HAVAS Group has appointed Richard Clarke as its local chief growth and client officer.
Clarke will make the move from HAVAS UK, where he spent more than four years at HAVAS Red, most recently as managing director at its London office. During his tenure, Clarke helped drive growth that saw the agency triple in size.
Prior to his role at HAVAS Red, Clarke was a senior partner at Ogilvy UK.
Clarke will report to James Wright, group CEO of HAVAS Creative Network ANZ and global chair of HAVAS PR Network. In the new role, he will collaborate with the HAVAS Australia leadership team on growth initiatives, new business, and developing new service propositions, while also working closely with village client teams.
“Richard did an unprecedented job growing the HAVAS Red UK business during his time there, as well as building phenomenal relationships with creative, media, digital and health teams across the HAVAS Village in London,” Wright said.
“He is an excellent operator, brilliant with clients and naturally brings agencies and teams together.”
Clarke has worked across sectors including luxury, retail, travel, consumer tech, FMCG, and non-profit. During his career, he managed the NHS Missing Type blood donation campaign, which PRWeek named Campaign of the Decade, and contributed to HAVAS Red being named EMEA Regional Midsize Agency of the Year earlier this year.
“I am delighted and privileged to have been given the opportunity to move within HAVAS to Australia,” commented Clarke.
“We have a world class roster of agencies, talent, clients and opportunity and am already blown away by the incredible energy and ambition there is within the HAVAS Village Australia.
“I am looking forward to working with outstanding leaders like James and the senior management teams and forge the next chapter of growth for the Group.”
Clarke’s appointment follows Havas Media’s acquisition of media agency and creative production company Hotglue last week, which it said will power its growth ambitions.
See also: Havas Media acquires indie agency Hotglue
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Top image: James Wright and Richard Clarke