Havas Media Hires North America CSO From Publicis' Zenith

Continuing to invest in new leaders as it pursues growth in the region, Havas Media Group has hired Meghan Grant as chief strategy officer for North America. In the role, Grant will be based out of New York and report directly to Havas Media global CEO Peter Mears, who took on oversight of operations in North America following the departure North America CEO Colin Kinsella back in January. "We are thrilled to have Meghan join our team. She brings strong strategy and oversight that will guide Havas Media Group in determining the most meaningful media mixes for clients," Mears said in a statement. "Meghan is a 'sleeves rolled-up' strategist, and I have no doubt she’ll add huge value to our portfolio." Grant joins Havas Media from Publicis Media agency Zenith, where she was evp, strategy and client lead for the Verizon Consumer Group account, helping earn the agency a 2019 Adweek Media Plan of the Year award for Verizon's "The Team That Wouldn't Be Here" campaign. A Zenith veteran of nearly a decade, Grant joined the agency from Omnicom Media Group's OMD in 2012. She previously held strategy leadership roles across GSK, Visible and 20th Century Fox, where she worked on campaigns launching over 100 films. Grant also helped build Zenith's Strategic Solutions practice providing clients with creative business solutions and developed strategy across a number of new business pitches for the agency. Grant told Adweek that after nearly a decade with Zenith, she has taken away lessons from mentors as well as insights how to connect an organization across offices, clients and cities. Investing in meaningful media and inspirational leaders Grant said that Havas Media's focus on "meaningful media" helped attract her to the agency. "Everything in the world has really changed in the past year. It has been a learning opportunity for everybody. We've seen a lot of media agencies focusing on data-driven connections and enabling connection though technology. What that sometimes leaves outside.. is looking at content and context," she explained. "The focus we have on meaningful media helps deliver that, which is a unique approach within the marketplace." "When you look at the landscape today, there’s a big focus on technology and delivering impressions," Grant told Adweek. Successful media strategy is "not just about connecting efficiently, it's about connecting effectively and I think Havas exemplifies that." Inside the War for Talent and Putting People First at Havas Grant's arrival follows another recent leadership investment from Havas Media. In February, Havas Media hired Amy Ginsberg from Canvas Worldwide as chief investment officer, while naming Jason Kanefsky to the newly-created role of managing director and head of marketplace intelligence. Global chief commercial officer Greg Walsh's role also expanded to include chief operations officer, North America. In her role, Grant will be responsible for unifying and leading strategic intelligence across all of Havas Media's U.S. offices, promoting the role of meaningful media with current clients and driving growth via new business. She'll work closely with Ginsberg, who is overseeing overall media investment vision and strategy in North America. "The investment Havas is making [in its people] speaks to the aspirational growth we seek to achieve in North America," Grant said. "I'm excited to be joining a North America team with a great foundation and great new inspirational leaders as well." Grant views driving new business as one important part of her role, particularly in a year when many clients may be reviewing media agency relationships. "The landscape of the past year has caused a lot of clients to reassess the media landscape and to look for new and different solutions," she explained. "There's tremendous opportunity for [new business growth] in the coming year and Havas is making great strides there," she added, citing the agency's recent win of the Keurig Dr Pepper media account. Near the end of 2020, Havas Media also retained North America media agency of record duties for pharmaceutical company Sanofi–an account worth around $670 million, according to COMvergence.