Havas (France)

Havas was France's biggest advertising organisation until toppled by the phenomenal growth of arch-rival Publicis. The group is one of the last remnants of what was once a second tier of diversified international marketing organisations. It controls two worldwide networks in Euro RSCG and media buyer MPG, as well as a collection of regional agencies, of which the biggest is Arnold Worldwide in North America. Following rapid and sometimes reckless expansion during the 1990s, the group came under severe pressure after 2001. Despite a steady recovery in the worldwide industry, Havas's billings and revenues underperformed other marketing groups. Fresh uncertainty about the group's future was raised by the intervention of corporate raider Vincent Bolloré, who seized effective control of Havas in 2005. Performance finally began to improve in 2006. Advertising Age ranked Havas as the #7 ad organisation worldwide in 2009 with revenues of around $2.0bn.

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Havas website

Euro RSCG	Havas Media / MPG
Arnold Worldwide	H Paris
W & Cie	Le Nouvel Eldorado
Single & Co	Archibald Ingall Stretton

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