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Horizon and Havas forge $20bn media giant to shake up agency world
NEW YORK: Two heavyweights of the advertising world are joining forces to take on the industry’s entrenched giants. Horizon Media Holdings and Havas have launched Horizon Global, a joint venture that instantly vaults into the top tier of global media investors with $20bn in combined billings spanning more than 100 countries.
The New York-based network arrives as a pointed alternative to what the partners call an increasingly “constrained” market dominated by a handful of holding companies. Horizon Global will hunt for American-centric global clients, whilst Horizon Media and Havas Media Network continue to operate independently on their existing books of business.
At the venture’s core sits BluConverged, a mash-up of Horizon’s Blu platform and Havas’s Converged.AI that promises clients an “AI-native experience” delivering faster insights and genuine transparency—a perennial gripe in an industry notorious for opacity.
“Built exclusively for the needs of the modern global marketer, Horizon Global is rewriting the agency network playbook,” said Horizon Media Holdings. chief executive and founder Bill Koenigsberg. “As the first agency network built in the AI era, we’re leading with future-forward ways of working.”
Havas chief executive and chairman Yannick Bolloré called the partnership “a significant moment” in a shifting industry landscape. “I’ve known Bill for years, and I’m incredibly proud Horizon has turned to Havas as its global partner.”
Horizon Media Holdings president Bob Lord takes the helm as interim chief executive of Horizon Global whilst keeping his current role. Renata Spackova, based in Paris, becomes global chief operating officer, overseeing the rollout across more than 100 markets.
The pair will report to a board including Koenigsberg, Bolloré, Peter Mears (global chief executive of Havas Media Network) and other senior leaders from both shops.
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Ogilvy appoints Carol Reed as Global Chief Innovation Officer
Advertising veteran joins to drive human-first innovation in an AI-powered world.
MUMBAI: Carol Reed has found a new creative canvas and this time, she’s bringing her innovation brush to one of advertising’s most iconic names. Ogilvy Group has appointed Carol Reed as its new global chief innovation officer. Reed, who previously served as Chief Innovation Officer at WPP Open X, brings deep expertise at the intersection of creativity, technology, media, and commerce.
In a note announcing her move, Reed said she was drawn to Ogilvy because of its unmatched legacy. “The most powerful thing AI can do is make human creativity more extraordinary not replace it,” she stated. “This is an agency with something no algorithm can replicate, a 78-year legacy of ideas that change culture and drive real business results.”
Reed will focus on building new products, platforms, and partnerships to amplify Ogilvy’s creative heritage for clients and its global talent network. She will work closely with Global CEO Laurent Ezekiel and global chief creative officer Liz Taylor.
Her career began at Publicis Groupe’s Digitas as an associate media planner. She later moved to Omnicom Media Group and rose to senior vice president and programmatic lead at Digitas, where she built an in-house programmatic team of over 40 members. Most recently, at WPP, she served as executive vice president for data and product marketing.
With her appointment, Ogilvy strengthens its innovation leadership as the industry navigates rapid advancements in AI and technology.
From building programmatic teams to championing human creativity in an AI era, Carol Reed has consistently stayed ahead of the curve. Her arrival at Ogilvy signals a fresh push to blend cutting-edge innovation with the agency’s legendary creative spirit.
