AD Agencies
Havas gives CFO François Laroze global COO title
MUMBAI: Fresh from its debut on Euronext Amsterdam, advertising heavyweight Havas has beefed up the role of long-serving money man François Laroze, handing him the additional title of global chief operating officer alongside his existing chief financial officer duties.
Having cut his teeth at the group since 2007, Laroze brings a wealth of experience and intimate knowledge of Havas’s inner workings to his expanded brief. As the newly minted COO of the freshly listed company, he will collaborate closely with the group’s executive committee to ensure the ambitious targets dangled before investors are hit both in the short and medium term.
His marching orders include securing solid organic growth through the holy trinity of client retention, new business wins and in-business development – all while leveraging the group’s “converged” strategy. Laroze will also be tasked with fattening the profitability ratio through rigorous cost management and ensuring consistent cash flow generation.
Havas chairman & chief executive Yannick Bolloré lavished praise on his lieutenant: “François’ extensive experience and proven leadership make him the perfect choice to drive our transformative initiatives forward as a newly listed company. We are excited to witness the positive impact François will continue to bring to our organisation “
For his part, Laroze appears eager to shoulder the additional responsibilities: “I’m thrilled about this new chapter and the opportunity to continue to contribute to Havas’ transformation journey and growth in an expanded role.”
The move signals Havas’s determination to put its financial house in impeccable order as it navigates life as a standalone public company, with Laroze now wielding influence over both the purse strings and operational levers of the advertising group.
AD Agencies
Prakash Nair reportedly quits Ogilvy after 23 years
One of the agency’s longest-serving leaders has moved on, with his next destination still unknown
MUMBAI: After more than two decades at one address, Prakash Nair has left the building. The president and head of office, north at Ogilvy has moved on from the agency, according to highly placed industry sources. His next move remains unknown. Ogilvy did not respond to requests for comment.
Nair spent over 23 years at the agency, making him one of its longest-serving senior figures. He was elevated to lead the Gurugram office in April 2022, a role that put him at the helm of Ogilvy’s northern operations at a time of considerable churn across the advertising industry.
Before taking charge in the capital, Nair served as associate president at Ogilvy Mumbai, where he worked on some of the agency’s most prized accounts, including Mondelez, Tata Motors, and BP Castrol. Over the years, he built a reputation for driving modern, integrated, and award-winning work, the kind that wins metals at Cannes and keeps clients from straying.
His departure was marked in style. A farewell gathering was held in Delhi, attended by senior figures from across the advertising fraternity, a signal of the regard in which Nair is held in an industry that does not always pause to say goodbye properly.
Where he goes next is the question the industry is now asking. After 23 years at one of the world’s most storied agencies, the answer, when it comes, will be worth watching.
