Havas Media Group is the media division of the global marketing and communications group Havas. It incorporates the media assets of Havas, which includes predominantly entities which were formerly known as Media Planning Group (MPG). MPG was created in March 1999 as the result of a merger between Media Planning founded in 1978, and Médiapolis, founded in 1980. The two agencies offer communication, media strategy and management services to its clients. It operates mainly in Western Europe and the Americas.

History

MPG was created in 1999 as the result of a merger between two media agencies: Media Planning S.A. founded in Spain in 1978 by Leopoldo Rodés Castañes which covered the Hispanic markets, and Médiapolis, a

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

company founded in 1980 by Havas Advertising. Havas initially acquired a 45% holding in MPG, which increased to 100% in May 2001.

Fernando Rodés Vilà Fernando Rodés Vilà (born 1 August 1960, in Barcelona) is a businessman specialised in marketing, communications and sustainability, and invests and manages companies operating in those fields. Fernando is currently Vice Chairman of Havas (tic ...

, who joined Media Planning S.A in 1994, was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Havas in March 2006. In October 2006, Havas announced that all its media assets would be reorganised under the

umbrella An umbrella or parasol is a folding canopy supported by wooden or metal ribs that is usually mounted on a wooden, metal, or plastic pole. It is designed to protect a person against rain or sunlight. The term ''umbrella'' is traditionally u ...

of "Havas Media" and Alfonso Rodes Vila, brother of Fernando, was named CEO in July 2006. In June 2022, Havas Media Group Announced their global partnership with attention firm Lumen Research which will create tools to plan, measure, buy, and optimize attention.

Controversy

In June 2009, Havas Media Group was criticized by the

Industrial Workers of the World The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), members of which are commonly termed "Wobblies", is an international labor union that was founded in Chicago in 1905. The origin of the nickname "Wobblies" is uncertain. IWW ideology combines gener ...

for firing 11% of their staff and only giving workers a four-week severance package. The union initiated a campaign to get their biggest client,

Sears Holdings Corporation Sears Holdings Corporation was an American holding company headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, Hoffman Estates, Illinois. It was the parent company of the chain stores Kmart United States, Kmart and Sears and was founded after the former ...

, to stop using MPG by protesting outside of

Kmart Kmart Corporation ( , doing business as Kmart and stylized as kmart) is an American retail company that owns a chain of big box department stores. The company is headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States. The company was inco ...

stores. MPG has not publicly commented on the dispute.False Advertising? MPG Lays Off Workers While Profits Grow
''IWW'', June 6, 20226.

References

{{Vivendi Advertising agencies of France

Media Media may refer to: Communication * Media (communication), tools used to deliver information or data ** Advertising media, various media, content, buying and placement for advertising ** Broadcast media, communications delivered over mass el ...