,” she added.   

“There’s a parallel between the challenges faced by both brands and agencies today – in order to thrive, they have to have reasons for being that truly resonate,” said Feron.  

Pictured above (l to r): Collinson, Feron, Tifrere and Lucey.