Havas Media has promoted head of planning Alastair Baker to the newly-created role of chief planning officer.
Baker will introduce an integrated converged planning process and improved data and tool strategy to drive smarter, profit-driven decisions for clients, the company said. His focus will be on driving profitable growth for Havas’ clients in the short and long term.
Baker’s career spans more than 15 years, working across media, creative and digital agencies in the UK and Australia. He has worked at agencies including Dentsu X UK, Vizeum UK, and iProspect (a Dentsu company) in Melbourne.
Virginia Hyland, CEO of Havas Media Network, said: “We are at a critical time in our industry where marketers are feeling the loaded pressure from their businesses to do more with the same or lower budgets, do more with the same team.
“Our goal is to simplify the complicated for them. This challenge creates an opportunity for Alastair to develop customer solutions that enable clients’ businesses to deliver meaningful growth through understanding how to best utilise content in the most effective media channel and deliver influential always on engagement.
“Alastair’s role will mean that Havas Media continues to transform into the agency that is needed by marketers who are constantly faced with new challenges on a daily basis. He is such a talent, and we are excited to elevate him as a pivotal leader.”
Baker said his new role is an “unprecedented opportunity”.
“I’m energised by Havas’ investment in technology and data to deliver best-in-market solutions for clients,” Baker said.
“This new role is an exciting part of that commitment and a personal chapter I’m looking forward to greatly. It’s an unprecedented opportunity to work with clients to help them better understand their customers’ behaviours across the entire purchase journey and deliver effective growth solutions.”
Earlier this year, Havas Group appointed Marco Villella as head of talent.
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Top image: Alastair Baker