Havas Media Group has announced the appointment of Hamid Habib to the newly created dual role of chief experience officer, Havas Media Group and deputy managing director, Havas Entertainment, following the simplification of the group’s offering and the launch of Havas Entertainment earlier this year.
Hamid joins Havas Media Group from Craft Media, where he spent two-and-a-half years as strategy partner, leading strategy and comms planning for clients including Jamie Oliver Group and BBC Children in Need, as well as a number of direct-to-consumer brands.
In this new dual role, Habib will work to develop modern media experiences for clients across Havas Media Group’s three core propositions, Havas Media, Havas Entertainment and Havas Market, in line with its proprietary Mx (Media Experience) methodology. Bridging the gap between strategy and creativity, Habib will help brands create experiences which look beyond traditional channels to harness the whole media mix, from social and influencer through to PR activity.
Hamid will also play a key role in driving growth for Havas Entertainment, which launched in February of this year and has since had a number of major new business wins including the UKTV media planning and buying account.
Reporting to Nick Wright, managing director, Havas Entertainment, Habib will sit on the Havas Media Group leadership team.
Hamid’s appointment comes hot on the heels of several new senior hires at Havas Media Group, including OMD’s Laura Kell, who joined as chief data and product officer in August, and Dentsu’s Kim Peatling, who became head of growth and marketing earlier this month.
With 21 years of marketing and media experience, Hamid has previously held roles spanning strategy, innovation, PR, data and analytics at agencies such as ZenithMedia, Starcom, OMD UK, as well as working client-side at MTV and Nickelodeon.
Patrick Affleck, CEO, Havas Media Group, said: “At a time when many agency groups are scaling down their investment in creativity, we want to double down on the development of experiences that bring the best media and creative thinking together. Having simplified our offering under three core brands earlier this year, Hamid’s hire is the next step in helping us to truly deliver against our Mx proposition. It’s all part of our mission to make a meaningful difference to brands, businesses and people.”
Nick Wright, managing director, Havas Entertainment, added: “Hamid is just the sort of creative and media misfit we’re looking for as we continue to grow our offering. His T-shaped skills and ability to operate across the whole media mix make him a hugely valuable asset to both Havas Media Group and Havas Entertainment. I can’t wait to see how he helps us to truly realise the opportunities that open up when creativity and media come together as a powerful force.”
Hamid Habib, new chief experience officer, Havas Media Group and deputy managing director, Havas Entertainment, concluded: "I’m massively excited to be taking on this role. More than any other media network, Havas Media Group has the agility and ambition needed to create more joined up experiences for clients, bridging the gap between strategy and creative activation. I’m also looking forward to harnessing my experience in the entertainment world in order to help drive growth for Havas Entertainment and create meaningful work which moves at pace and lives in culture.”