AD Agencies
Havas acquires majority stake in Acento to expand public affairs in Spain
PARIS: Havas has tightened its hold on the Iberian advisory scene, acquiring a majority stake in Acento Public Affairs, one of Spain’s most influential public affairs consultancies. The move cements H/Advisors as a heavyweight in strategic communications across Spain and beyond.
Founded in 2019, Acento has quickly made a name for itself, advising clients at the intersection of politics, regulation and reputation. Led by co CEOs Alfonso Alonso and Pepe Blanco, the firm employs more than 50 professionals across Madrid, Barcelona and Brussels.
Under the deal, Acento will be fully integrated into H/Advisors, Havas’ global strategic advisory and public affairs network. The firm will rebrand as H/Advisors and continue under the leadership of Alonso and Blanco, while gaining access to a worldwide bench of 1,500 specialists across 50 offices.
For Havas, the acquisition is another confident step in an expansion streak that has seen H/Advisors grow through targeted buys, including Gauly Advisors in Germany, Cunha Vaz and Associados in Portugal, Australian Public Affairs in Australia, and Klareco Communications in Singapore. In Spain, H/Advisors has been present since 2022 following the acquisition of Tinkle.
Havas chairman and CEO Yannick Bolloré, said Spain and Portugal remain key markets for the group. He welcomed Acento’s leadership and team, adding that they would help set new standards in strategic advisory communications across regions.
Alonso described the move as a natural next chapter for Acento, noting the shared values and focus on senior level counsel. Blanco added that joining a multinational group with a strong commitment to public affairs would allow the firm to truly think and act globally.
Europe sits high on H/Advisors’ priority list. Over the past year, the network has strengthened its Brussels presence, bringing together teams from Acento Brussels and Gauly Advisors close to the heart of EU decision making.
H/Advisors executive chairman and Havas executive vice president Stéphane Fouks, said the deal underlines the growing importance of public affairs and strategic communications as organisations navigate political and reputational complexity. Strengthening leadership in Spain and Europe, he said, is central to H/Advisors’ ambition to build a truly international advisory group.
In short, Havas is not just buying scale. It is buying influence, insight and a sharper voice in a region where the conversation increasingly matters.
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.
