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Havas Chicago has hired Lance Koenig as the creative agency’s newest chief strategy officer. The appointment comes on the heels of a series of new business wins for the agency’s Annex cultural division and Havas Chicago teams.
Koenig joins Havas Chicago’s executive leadership team after serving as the head of global strategy for The Martin Agency where he led strategy for major consumer and corporate partners since 2019. Previously, Koenig held senior strategy roles at Forsman & Bodenfors Toronto, Leo Burnett Chicago and DDB Chicago.
“I am thrilled to have a strategic partner that understands the importance of creativity in helping brands break through the cluttered media world we live in,” said Myra Nussbaum, who expanded her chief creative officer role to include the president title at Havas Chicago in January of this year. “Lance and I will continue to shape the strategic vision for Havas Chicago by utilizing data, CX and rich consumer insights to deliver meaningful brand ideas to our clients that move their businesses forward.”
Koenig told Adweek that, after four years of building brands at Martin, working at Havas with Nussbaum and the new talent at the agency presented an opportunity to build something new. “The opportunity feels very entrepreneurial, trying new ways to create impact for our clients, but built on the foundation of Havas’ ‘Meaningful Brand’ platform and position.”
Winning on home turf
Koenig comes to Havas Chicago as the agency prepares to release several creative campaigns for community partners, including The Museum of Science and Industry, Moors Brewing, Choose Chicago and The City of Chicago, alongside national vision care and eyewear company MyEyeDr.
“Havas Chicago is experiencing continued momentum in 2022 as we win new accounts and work on multiple creative campaigns that drive true impact in Chicagoland and the country as a whole,” said Nussbaum. “Our goal is to lead with creativity to make a meaningful difference for the brands and people we work with—and especially this year, that strategy is working.”
Havas Chicago is winning on its home turf with recent successes, including those from its Annex team. It was recently awarded multiple Chicago-based new business, including work with local tourism organization Choose Chicago, an anti-violence campaign for The City of Chicago, Black-owned craft brewery Moors Brewing and new campaign work for The Museum of Science and Industry.
“Having the opportunity to pitch and successfully win Chicago-based work is invigorating for our team because we get to see the direct impact of the campaigns,” said Jamie McGarry, Havas Chicago chief growth officer, in a statement. “Our agency has deep roots in Chicago, and we are committed to making positive contributions to the city we love. We are thrilled anytime that we can make an impact through creativity.”
Koenig told Adweek that he hopes to keep the winning ways coming in by not only finding and nurturing new talent within the agency, but also encouraging clients both new and existing to be ambitious. “To think big and act big, and then create ideas that not only grab headlines but grab a disproportionate amount of success for our clients. If we do that the growth will follow,” he added.
