MAM
Havas group acquires digital agency Immerse in Malaysia
MUMBAI: Havas group is strengthening its capabilities in the growing Malaysian market with the acquisition of award-winning digital agency Immerse, which will integrate with the group’s creative operations and will be rebranded as Havas Immerse.
Taking forward Havas’ pioneering Together strategy, Havas Immerse will become an integral part of Havas Village Malaysia by adding its digital prowess and client relationships to the group’s robust creative and media offering in the market.
Immerse was set up in 2004 as a digital agency primarily specialising in providing strategic creative consultancy and digital marketing solutions. The 50-people agency services a diverse portfolio of client brands in Malaysia and Singapore including Volvo, Mitsubishi Motors, F&N, Wrigley and a wide range of Unilever brands such as Dove and Magnum.
Havas Group chairman and CEO Yannick Bolloré said, “We would like to welcome Immerse to the Havas family. Immerse talent will further strengthen our expertise in Malaysia which is an extremely significant market for the Havas group. This acquisition signifies our commitment in this region of Southeast Asia that has witnessed a great momentum in the last few years.”
Following the acquisition, Immerse’s founders Jeffrey Tang and Kerry Khoo will join forces with Andrew Lee, managing director of Havas Malaysia, to lead Havas Immerse reporting into Vishnu Mohan, chairman and CEO of Havas Group Southeast Asia. Additionally, Kerry Khoo will take on the role of chief creative officer for Havas Immerse.
Jeffrey Tang and Kerry Khoo commented, “We have a great relationship with Havas’ local and regional leadership teams, and have been attracted to their entrepreneurial spirit and the agency’s cohesive Havas Village proposition. The Havas Village concept of bringing together the best talent and disciplines under the same roof is especially exciting, as we now have the opportunity to hack our own growth, and immediately offer a full suite of marketing services under one umbrella.”
Vishnu Mohan added, “Immerse reflects Havas’ collaborative and entrepreneurial spirit and we have shared a wonderful relationship with the team for several years. Keeping in mind our shared values and Immerse’s cutting edge digital expertise, Immerse will prove to be a great addition to Havas Village Malaysia.”
AD Agencies
WPP and Ogilvy top the global charts as India joins the creative elite: Warc rankings
A record five-year streak for Ogilvy while India secures a top five global spot
MUMBAI: The global advertising world has a familiar king, but a new powerhouse is gatecrashing the palace. In the latest Warc Creative 100 rankings, the industry’s definitive audit of excellence, WPP has once again been crowned the top holding company. Not to be outdone, its crown jewel, Ogilvy, has secured the top network spot for a staggering fifth consecutive year.
It is a “five-peat” that proves Ogilvy’s creative engine is not just running but purring. While many networks rely on one or two superstar offices to carry the load, Ogilvy’s dominance is a team effort across the globe. Hot on their heels is sister agency VML, which took the silver medal for networks, ensuring a WPP clean sweep at the very top of the podium.
The biggest noise, however, is coming from the East. India has officially vaulted into the top five most creative nations on Earth. Once viewed primarily as a back-office for production, the country is now a front-row leader in imagination. Driven by the brilliance of agencies like Ogilvy Mumbai and Leo Burnett India, the nation is proving that its work does more than just look good on a trophy shelf. In a market where every rupee must work twice as hard, Indian campaigns are blending high-concept artistry with ruthless commercial effectiveness.
The individual accolades saw Heineken toast to success as the top brand, finally knocking Apple off its perch. Unilever remains the world’s most awarded advertiser, proving that big business can still have a big heart through its work for Dove and Vaseline.
The title of the world’s most creative campaign went to Publicis Conseil Paris for their AXA “Three Words” initiative. By subtly adding “and domestic violence” to insurance policies to provide immediate relocation cover, the agency proved that the best advertising doesn’t just sell a service, it provides one.
The 2026 rankings also signal a shift in the industry’s DNA. The era of boring business-to-business marketing is dead, with B2B campaigns cracking the top ten for the first time. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence has moved past the gimmick stage. The winners this year used tech not for the sake of a trend, but to drive genuine human emotion.
Whether it is Paris providing a safety net for the vulnerable or India redefining the global creative order, the message from this year’s Warc rankings is clear. The best work in the world is no longer just about catching the eye, it is about changing the world.
