Refocused Havas helia Appoints Creative Chief

helia, the customer engagement agency within marcoms group Havas, has appointed Andy O'Carroll as its first Chief Creative Officer.

helia was formed in 2015 through the combination of digital agency EHS and data intelligence agency Havas Discovery. The company analyses patterns in human behaviour and combines the findings with cultural understanding to develop creative ideas.

O'Carroll brings twenty-five years of experience in advertising, spanning paid, owned and earned media. He has been freelancing as a Senior Creative Director for a number of major agencies for the last year, and prior to that worked in Creative Director roles at Digitas, Uncommon, TPA and Brands2Life. During the 2010s he spent six years as a Creative Director at M&C Saatchi London; and earlier in his career he was a copywriter at Publicis and Archibald Ingall Stretton.

In his new role, replacing two regional ECDs, he reports to helia CEO David MacMillan, who describes him as 'the perfect customer-focused creative leader,' and comments: 'His appointment represents helia doubling down on the power of creativity in an age of bland, commoditised solutions, and we're thrilled to have him on board to help steer this exciting new chapter for the agency.' MacMillan says the division is refocusing on a proposition rooted in developing next-gen CX 'Experiences That Hit Different.' Quoted on www.campaignlive.co.uk , he adds: 'By championing the customer deeply and understanding their needs, helia will translate cultural insight and combined demographic and behavioural data into real-world brand behaviour - helping brands show up in the right moments with the right tone and intent.'

Web site: www.havashelia.co.uk .