MAM
Havas Group merging creative & media under one P&L
MUMBAI: Havas Group has announced another step in its together strategy to accelerate integration by further breaking down silos and moving to a client-centric and region-based organization.
The Group’s two divisions, Havas Creative Group and Havas Media Group, will no longer exist. The creative and media businesses, alongside the healthcare and wellness business, willbecomesimply business units, under one regional P&L, to ensure agility and a seamless experience for clients.
And to ensure the most relevant organization in a client-centric model across media and creative, Dominique Delport is appointed as Global managing director and chief client officer for the Havas Group,where he will oversee global clients relationships, marketing initiatives and new business.
These moves are the result of the successful implementation, at the end of 2016, of a centralized management of our four largest markets,where chairmen were appointed at the group level: Chris Hirst for the UK, Alfonso Rodés for Spain and Yannick Bolloré for France and North America. The Group is now adding two new chairmen roles to optimize its structure and offering in Latin America and Asia Pacific.
Presently, Havas Media Group Latin America CEO Jorge Percovich has been appointed as the CEO of Havas LATAM Group across the creative and media businesses. He will be responsible for overseeing all of the Havas Group agencies in the region: 65 offices in 19 countries,with+3,000 people.
Havas Creative Group APAC CEO Mike Amour has been appointed as the CEO of Havas APAC Group across the creative and media businesses. He will be responsible for overseeing all of the Havas Group agencies in the region: 79 offices in 17 countries, with+2,400people.
Delport said, “For four years now, the #togetherstrategy and the opening of our 47 Havas villages has transformed the wework and serve our clients. Now it’s all about extending Yannick’s vision and reinventing our industry by creating new standards, new offers and new services that blend the best of both worlds: relentless creativity and smart media accountability. Havas wants to beat the forefront of this transformation by putting the power of content and data at the core of our activities. It’s an exciting challenge.Being agile and having a challenger mindest doesn’t prevent us from having big ambitions for our Group, our people and our Clients.”
Bolloré mentioned, “As the world moves faster and grows more complex, we believe we need to transcend the traditional definition of “creative” and “media” to better deliver for our clients.The appointments of Dominique, Jorge and Mike will ensure we create the most modern approach to developing solutions, regardless of where the thinking begins. They will enable us to better share talent and resources on behalf of our clients, as well as create cross-channel learning and development opportunities for our people.”
APAC implications:
In Asia Pacific, there will be two additional executive appointments. Currently Havas Media Group APAC CEO Vishnu Mohan will become CEO, Havas Group India & South East Asia, responsible for all media and creative group agencies across those markets. Levent Guenes, currently CEO Havas Creative Group South East Asia, will become Chief Growth Officer, Havas Group APAC, with a primary focus on driving new ventures, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships. Both Mohan and Guenes will report to Mike Amour.
Amour said, “I am honoured and excited that Yannick Bolloré has asked me to help lead the next stage of our ‘Together’ strategy in Asia Pacific. The Havas Village model drives a clear, progressive view on the future of our industry, which is that Creativity is the product of radical collaboration. It’s very important that our Village strategy optimises our structure and offerings to create the most modern approach to developing solutions, regardless of where the thinking begins”.
Brands
JioHotstar EVP, head subscriptions (SVOD) and media Piyush Kothari exits
Streaming executive signs off after 6.5-year run across DisneyStar and JioStar
MUMBAI: Piyush Kothari, EVP and head subscriptions (SVOD) and media at JioHotstar, has stepped down from his role, bringing the curtain down on a 6.5-year stint spanning the DisneyStar and JioStar eras.
Kothari shared the update in a note reflecting on what he called a “transformative” phase for the media industry and a personal journey through the fast-evolving world of streaming and sports entertainment.
“The last few years have been transformative for the media industry and experiencing this journey up close over the past 6.5 years with DisneyStar and now JioStar has been a thriller,” he wrote, thanking colleagues and collaborators who shaped his time in the business.
Kothari joined JioHotstar in November 2024 as EVP, head subscriptions (svod) and media, where he oversaw subscription revenues and subscriber growth for the platform’s svod business.
Before that, he spent over five years at The Walt Disney Company in a series of leadership roles. His last position there was head of product, growth, partnerships and international expansion for Disney+ Hotstar, where he led efforts to scale subscription revenues across direct to consumer and partnership channels. The role also involved overseeing the service’s standalone businesses in markets such as Singapore, Canada and the UK.
Earlier, he served as lead, corporate office and strategic projects, working across the company’s entertainment, sports and streaming businesses. He also headed business operations at Mashal Sports, the entity behind the Pro Kabaddi League, where he helped steer the league through key commercial milestones including a five year broadcast and streaming media rights deal.
Alongside his operational roles, Kothari also served as nominee director on the board of Mashal Sports and was a director on the board of Novi Digital, the company that operates Hotstar.
Before entering the media and entertainment space, Kothari held senior roles across consulting, fintech and conglomerates. He worked with Welspun Group as head, group executive office, with Aditya Birla Group as joint president and business head, digital, analytics and strategy at Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank, and earlier served as vice president in the chairman’s office at the group.
His career also includes stints at Accenture as principal, Accenture Strategy, and earlier at Shell in channel development and sales.
Reflecting on his time in the media sector, Kothari said he leaves with a lasting belief in India’s subscription economy. He also joked about picking up a new affection along the way.
“Carrying with me love for kabaddi, a deep belief in the potential of the subscriptions business in India, and fond memories and friendships,” he wrote, adding that he is now “onward to the next chapter”.
