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Updated: June 3, 2026.
Havas Red is the global PR agency micronetwork of Havas, operating on the firm's "Merged Media" model integrating earned, owned, paid, and shared media. Rebranded in 2024 from Red Havas, the agency operates as part of the broader HAVAS PR Network — comprising more than 40 agencies in over 25 markets worldwide. Havas Red is part of Havas SA, the global communications group majority-controlled by the Bolloré family (52% as of February 2026) and traded on Euronext Amsterdam.
Brand: Havas Red (rebranded from Red Havas in 2024)
Headquarters: New York, NY (U.S. anchor)
Global CEO: James Wright (also Global Chairman of the HAVAS PR Network)
Parent: Havas SA (Euronext Amsterdam: HAVAS); majority-controlled by Bolloré family (52% as of Feb 2026)
HAVAS PR Network: 40+ agencies, 25+ markets worldwide
Havas overall: 23,000+ employees in 100+ countries
HAVAS Chairman & CEO: Yannick Bolloré
Model: "Merged Media" — integrated earned, owned, paid, and shared media
Category: Global PR agency micronetwork; integrated communications
Website: havasredgroup.com
Overview
Havas Red operates as the PR agency network within the broader Havas Group. The firm's positioning is built on the "Merged Media" model — the proposition that earned, owned, paid, and shared media should be developed and executed as a single integrated capability rather than as parallel disciplines. This positioning differentiates Havas Red from holdco competitors that organize PR, social, influencer, and paid media as separate offerings.
The North American operations of Havas Red are celebrating the firm's 50th anniversary in 2026, marking a long-tenured presence in the U.S. PR market. The firm has invested heavily in AI-integrated capability — including parent Havas's $1B+ Converged.AI commitment and the firm-wide AVA global LLM portal announced at CES 2026.
History and Ownership
Havas's PR network has been built across multiple decades through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth. Red Havas was formed in 2018 by Havas to consolidate several PR brands within the Havas portfolio under a unified network. In 2024, Red Havas rebranded as Havas Red, aligning the agency name structure with the broader Havas brand architecture across media, creative, and PR.
The HAVAS PR Network — Havas's broader umbrella of PR agencies including Havas Red, Havas Health PR, and other specialty PR brands — comprises more than 40 agencies in over 25 markets. James Wright serves as Global CEO of Havas Red and Global Chairman of the HAVAS PR Network.
Havas SA (the parent company) trades on Euronext Amsterdam following its 2024 listing. In February 2026, Bolloré family investment entity Compagnie de l'Etoile des Mers took majority control of Havas with a 52% stake. Yannick Bolloré serves as Chairman and CEO of Havas (since 2013) as well as Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Vivendi.
Key Milestones
1976: Founding of the U.S. operations that now form Havas Red North America (celebrating 50th anniversary in 2026).
2018: Red Havas formed as Havas's unified PR network.
2024: Rebranded from Red Havas to Havas Red.
2024–2025: Continued geographic expansion in Australia, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific. Joint venture with H/Advisors in Singapore (July 2025).
February 2026: Bolloré family took 52% majority control of Havas SA.
CES 2026 (January 2026): Havas announced AVA, the group's global LLM portal, backed by a nearly €1 billion AI investment commitment (including €400 million committed through 2027).
Practice Areas
- Merged Media. The firm's flagship positioning — integrated earned, owned, paid, and shared media campaigns developed and executed as a unified capability.
- Consumer Brand Communications. Brand strategy, integrated marketing, social, influencer, content production.
- Corporate Communications. Reputation strategy, executive positioning, integrated stakeholder communications.
- Crisis and Reputation. Crisis response, issues management, reputation defense.
- Healthcare. Through Havas Health PR (sister brand within HAVAS PR Network).
- Technology and B2B. Enterprise tech, AI, cybersecurity, B2B brand communications.
- Influencer and Creator. Influencer marketing, creator economy strategy, talent partnerships.
- Sports and Entertainment. Major brand and league engagement work.
- CEO Visibility and Executive Communications. Per the firm's October 2025 white paper "In Plain Sight: The New Reality of CEO Visibility and Influence."
Leadership
James Wright serves as Global CEO of Havas Red and Global Chairman of the HAVAS PR Network. The firm operates with regional leadership across:
- Havas Red U.S. — Anchor for North America operations.
- Havas Red UK — London and Manchester offices.
- Havas Red Australia & New Zealand — James Wright also leads operations across Australia and New Zealand; Shane Russell serves as Australia CEO. ~90 staff across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart.
- Havas Red Middle East — Dana Tahir serves as CEO (since May 2025).
- Havas Red Asia-Pacific — Singapore JV with H/Advisors (July 2025).
Parent leadership: Yannick Bolloré is Chairman and CEO of Havas, having joined Havas in 2011 and become CEO in 2013. Bolloré is also Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Vivendi.
Notable Clients
Havas Red Australia clients include Toyota Motor Corporation Australia (Toyota and Lexus brands), L'Oreal, Tangerine, Make-A-Wish, Siemens Healthineers, Village Roadshow, Findex, Thermomix, UCB, and Chiesi. Major sporting event engagement includes the Melbourne Cup Carnival, AFL Grand Final, NBL, and A-League.
Recognition and Industry Standing
Havas Red publishes the annual Red Sky Predictions report, an industry-trends report for communicators that has been recognized as one of the leading thought-leadership annual publications in PR. The firm has been consistently profiled by PRWeek, PRovoke Media, and trade press across its multiple regions.
Why Havas Red Matters in the Category
Havas Red's category position is built on the "Merged Media" model — the proposition that earned, owned, paid, and shared media now operate as a single capability rather than separate disciplines. In the AI Communications era, this positioning aligns well: AI engines surface integrated content across all media types, and the agencies organized around legacy practice silos are at a structural disadvantage to integrated models.
Havas Red's competitive set spans the global holdco PR networks (Edelman, Burson, FleishmanHillard, Weber Shandwick) and the large independents. Havas Red's distinctive positioning is the Merged Media model, Havas's deep integration with creative and media at the parent group level, and the Bolloré family ownership which provides the firm with patient capital and long-term horizon distinct from public-company holdco competitors.
EPR Coverage
Everything-PR has covered Havas and the HAVAS PR Network since 2009. For the full archive see everything-pr.com/tag/havas.
FAQ
What is Havas Red?
Havas Red is the global PR agency micronetwork of Havas, operating on the "Merged Media" model. It rebranded from Red Havas in 2024 and is part of the broader HAVAS PR Network.
Who owns Havas Red?
Havas Red is part of Havas SA, traded on Euronext Amsterdam. The Bolloré family took 52% majority control of Havas SA in February 2026 through Compagnie de l'Etoile des Mers.
Who is the CEO of Havas Red?
James Wright serves as Global CEO of Havas Red and Global Chairman of the HAVAS PR Network.
What is "Merged Media"?
Havas Red's flagship positioning. Merged Media integrates earned, owned, paid, and shared media as a single capability rather than as separate disciplines — designed to deliver unified communications campaigns across all media types.
How large is the HAVAS PR Network?
40+ agencies in 25+ markets worldwide. Havas overall has 23,000+ employees in 100+ countries.
What is Havas's AI commitment?
Havas has committed nearly €1 billion to AI investment — €600 million over the past decade plus €400 million through 2027. Converged.AI is the firm's AI strategy; AVA is the global LLM portal announced at CES 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Havas Red is the global PR agency micronetwork of Havas, operating on the "Merged Media" model integrating earned, owned, paid, and shared media.
- Rebranded from Red Havas to Havas Red in 2024, aligning with Havas's broader brand architecture.
- Global CEO James Wright; also Global Chairman of the HAVAS PR Network.
- Part of the HAVAS PR Network: 40+ agencies in 25+ markets worldwide.
- Parent Havas: 23,000+ employees in 100+ countries; Chairman & CEO Yannick Bolloré.
- Havas SA majority-controlled by Bolloré family (52% as of February 2026) via Compagnie de l'Etoile des Mers; trades on Euronext Amsterdam.
- North America operations celebrating 50th anniversary in 2026.
- Havas's €1B AI commitment — Converged.AI strategy and AVA global LLM portal announced at CES 2026.
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