Havas Media
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media, Advertising |
| Predecessor | Media Planning Group (MPG) |
| Founded | March 1999 |
| Headquarters | International |
Area served | Western Europe, Americas |
Key people | Alfonso Rodes Vila (CEO as of 2006) |
| Parent | Havas |
Havas Media Group serves as the media branch within the international marketing and communications conglomerate Havas. It unites Havas's media holdings, largely those previously identified as Media Planning Group (MPG). MPG was established in March 1999 by combining Media Planning, which began operations in 1978, and Médiapolis, launched in 1980. These agencies specialize in communication, media planning, and management services, focusing primarily on markets in Western Europe and the Americas.
History
The creation of MPG stemmed from the union of two media agencies: Media Planning S.A., founded in Spain in 1978 by Leopoldo Rodés Castañes to cater to Hispanic audiences, and Médiapolis, a French firm created in 1980 under Havas Advertising. Initially, Havas acquired a 45% ownership stake in MPG, which it increased to full control by May 2001. Fernando Rodés Vilà, who joined Media Planning S.A in 1994, was appointed CEO of Havas in March 2006. Later that year, in October 2006, Havas consolidated all its media operations under the "Havas Media" brand and named Alfonso Rodes Vila as CEO.
In June 2022, Havas Media Group revealed a worldwide collaboration with attention measurement company Lumen Research aimed at creating enhanced tools for planning, assessing, purchasing, and optimizing audience engagement.
Controversy
In June 2009, Havas Media Group encountered backlash from the Industrial Workers of the World after reducing its workforce by 11%, offering only four weeks' severance pay. The union directed protests at Kmart locations targeting their key client, Sears Holdings Corporation. MPG chose not to issue any public statements regarding these events.
In July 2024, four entities within Havas lost their B Corp certification due to involvement with Shell Oil projects that conflicted with the certification’s environmental criteria.