Havas Group and Invictus Blue strike affiliate agreement

Havas Group has partnered with Invictus Blue in Malaysia to provide media and integrated requirements for Havas’ clients. According to Havas, Invictus Blue has a strong reputation and proven track record of creating work that challenges industry norms. It was founded in 1994 by CEO Gerald Miranda (pictured right) a currently works with clients including Vinda Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia, PETRONAS, and F&N.

Alberto Canteli (pictured left), CEO/chairman Havas Group, Nordics CEE and Middle East, SEA and North Asia said the decision to enter into this affiliation agreement was made "after a review of Invictus Blue’s impeccable track record in Malaysia". "The company deeply understands local cultures and nuances and has a global outlook in consumer trends and the ability to apply cutting-edge tools. Invictus Blue satisfies critical criteria to leverage our global operations," he added.

Canteli added that Havas has found a local partner in Invictus Blue to tap into the immense growth potential in the region. He also said that Havas’ aligned vision of its “village” concept is similar to what Invictus Blue has with its non-media services across social and content and the ethos of delivering meaningful media experiences to build meaningful brands.

Meanwhile, Miranda said the agency has always believed that collaboration with the right minds can lead to the greatest results. "During our conversations with the leadership team, we experienced a very strong connection and equally great synergy," he said. Miranda added that it is delighted to be affiliated with Havas, and that Havas being part of Vivendi is "a major differentiator in the marketplace".

"This means we think about culture, not just communications. Brands rightly have a role to play in culture as well as how they entertain, inform, and make positive changes to the world," he explained. A+M has reached out to Havas for additional information.

This partnership comes two years after Havas and Entropia united to streamline the former's media operations in Malaysia. Through the partnership, it was previously announced that creative and digital arm Havas Immerse will work with Entropia on media briefs and duties for the Malaysia market. When Entropia got snapped up by Accenture Interactive (now known as Accenture Song) last year, founder Prashant Kumar told A+M then that even with the acquisition, its professional commitments to clients and partners will remain. 

Meanwhile, Havas also worked with Trapper Media Group in the past as its affiliate agency. The partnership went on for six years before both parties separated in 2016.

Related articles:
Havas Immerse gets B Corp certification
Havas Immerse Malaysia makes slew of senior promotions
MD David Soo steps down from Invictus Blue
MDEC hands marketing duties to M&C Saatchi and Invictus Blue
#MarketingExcellenceAwards spills: How Invictus Blue emerged victorious through adaptive exploration
Former Zenith team rebrands to Invictus Blue, mutually parts from Publicis