by MarkLives (@marklives) John Davenport has joined Havas South Africa as its new chief creative officer.

“I’m terrifically excited to be joining Havas because I think that the agency group has a unique offering for clients,” says Davenport. “Unlike most agencies, Havas,’ being part of a wider non-advertising group, Vivendi, allows for wider collaboration from which deep connections between people and brands can be sustained.” In South SA, sister companies include music stable, Universal Music Group, and gaming developer, Gameloft.

Davenport’s role, over and above that of CCO, will see him lead the creative programme of the Havas Academy, the agency group’s training and development arm.

Davenport was the co-founder and ECD of Ireland/Davenport, recently reinvented as Collective ID. He launched Ireland/Davenport with Philip Ireland in 2006. At its peak, the agency worked accross a range of blue-chip brands, including BMW, Investec, Vodacom and South African Tourism. He left Collective ID in September 2018.

“When a friend called me late last year and told me that John Davenport was interested in joining Havas, I was thrilled,” says Lynn Madeley, Havas South Africa CEO. “We are an agency that is doing some really smart stuff in terms of content and deep connections with consumers ,and we needed someone to join us in getting some work over the line. Enter John. Not only is he highly awarded but he also understands that an agency is a business and he knows how to navigate the business of creativity. It’s a great match for us.”

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