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
Microsoft shifts global media account from Dentsu to Publicis Groupe: Reports
Closed review ends decade-long tie-up; Xbox remit may remain with Dentsu
MUMBAI: Microsoft has reassigned its global media planning and buying business to Publicis Groupe, according to media reports, ending Dentsu’s long-standing stewardship of one of the advertising industry’s biggest accounts.
The move follows a closed review and marks a notable shake-up in the global media landscape. Dentsu, which managed the account through Carat, had held the mandate since 2014 and successfully defended it in a 2018 review.
While the broader business is shifting, Dentsu is expected to retain media responsibilities for Xbox, according to media reports, though the exact contours of that arrangement remain unclear. None of the parties involved have publicly outlined the transition timeline or the full structure of the handover.
The scale of the account underscores the significance of the change. Estimates from COMvergence, cited by Ad Age, peg Microsoft’s global media spend at roughly $700 million last year.
For Publicis Groupe, the win deepens an already expanding relationship with the tech giant. Earlier this year, Microsoft Advertising partnered with Publicis Media Exchange and Epsilon to integrate Epsilon’s data into its platform, aiming to sharpen targeting across search, native and display formats.
The decision reflects a broader industry shift, as large advertisers increasingly favour agency partners with strong first-party data capabilities, AI integration and platform-led solutions. Publicis Groupe has been leaning into this model, positioning its data assets and technology stack as a central differentiator.
For Dentsu, the loss is significant. Media remains a core pillar of its global business, and the development comes close on the heels of leadership changes, including the appointment of Takeshi Sano as global chief executive officer.
The shift also carries a touch of irony. Microsoft and Dentsu have worked closely beyond the client-agency relationship, including collaborations around AI tools such as Copilot to support media and creative workflows.
As the dust settles, the message is clear: in today’s data-driven, AI-powered media world, relationships may be long, but they are rarely permanent.
