Havas Sports and Entertainment makes Australian debut

AUSTRALIA – Havas has launched its Havas Sports & Entertainment (HS&E) division in Australia, in response to growing demand in the local market for brands looking to develop ways to connect fans and brands through their passions.

LG Electronics has come on board as HS&E's founding client with the agency activating a partnership with retailer, Harvey Norman and global blockbuster film Ghostbusters from Paramount Pictures.

Francis Coady, who has been appointed general manager, will lead the HS&E team. Based in of Havas' Sydney office, he will report to Havas Media Group CEO Mike Wilson.

He will be supported by a team of dedicated branding and entertainment specialists and will be announcing a number of additional clients in the coming months.

The division will be focused on identifying strategic brand alignments, partnerships and collaborations within sport and entertainment to connect brands and consumers, with a mission to create some of Australia's biggest and most dynamic marketing campaigns.

HS&E currently has more than 35 offices operating in 20 markets, including the US, China, Russia, UK and South Africa. Global clients include Coca-Cola, adidas, Hyundai and British Airways.

Services include sponsorship activation, branded content creation, sponsorship analytics, social strategy and live brand experiences with the aim of bringing brands, fans and communities together.

Coady boasts more than 20 years working with some of the biggest entertainment brands and sporting codes in the world. This includes Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, NRL, Football Federation Australia, 20th Century Fox and the ABC.