Havas Media Group Appoints Chief Data Officer

Leading media communications agency, Havas Media Group, has appointed Mike Potts as its first Chief Data Officer in a move designed to underline the centrality of data to the recently restructured agency’s offering to clients.

Potts joined Havas in April 2013 following its acquisition of pan-European data analytics firm ElisaDBI (now DBi), which he founded and where he was Group Managing Director. He will head-up all of Havas Media Group’s data and marketing technology teams including DBi reporting to Havas Media CEO Paul Frampton and Arena CEO Pedro Avery.

As well as building and strengthening Havas’ relationships with leading data and technology partners and growing existing data and marketing technology services, Potts is charged with ensuring an agile and advanced approach to the use of data across both Arena and Havas Media.

Mike brings 15 years’ experience of the digital marketing industry, having worked at Coca Cola, Travelstore.com and Expedia before launching ElisaDBi. The acquisition has allowed the Havas network to offer its clients improved methods of collecting, organising and using data to drive business insights and marketing engagement, leading to it scooping the Media Week Data Innovation award late in 2013.

Paul Frampton, Havas Media UK CEO said: “Mike’s new role signals a pioneering new stance for Havas Media Group, demonstrating we are uniquely serious about placing data and technology at the heart of everything we do for clients.”

Mike Potts said: “At Havas we know that great use of data and digital intelligence means better experiences for our clients, and the customers of our clients. I’m really looking forward to providing leadership both at Havas and in the industry to make sure our clients receive the most innovative, future focused and insightful response to their changing media and wider business needs.”