Havas Media Network UK Bolsters Growth Agenda with Creation of Chief Growth Officer Role

Havas Media Network UK (HMN) promotes Nick Wright, managing director of Havas Entertainment, into the newly created role of chief growth officer to bolster the network’s growth agenda. In his new remit, Nick is charged with developing and implementing a comprehensive growth strategy as HMN eyes holistic growth across its organisation.

Nick will explore, identify and pursue growth prospects across HMN UK, its clients and its agency brands, including partnerships, market expansion and opportunities in emerging areas to better meet existing and future client needs. He will also support HMN’s agency leaders in strengthening their unique go to market propositions (Havas Media, Havas Entertainment, Havas Market), whilst deepening HMN’s Havas Village integration both locally and globally.

A year of acquisitions saw HMN bolster capabilities in digital and performance marketing, content, commerce and B2B by acquiring specialist agencies Search Laboratory, additive+ and Expert Edge. Meanwhile, HMN added division Havas Business and last month agency Havas Play to its services. Nick will be tasked with driving their growth agenda across HMN and ensuring existing clients benefit from these new capabilities and services.

With the creation of the new position, Havas Media Network’s new business, lead generation, marketing and PR teams will now come under Nick’s remit. Meanwhile, Nick will join HMN UK’s board and report into CEO of UK and Ireland Patrick Affleck. He will also continue to lead Havas Entertainment during its transition to a new leadership, which will be announced shortly.

Nick has over 20 years’ experience across a broad range of creative and media capabilities. Previously partner at Amplify (Campaign’s Brand Experience Agency of the Decade), Nick made his transition into media by joining HMN in 2013 as group creative Director. Fusing creativity with media is his trademark and during his 10-year tenure at Havas he has developed, launched and led two integrated agency propositions. The first was JUMP, an award-winning content and partnerships offering, which was recently combined with Cake to form Havas Play in the UK.

In February 2021, Nick launched Havas Entertainment, an integrated offering that connects creative, PR and media to create meaningful moments in culture that bridge the worlds of entertainment and marketing. Some of Havas Entertainment’s iconic work since launch includes Bumble ‘Don’t be a Dick’, Altitude ‘Talk to Me’, one of its most successful film launches ever despite launching during Barbenheimer, and UKTV’s Boxpark work currently shortlisted in Media Week Awards.

Under Nick’s stewardship, Havas Entertainment’s billings have doubled and revenue has increased 60%. The securing of Bumble, Remy Cointreau and most recently, Dr. Martens media accounts has taken the agency away from its core verticals of gaming, toys, culture and film where it already works with the likes of Bethesda, Sega, UKTV, Ravensburger and the Royal Opera House. Havas Entertainment and its clients have also branched out internationally which now makes up 30% of Havas Entertainment’s business.

On his promotion to chief growth officer, Havas Media Network, Nick said, “Havas Media Network is a melting pot of talent, capabilities and entrepreneurialism. Our Vivendi ownership uniquely places us at the crossroads of entertainment, media and advertising. This manifests into a restless desire to positively disrupt the way in which we work, create and show up to the world - a potent mixture for growth. I cannot wait to further bring these possibilities and our agency brands to life as well as uncover and unlock more growth opportunities across our unique network.”

Patrick Affleck, CEO of UK & Ireland, Havas Media Network, said, “Growth is multidimensional today, especially for our family of brands, and that requires someone who can uniquely unlock its full potential for our clients. Nick’s entrepreneurial flair, exceptional leadership and innovation around media and creativity have been central to Havas Entertainment’s incredible first few years. I’m delighted to bring his creative guile, strategic vision and commercial acumen to our wider organisation and lead the charge in galvanising our collective growth agenda."