Havas Media Network UK has promoted Havas Entertainment deputy managing director Kim James to chief growth and business development officer.
She replaces Nick Wright, who was named CEO of the newly consolidated Havas Play Network this week.
James is tasked with establishing a more integrated and client-centric approach to business development, growth and marketing.
Under this remit, she will oversee new business and strategy for client retention.
Secondly, James will identify growth opportunities for clients through deeper integration with the wider Havas Village, as well as via Havas’ Converged strategy, announced in Cannes last year.
James will lead the agency’s 20-strong growth team, comprising new business, design, marketing and PR functions.
In addition, she joins an expanded executive committee, which also includes new chief planning and strategy officer Emma Withington.
James joined Havas Entertainment in September 2023. Before that, she worked at the media division of Dentsu for almost 10 years, most recently as managing director, client growth.
In her new role, she will report to Patrick Affleck, Havas Media Network’s UK and Ireland CEO.
“As the network has evolved and competition between agencies continues to be fierce, we need to ensure we double down on customer centricity, putting client growth at the heart of our growth strategy to improve our propositions, M&A strategy, product development and organic growth,” said James.
“I’m also excited to seize this opportunity to bring more of our amazing talent into the pitching sphere, harnessing and building out what is already proving to be a powerful and winning formula for pitch success across Havas Media Network.”
Affleck added: “Kim is a proven leader who possesses a unique combination of skills in client leadership and commercial growth strategy and business development, which will be invaluable to our network as we look to build on the new-business momentum we achieved in 2024.”
Havas Play Network
This week, Havas Media Network restructured its Havas Play proposition to create Havas Play Network. It encompasses PR specialist agency Organic, social media agency Wilderness and brand-to-brand agency Simbiotik, along with Havas Play.
Wright was promoted to lead Havas Play Network as CEO.
The leadership line-up of the new division also includes Lucy Basden-Smith (managing director, Havas Play UK), Tom Jarvis (managing director, Wilderness), Caragh Cook (managing director, Organic) and Ross Taylor, who joined in November from Iris in the new role of group executive creative director.
Havas Play Network will now be able to “create and deliver 360 ideas and experiences that help connect brands to fans through their passions”, according to Affleck.
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