Havas Media Group creates global MD role for ethical media

Havas Media Group has appointed its global head of programmatic Ben Downing to a new role as global managing director for ethical media and strategic partnerships.

Based in London, Downing will report to global chief strategy officer Greg James and be responsible for supporting all marketing in delivering against Havas’ Ethical Media Manifesto.

Havas is doubling down on its ‘ethical media’ offer, having been the first global advertising and media holding company to join the Conscious Advertising Network.

The Vivendi-owned company also launched a new media experience methodology in 2019 called Mx, which is supposed to “capitalise on the most meaningful media to build more meaningful brands”.

Downing, who has been at Havas for eight years, led the rollout of Havas’ Social Equity Marketplace last year. He has also been a vocal opponent of keyword blocklists in which hard news stories about coronavirus or racism may be avoided by advertisers for brand-safety concerns.

“This is a new role for the agency but formalises accountability for something we have been working on for three years,” James said.

“We have been ahead of the curve in our ethical media practices, and Ben has been a big proponent and leader of that progress within the agency. I’m proud of our progress, and Ben and our teams’ work toward it.”