The Havas Media Network has integrated its entertainment publicity agency Organic, social media agency Wilderness, and brand-to-brand agency Havas Play to create the Havas Play Network UK.
The new division will seek to bridge the gap between the Havas creative groups and its media network. It will be led by Nick Wright, who has been promoted from chief growth officer for Havas Media Network. Wright will continue to report to Patrick Affleck, Havas Media Network’s CEO.
The senior leadership team will be rounded out by Lucy Basden Smith (managing director, Havas Play UK), Tom Jarvis (managing director, Wilderness), Caragh Cook (managing director, Organic), and Ross Taylor as group executive creative director.
Affleck said: “Nick Wright’s vast and proven experience in this space will be invaluable as we look to bring these capabilities together to create more immersive brand experiences and transformational solutions for our clients and their customers. And with Lucy, Tom, Caragh and Ross joining Nick, the Havas Play Network and its clients have a best-in-class leadership team to help them break new ground.”
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The newly formed Havas Play Network will serve clients such as EE, Montirex, Disney+, Netflix, and the FA.
Affleck added: “In integrating these capabilities and agencies under the Havas PlayNetwork, we can create and deliver 360 ideas and experiences that help connect brands to fans through their passions.”
According to the Havas Media Network, agencies Organic and Wilderness will continue to work as client-facing specialist brands, assisting their existing clientele.
Wright said: “Creating campaigns that go beyond creative and media silos is no longer an option or ‘nice to have’ – it’s an imperative to help clients punch above the weight of their increasingly stretched budgets.
“Havas Play has been a game changer in this world, creating award winning work in its own right as well as fuelling the creativity of our media clients. Supercharging this into a network of agencies with the social and PR specialisms of Wilderness and Organic will further enhance our ability to create truly connected campaigns and our reputation for thinking and doing differently.”
