Havas has completed its acquisition of Australian Public Affairs (APA), a renowned public affairs and strategic communications consultancy based in Australia.
Founded 27 years ago by Tracey Cain, APA will now be integrated into H/Advisors, Havas’s global strategic communications advisory network. Following the acquisition, the firm will be renamed H/Advisors APA.
This strategic move marks H/Advisors’ entry into the Australian market and aligns with its growth strategy for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Havas is committed to enhancing its capabilities in strategic communications and regulated environments, and this acquisition strengthens its foothold in Australia while providing additional expertise and geographic reach to serve global clients expanding internationally.
The leadership team at H/Advisors APA, including CEO Tracey Cain, Deputy CEO Phil McCall, and CFO Kathryn Higgs, will remain in their current roles, ensuring continuity and a seamless transition.
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Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and Global CEO of Havas, as well as Chairman of Vivendi, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, “APA as part of Havas and H/Advisors will enable us to further accelerate our plans for developing our public affairs, financial PR, and strategic communications offering across the APAC region. We are delighted to welcome the talent, experience, and expertise of Tracey and her team to our Havas family.”
Tracey Cain, Chief Executive Officer of Australian Public Affairs and H/Advisors APA, commented on the strategic partnership, saying, “For nearly three decades, we have built APA as a high-quality, evidence-based firm with expertise in regulated sectors and complex stakeholder environments. The logical next step for us is to partner with Havas and H/Advisors to expand the services offered and the reach of our client base. We have ambitious plans and are excited to take the next step with H/Advisors and the broader Havas family.”
James Wright, Group CEO of Havas Creative Network Australia, emphasized the potential of H/Advisors APA in the evolving Australian consulting landscape, stating, “As the Australian consulting landscape reforms amid recent crises, the opportunity is emerging for strong, capable, and values-driven global challengers that bring local knowledge and smart thinking. With complementary skills and alignment, H/Advisors APA will be perfectly positioned to fulfill the requirements of corporates, governments, and NFPs in need of a new approach. We look forward to integrating Tracey and her team into the Havas Village in the coming months.”
Neil Bennett and Tom Johnson, Global Co-CEOs of H/Advisors, expressed their enthusiasm for the acquisition, highlighting APA’s reputation as the leading public affairs agency in Australia and its potential to support their growth ambitions in the APAC region. They stated, “Our group’s strategy of adding leading strategic communications advisory firms in the core financial capitals around the world and growing them continues with this exciting new partnership.”
Havas’ acquisition of APA represents a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the Asia-Pacific region and enhance its offerings in strategic communications and regulated environments.
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