Havas Opens Social Media Support Division

Global media network Havas is launching a social media division at the end of the month, to offer central support for teams of more than 40 dedicated specialists based in its UK agencies. Former IAB exec Amy Kean joins as Director of Social Media.

The new 'Havas Media Social' arm will work with social media teams at Havas agencies MPG Media Contacts, Arena Media's 247 Social, ais... (Archibald Ingall Stretton), and Cake, and across their existing portfolio of clients. It brings together the skills and experience of each agency to offer a 'full service' social offering across the full suite of 'paid', 'earned' and 'owned' media services.

The team will be led by Havas Head of Social Media Neil Kleiner, who joined last April from Momentum Worldwide, where he worked as Global Social Media Strategist in charge of a specialist research team. Earlier in his career, he worked as a consultant at social media specialist Interesource, and at Trinity Mirror as Head of Digital Content across the group's five national web sites.

Kleiner is supported by Kean, formerly of digital marketing trade body the IAB (Internet Advertising Bureau), where she worked as PR and Marketing Manager. She also served as Head of the IAB Social Media Council, a group of social media practitioners tasked with promoting the industry, and leading progress in measurement and education.

Commenting on the launch, Havas Media UK CEO Mark Craze said: 'Our growth plan is now moving to a new level and our clear goal is to be the thought leaders in all aspects of social.'

Web site: www.havasmedia.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.