COMvergence’s Post

Today marks a significant milestone for Havas Japan and the entire region with the launch of Havas Red. Led by Masashi Kitaichi, Managing Director of Havas Red Japan, the team will deliver a fully integrated solution across social media, experiential, and public relations for local, regional, and global clients. This launch follows the successful debut of Havas Red in India last November, solidifying its presence in the APAC region.   Speaking about the launch, Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, Southeast and North Asia highlighted the significance of Havas Japan in our One Asia strategy and shared," By enhancing our capabilities, we are reinforcing our commitment to creating meaningful connections and delivering impactful narratives." Complementing this, Darrell N., CEO of Havas Japan, commented, "With the significant growth that Havas Japan has experienced over the past three years, the launch of Havas Red will further expand our service offerings and position us to better meet the specific demands of this market. The addition of comprehensive PR capabilities allows us to deliver more integrated and impactful solutions that resonate with local audiences." James Wright, Global CEO of Havas Red and Global Chairman of the Havas PR Network, remarked, "Launching in India last year was incredibly thrilling, and now we’re ready to grow our footprint into Japan, where our colleagues are already delivering groundbreaking work with iconic clients.”   We look forward to forging strong partnerships and achieving remarkable outcomes together with our clients.   #OneAsia #OneHavas #MeaningfulGrowth #HavasRed #HavasJapan Havas | Havas Creative Network | HAVAS Red US | HAVAS Red AU | Havas Red UK | HAVAS Red ME | HAVAS Red PH | PR Pundit Havas Red BRICE PINONCELY | Kevin Zhang | Nivedita Nayar

Insanity or desperation? "141 agencies have responded to the Ministry of Communications and Information's (MCI) whole of government creative pitch." Many of these are far from being small players. They include Accenture Singapore, BLKJ Havas, Cheil Singapore, DDB Worldwide, Dentsu Solutions, Edelman, Fisherman Integrated, Grey Group, IPG Mediabrands, Ruder Finn Asia , TBWA Singapore, and Ogilvy... And the potential prize? To end up on "a panel of an estimated 80 contractors for the whole of government in Singapore." So after all that, there is still no guarantee of getting any projects to recoup your investment in the pitch and maybe make some money. Can somebody please explain how this makes sense for the participating agencies? https://lnkd.in/gpHCQQji

#Competition can be healthy for an industry as it can act as a powerful driver of innovation and creativity. This may hold true for the #media, #PR and #creative industries in Malaysia, where agencies are motivated to outdo each other, push boundaries and come up with creative solutions to brand problems. According to Andrew Lee, CEO of 4As Malaysia, the creative industry in Malaysia is an "interesting mix of competition and camaraderie" where everyone competes fiercely but has mutual respect that underpin these interactions. That said, A+M spoke to media, PR and creative heads in Malaysia, including Christyna Fong, Ashvin Anamalai, syahriza badron and Nizwani Shahar, about how they perceive competition in Malaysia, their experiences in the thriving industry and how competition and #collaboration can mutually support each other. #HealthyCompetition

I'm thrilled about Havas Creative's 1st place in the integrated campaign category at Mi:t&Links. Baltic Communication Awards 🥇. At the same time, it's doubly exciting to see the intense competition that continues to grow each year at this festival, where evaluating effectiveness plays a crucial role. This provides much clearer support from clients because it's evident – effectiveness for profit is much closer than creativity. However, my observation about Mi:t&Links aligns with the conclusions and discussions following Effie’s Best of Europe judging experience. Specifically, there's a growing volume of submitted work that consists of social campaigns, where effectiveness is certainly not measured by the same parameters as commercial campaigns. Therefore, looking ahead, it would be valuable to establish different criteria for social and commercial campaigns, ensuring we don't lose interest in commercial campaigns in the latter. After all, partners in commercial campaigns, whether at Mi:t&Links or Effie’s festivals, are crucial. Share your thoughts or comments below. ⬇ At the same time, I can only express my joy that on a Baltic scale, the proportion of social campaigns demonstrates the courage to address socially sensitive issues through communication.

It is no secret that #competition exists in the media, #PR and creative industries. Agencies battle it out in boardrooms during the pitching process, some leaving victorious while others left to lick their wounds and move forward onto the next challenge. But can competition be healthy? According to Andrew Lee, CEO of 4As Malaysia, healthy competition can be a powerful driver of innovation and creativity. This is especially when #agencies become motivated to outdo each other, push boundaries and come up with creative solutions to brand problems. #healthycompetition

At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2018, at least two of the big multinational holding companies had the same pitch. The Paris-based Publicis Groupe and the Japanese giant Dentsu promised to simplify their balkanized structures and transform themselves into unified platforms for their clients. It was a compelling story. But when you’re dealing with companies in the marketing business, it’s always a bit hard to figure out what’s real and what’s … marketing. Now, six years later, Publicis appears to have delivered on its promise. The company’s stock performance has separated dramatically from its peers since 2020, a shift that reflects its success winning clients and an industry confidence it can keep doing that. Dentsu and the other key companies in the space find themselves chasing the Groupe. https://lnkd.in/epVcsRnF

Following the conclusion of Cannes Lions 2024, some of the agencies that have won awards include Colenso BBDO, TBWA\HAKUHODO, Howatson+Company, The Monkeys, GIGIL Manila, LePub, Ogilvy, Leo Burnett, among others. It is worth noting that during this year’s event, Ogilvy Singapore also has won the Agency of the Year - Good award, with Revolver from Australia receiving a Palme d’Or special award. #industryawards #advertising #asiapacific ------ -[Awards] MARKETECH APAC is launching its inaugural "Marketing Technology Awards" where we recognise the groundbreaking achievements in marketing technology, uniting the brands and tech organisations within the region’s marketing community. Learn how your brand can be a part of it by checking it more details HERE: https://bit.ly/3SVtoIa -[Industry Series] We have launched our latest industry initiative "E-commerce Marketing Series" where we aim to equip businesses with the latest strategies and insights to navigate the dynamic world of e-commerce, as well as discuss cutting-edge concepts, trends, and case studies shaping the future of online commerce. Learn how you can be part of this industry discussion by checking out more details here: https://bit.ly/4aiMEX4 -[Report] Discover the latest trends in business communication, and explore how mobile messaging channels are preferred by consumers to seek deeper connections with brands by checking out this report HERE: https://bit.ly/3RckF4z

Healthy competition brings innovation by pushing agencies to continuously improve and outperform each other. However, collaboration brings even more by allowing agencies to pool their diverse expertise, share resources, and work together towards common goals, leading to more comprehensive solutions and greater overall success. PRecious Communications MARKETING-INTERACTIVE

Rohan Mahajan's new role as chief operating officer for media services at OMG Group Indonesia will see him head a team of 300 experts from OMD Worldwide, PHD, Transact, and Annalect. Mahajan's responsibilities include managing the implementation of OMG Indonesia's practices across all agency brands. Speaking about the appointment, Rajat Basra, CEO of OMG Indonesia, said, “Rohan’s journey to this point, growing through the ranks, has prepared him well for this moment. The joy of seeing someone start his Omnicom journey first at OMG India, migrate to Indonesia on a growth task, and take the helm after six years of consistent performance is unparalleled. Rohan will not only strengthen the OMG Indonesia media services network but also create the conditions for all our clients to meet and exceed their goals and ambitions, with the best talent, experience, practices, and know-how.” Meanwhile, Mahajan stated, “It is an exciting time for OMG not only globally but here in Indonesia too. We’re celebrating our 10th anniversary in Indonesia being named the fastest growing Media Agency Network in Indonesia and as per RECMA’s latest report, we are ranked second. This is surely a testament of a decade-long strong leadership by our Indonesia Board of Directors, a very stable ecosystem of satisfied clients and industry best talent that makes OMG Indonesia a network with a difference in the market. Our clients, talent, and partners keep aiming higher and that opens award-winning possibilities.” #agencyleadership #marketing #indonesia ------ -[Awards] MARKETECH APAC is launching its inaugural "Marketing Technology Awards" where we recognise the groundbreaking achievements in marketing technology, uniting the brands and tech organisations within the region’s marketing community. Learn how your brand can be a part of it by checking it more details HERE: https://bit.ly/3SVtoIa -[Industry Series] We have launched our latest industry initiative "E-commerce Marketing Series" where we aim to equip businesses with the latest strategies and insights to navigate the dynamic world of e-commerce, as well as discuss cutting-edge concepts, trends, and case studies shaping the future of online commerce. Learn how you can be part of this industry discussion by checking out more details here: https://bit.ly/4aiMEX4 -[Report] Learn how brands can strategically implement conversational commerce and leverage these platforms to craft exceptional and personalized customer experiences in this in-depth report: https://bit.ly/3SSKVCG

🏆 Building a Strong PR Strategy – Tailored for Every Region 🏆 When it comes to crafting the perfect brand PR image, one size definitely doesn’t fit all. A well-thought-out strategy is essential, especially when expanding into new regions. it’s all about resonating with the local audience, understanding their tastes, and aligning your brand’s story with their values. I for one, believe success lies in the details. Your brand’s message needs to be adaptable—acclimated to the unique preferences of each region. Whether it’s fine-tuning the narrative to match cultural nuances or selecting the right media outlets to reach your audience, a region-specific approach is key. A great example of this is how Marvel Studios and Ryan Reynolds capitalized on the globally recognized IPs of Deadpool and Wolverine for their movie ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. They didn’t just rely on the popularity of these characters in the U.S.; they took their marketing efforts global. From the UK to China, Korea, Australia, and Canada, they crafted tailored PR strategies that resonated with audiences in each region. The campaign kicked off in Shanghai with a high-profile event featuring exclusive movie previews, which set the stage for a global buzz. In South Korea, they followed up with a similar fan event, ensuring the region felt included in the global excitement. In Canada, they played on Ryan Reynolds’ national pride, launching themed campaigns during Canada Day to deepen the connection with local fans. Meanwhile, in the U.S., they added a unique twist with exclusive tie-ins like special menu items at Jack In The Box, plus collaborating with brands such as Heineken, Heinz, Old Spice, etc. This global yet localized approach, combined with strategic digital campaigns and region-specific collaborations, made their marketing efforts a masterclass in PR and brand-building done right. It’s a perfect study on how understanding and respecting cultural nuances can turn a popular IP into a truly global phenomenon. #PRStrategy #BrandManagement #GlobalMarketing #MarvelStudios #Deadpool #MarketingSuccess