Havas Media Network is creating a new centralised planning team to combine planning strategy across the digital, commerce and activation parts of its business.
The new Connected Planning Hub will be headed up by Jackie Lyons, who has been promoted from head of planning to chief planning officer, having helped make client breakthroughs in the areas of client planning and innovations.
The Hub will deliver better integrated planning solutions across the entire Havas Media Network, with the specific remit of integrating omnichannel touchpoints. By connecting its network in this way, Havas aims to provide faster, more effective comms and content opportunities for its clients, fuelled by the latest tech and media innovation.
The team will also establish more collaborative and integrated ways of working with Havas’ CX network and the wider Havas Village.
The unified unit will consist of eight senior planning experts and over 150 members of the broader client planning community.
Rebecca Smithson has been named as head of activation, while Barry Walsh will take on the role of digital strategy partner. Kathryn Harding and Stefan Schoombee have been bought on board in the joint role of comms planning partners, with Priscilla Dolladi as digital strategy director.
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In addition, Lewis Marchant will be joining as digital strategy director and Manchester-based Eleanor Mitchell will be comms planning director.
The team will have access to all of Havas Media Network UK’s brands including Havas Entertainment, Havas Market, Search Laboratory, Havas Play and Ledger Benett.
“The industry is evolving at pace and we need to be today where our clients will be tomorrow,” said Connected Planning Hub chief planning officer Jackie Lyons.
She continued: “We need to get better at understanding the journeys customers go on, designing more connected experiences that deliver more action and business impact. Creating this team will enable us to drive media excellence and progressive solutions across the network as it continues to evolve with clients’ ever-changing requirements.”
Lyons will report to Havas Media Network CEO Patrick Affleck, who said: “Our clients are asking more from us strategically as they accelerate their transition to being more customer-centric organisations, which of course requires an evolution in our own model too.”
“We are building a true customer-focused network in response, helping our clients to better understand the journeys their customers go on, designing experiences that better integrate all customer touch points.”
“Our job is to create more connected customer journeys across communications, commerce and culture and the Connected Planning Hub under Jackie’s leadership will be the effective enablers of that.”
“Jackie is a planning maestro and a role model in and outside of our business and we’re excited to see what she can achieve this year and beyond.”
Image credit Joshua Oduse: (left to right) Eleanor Mitchell, Stefan Schoombee, Barry Walsh, Jackie Lyons, Kathryn Harding, Rebecca Smithson, Priscilla Dolladi, Lewis Marchant.
