MUMBAI: Post the sudden resignation of erstwhile Havas chairman and CEO Alain de Pouzilhac late last month, the French advertising agency has appointed Vincent Bollore as its new chairman.
Incidentally Bollore happens to be the single largest shareholder who has more than a 20 per cent stake in the company.
The Board of Directors also appointed Philippe Wahl as chief executive officer of Havas. Jacques Herail will continue in his role as chief financial officer alongside him.
Post his appointment, Bollore proposed the nomination of three vice presidents — Arnold Worldwide Partners CEO Ed Eskandarian, Arnold Worldwide Partners chief creative officer Jacques Seguela and MPG chief executive officer Fernando Rodes.
These individuals embody the Group’s long standing managerial equity and historical development, each of them having contributed in turn his own agency, and represent the Group’s continuity through their roles within the company. With Bollore, the three vice presidents will lead a Strategic Committee, chaired by Leopoldo Rodes.
The agency will also appoint five managing directors – Mercedes Erra, Stephane Fouks, David Jones and Remi Babinet, all of whom symbolise the participation of a new generation in the management of the Group.
An executive committee has been created and will bring together during weekly meetings the president, the three vice presidents, the CEO, the managing directors and the CFO.
Following the announcement, Bollore said, “My personal contribution at the head of the Havas Group demonstrates the long term commitment of the Bollore Group to the strategic development and growth of Havas and its activties.”