Richard Clarke Bolsters Red Havas Senior Leadership Joining as Executive Director

Leading global communications agency, Red Havas, has appointed Richard Clarke as executive director in London, expanding its senior bench. Clarke was formally client partner at Ogilvy London, leading the global consumer brands part of the Walgreens Boots Alliance account.

In this newly created position, Clarke will sit on the UK management team, leading new business, strategy and client service across blue-chip corporate and consumer accounts.

The appointment comes just one year after the global launch of challenger brand Red Havas, including the establishment of a new London office. Red Havas is operating under a Merged Media model to create greater value for clients, bringing together corporate and consumer PR, social, data analytics and content capabilities under one roof.

Clarke has 16 years’ experience, holding numerous London-based senior-level positions in-house and at renowned global agencies. Over the course of his career he’s worked on major brands including American Express, Procter and Gamble and L’Oréal.

Career milestones include managing the award-winning NHS ‘Missing Type’ blood donation campaign, named ‘Campaign of the Decade’ by PR Week in 2019. He also launched Baby Dove in the UK via artificial intelligence, dubbed a game-changer campaign in the world of branding mum-centric products.

On the appointment, managing director of Red Havas London, Rachael Sansom commented: “After an exciting period of growth we wanted to expand the senior bench in London, and given Richard’s breath of integrated brand and agency experience he is the perfect fit for the role. Having someone of his calibre to lead our Merged Media offering in market will be instrumental to our continued success. His talent and skill will add value not only to our growing team, but our valued clients as well.”

On his new role, Clarke added: “I am thrilled to be joining Red Havas at such an exciting time – the combination of a start-up mentality but with the backing of Havas globally is a unique combination. I couldn’t be more excited to work alongside an entrepreneurial, hungry and talented team to deliver meaningful work for leading blue-chip clients.”

The appointment is effective immediately. Clarke will report into Sansom.