Havas Reveals Leadership Changes with New CEO

French advertising group Havas have announced Global CEO David Jones will be leaving the company to become co-founder and CEO of a new tech start-up and will be replaced by Yannick Bolloré.

In another leadership change Andrew Benett, sale Co-President Havas Worldwide, pills has been promoted CEO of the advertising network and will report to Yannick Bolloré.

Yannick Bolloré (pictured) said: “It’s a very exciting time for Havas. We are well on our way to realizing our goal of being the most integrated and innovative communications group of our industry. I would like to thank David for the impact he has made at Havas over the last 15 years. Thanks to his talent, David has contributed significantly to the improvement of the results and organization of the Group and its standing amongst clients and in the industry. I wish him all the best for his future business.”

Jones, who is also the Guardian’s Sustainable Business Leader of the Year for 2013 and co-founder of One Young World, leaves the Group by agreement with Havas’s management and will be retained as advisor to the Havas Chairman & CEO throughout 2014.

David Jones said: “If I were going to stay in the industry it would be at Havas, but I have always had a burning desire to be an entrepreneur and this is too exciting an opportunity to not seize. Those people who know me know my two passions in business are social media and social responsibility and this new venture combines the two.”

“I want to thank the Bolloré Group and Vincent Bolloré in particular for his support and mentorship over the last eight years and wish Yannick every success.”

Yannick Bolloré added: “I also want to congratulate Andrew for his promotion. I have no doubt that with the Havas Worldwide leadership team they will continue to drive the growth and evolution of our network over the coming months and years.”

Andrew Benett said: “I’m looking forward to my expanded role and to continuing to implement our strategy in partnership with Yannick and the leadership team at Havas. It’s an incredibly exciting time as we continue to build strong relationships with our clients, helping them to innovate and grow their businesses.”