Well, we were not only invited to a Havas Worldwide conference call to take place in a few, but now we guess we know what it’s about. We just received what appears to be a legit .pdf that proclaims the holding company’s global CEO David Jones is leaving the agency to launch a new tech startup in the next month and will be replaced by Yannick Bolloré. Along with the global CEO move, Havas WW co-president Andrew Benett is being promoted to CEO of the ad network and will report to Bolloré. According to the .pdf, the leadership changes take place effective immediately.
In his exit statement, Jones says, “If I were going to stay in the industry it would be at Havas, but I have always had a burning desire to be an entrepreneur and this is too exciting an opportunity to not seize. Those people who know me know my two passions in business are social media and social responsibility and this new venture combines the two. I want to thank the Bolloré Group and Vincent Bolloré in particular for his support and mentorshipover the last eight years and wish Yannick every success.”