AD Agencies
Havas snaps up Kaimera in down under power play
SYDNEY: Havas is taking no prisoners in Australia and New Zealand. The Parisian advertising leviathan announced yesterday it has gobbled up Kaimera, a 50-strong independent media agency that has made its name untangling the Gordian knot of modern marketing. The deal marks Havas’s latest salvo in a deliberate campaign to dominate the antipodes—and it is not mincing words about it.
Founded in 2016, Kaimera has punched well above its weight, nabbing clients like Nando’s, Afterpay and BritBox whilst building outposts in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. Now it will operate as “Kaimera, a Havas Company”—a branding choice that suggests the parent firm is keen to preserve the scrappy entrepreneurial spirit that made the acquisition appetising in the first place.
The marriage makes strategic sense. Havas gets instant scale and specialist nous in a market it is desperate to crack. Kaimera gets the deep pockets and technological firepower of a global network that employs 23,000 people across 100 markets. The agency’s founders, Nick Behr and Trent McMillan, will report to James Wright, group chief executive of Havas ANZ, whilst staying put in their current digs in Surry Hills and South Melbourne—at least initially.
The real prize, though, is Converged.AI, Havas’s grandly named data-and-algorithms strategy that promises to fuse creativity, media and technology into one almighty offering. Kaimera’s integration is meant to accelerate the rollout of this operating system, giving clients “real-time, optimised, and personalised marketing solutions at scale.” Whether that is marketing waffle or genuine transformation remains to be seen.
The acquisition swells Havas ANZ’s headcount past 450 and comes hot on the heels of the network’s new “deliberately different” positioning—a cheeky pitch that it combines indie agility with big-network muscle. Havas’s chairman and chief executive Yannick Bolloré, called the deal proof of the group’s “very clear ambitions” in the region.
Behr, for his part, struck an optimistic tone. “We need to stay future-focused for our clients and our people, and Havas is the perfect partner for this next chapter,” he said. Translation: we have taken the money and are betting the corporate machinery will not crush what made us special.
If Havas can pull this off without smothering Kaimera’s maverick culture, it will have pulled off a rare trick in the graveyard of independent agencies swallowed by holding companies. If not, well, at least the founders will have a nice exit
AD Agencies
Havas Media India bags integrated media mandate for Modenik Lifestyle
Agency to steer full-spectrum online and offline campaigns for iconic innerwear brands
MUMBAI: Havas Media India has been appointed as the media agency of record for Modenik Lifestyle, taking charge of both online and offline media strategy, planning, and buying for the popular innerwear and lifestyle brand.
Modenik Lifestyle is home to some of India’s most trusted brands, including Enamor, a leading fashion lingerie label celebrated for its modern designs, and Dixcy Scott, renowned for comfort and mass appeal across generations. Together, these brands reflect Modenik’s vision of delivering aspirational yet accessible lifestyle products to millions of Indians.
Under the new mandate, Havas Media India will oversee end-to-end media across Television, Print, Radio, Cinema, Digital, Out-of-Home, Mobile, and BTL activations. The partnership comes as Modenik accelerates its integrated media presence nationwide, with a special focus on South India where Havas Media has been expanding rapidly.
Modenik Lifestyle Pvt Ltd CEO and executive director Shekhar Tewari said, “We wanted a media partner who truly understands both digital and traditional landscapes. Havas Media India brings a sharp, data-driven approach and strong on-ground execution. We look forward to reaching the right audiences at the right moments and creating something impactful together.”
Havas Media Network India CEO Mohit Joshi added, “Modenik Lifestyle embodies the desire of brands to mean more and consumers to connect deeply. Their iconic products have won the love of generations, and we are thrilled to partner with them to drive desire-led growth across every touchpoint.”
Havas Media India & Havas Play COO Uday Mohan noted, “With brands like Dixcy Scott and Enamor, our goal is to elevate existing equity with seamless, insight-led campaigns. South India is a particularly exciting growth region, and this win reflects the momentum of our teams there.”
The mandate reinforces Havas Media India’s position as one of the fastest-growing media networks in India and strengthens its footprint in South India, a market known for its regional nuances and hyperlocal consumer engagement.
