Gerety Talks with Havas

Just like the award show, the Gerety Talks series puts some of the marketing and creative industries true changemakers in the spotlight and at the centre of the conversation for a refreshing take on what leadership looks like.

The panel includes:

• Laura Florence, executive creative director, Havas Health & You, Brazil
• Laure Ayel, head of global intelligence and innovation, Havas Creative Group USA
• Ana Martín García, global head of innovation and strategy x Telefónica, Havas Media Network, Spain
• Serena Abi Aad, creative director, Havas Dubai, UAE

Laura Florence, executive creative director, Havas Health & You, Brazil

Laura Florence is the executive creative director at Havas Health & You Brazil – a seasoned advertising veteran with over 29 years of experience. Her portfolio is adorned with remarkable campaigns for industry giants such as Kimberly-Clark (Kotex and Huggies), Mondelez (Oreo, Sonho de Valsa, Lacta Tang, Clight), P&G (Pampers, Vick, Ariel, Always), Unilever (Dove, Hellmann's, Ades), and an impressive array of renowned brands including Nike, Adidas, Disney, Philips, Intel, Sanofi, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Abbvie, Allergan, Janssen, Merck, Mastercard, Bradesco, Coca-Cola, Schweppes, Heineken, and Jeep, among others. She possesses a unique blend of tech-savvy expertise, data-driven insight, strategic acumen, and content mastery, effortlessly navigating the complexities of DTC and HCP communications. Over the past decade, she has led teams with generosity, transforming their offices into epicentres of innovation. As a mentor, she has a remarkable knack for nurturing emerging talents into shining stars. Her most recent feat? Leading her diverse and talented team to make Havas Health and You Brazil the most awarded health agency in the network for the last five years.

But there's more to this exceptional individual. She is not just an advertising virtuoso. She is a published author, a captivating podcast host, a yoga enthusiast, a dynamic speaker, a dedicated mom, and a passionate feminist activist. She champions diversity as a member of the Advertising Week D&I Council and co-founder of MORE GRLS, a positive impact start up steadfastly committed to forging an inclusive industry, ensuring a warm and welcoming environment for the talented women in their field.

Laure Ayel, head of global intelligence and innovation, Havas Creative Group USA

For over 15+ years, Laure Ayel has been leading client growth, pitches and business development across a variety of industries including CPG, e-comm/Retail, Travel/Tourism, Health, Tech/Media and leading global brands such as Adidas, Air France, Amazon, Coca-Cola, Diageo, IBM, JBL Harman, Keurig, L’Oréal, Lego, Novartis, Philips, Randstad, Reckitt, VW and Walmart.

After driving the global new business team for the Havas Creative group for four+ years, she is now the head of global intelligence and innovation, charged with building out the group intelligence, data and analytics capabilities, tools and products and connecting the Global strategic community across the international network. She brings multi-facetted experience in campaign and work deployment, pr/marketing and communications, development of new capability, agency operations and new business pitches, with a new focus on data and innovation.

Above all, she is a passionate connector, a decisive team leader and problem solver - always ready to ignite, influence and drive transformation across teams, for clients and with key partners

Ana Martín García, global head of innovation and strategy x Telefónica, Havas Media Network, Spain

Ana is creative, inspired by the wonders of human behaviour and try to be inspiring and engaging with her storytelling. Strategy and results oriented. Wide experience in client’s strategic approaches, brand positioning, qualitative targets definition, creative concepts and creativity deployment. Highly skilled in public speaking (Spanish/English), proved international pitches experience. Resourceful, versatile, highly motivated, curious, with a permanent need to learn and evolve. Experience in many different categories and brands throughout the years. Always looking for new opportunities to connect with the consumers in the technologic and social revolution we are currently living in. And with a smile always on.

Serena Abi Aad, creative director, Havas Dubai, UAE

Serena is an award-winning creative director who found her way into advertising through her love of meaningful ads that have the power to change human behaviour. She believes creativity and authentic storytelling are a powerful force to break biases and challenge misconceptions. Serena started off in film production of TV commercials and documentaries, then worked in reality-TV and branded content to finally land right back where she started: in the world of creativity and advertising. Along the years, she also produced and directed independent short films, documentaries and music videos. Serena has a filmmaking degree