AUCKLAND, Today: Havas ANZ is doubling down on integration, expanding Olly Taylor’s remit and appointing him Chief Strategy Officer for the Group, leading strategy across both creative and media agencies under the Village model.
Taylor brings more than 25 years’ experience in brand and communications strategy, including over a decade in senior Havas Australia roles shaping award-winning, commercially effective work.
He’s long argued that attention is one of the toughest challenges modern brands face, and says strategy needs to evolve accordingly.
“Getting noticed is harder than it has ever been,” he said. “Most messages disappear instantly rendering the majority of them ineffectual and the real challenge is creating communication that captures attention and stays with people.”
Taylor says uniting media and creative strategy properly, as one team, is rare but essential. “Bringing the strategic strength of media and creative together, properly together, as one team is rare in this industry.
“But it’s what brands need today. And it’s completely aligned with our ambition to be Deliberately Different, not different for the sake of it, but different with intent, backed by ideas that challenge expectations and drive impact.”
The move builds on Havas ANZ’s ‘Deliberately Different’ positioning, reinforcing the Village model that blends indie-style agility with global scale and resources.
“Olly is one of the region’s most respected strategic thinkers, and he has been instrumental in shaping how we think and work across the Village.” – Olly Taylor
James Wright, Group CEO Havas ANZ, says Taylor has played a key role in shaping the Group’s thinking.
“Olly is one of the region’s most respected strategic thinkers, and he has been instrumental in shaping how we think and work across the Village. His expanded remit as CSO for Havas Group ANZ reflects both his influence and the strategic direction of our business.
“He deeply understands the challenge marketers face in a landscape of sameness, and he’s uniquely equipped to unify media and creative strategy into one deliberate, cohesive system.
“This role strengthens our commitment to being the most integrated and deliberately different agency group in the region.”
The appointment comes as Havas Group ANZ continues investing in integrated capability, AI-enabled strategy and closer cross-Village collaboration.
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