Havas appoints Josh Gallagher as regional strategy director

Gallagher joins from Zenith Optimedia Melbourne where he worked as a communications strategist.

Havas Media Group has announced the appointment of Josh Gallagher as regional strategy director. In his new role, Gallagher will be responsible for driving offline and online strategy for the agency's key clients including AXA, Emirates, LG Electronics and Shangri La Hotels. He will also lead the adoption of agency's proprietary planning process Meaningful Connections Planning to deliver innovative solutions to new and existing clients.

An integral part of his mandate is to propel the uptake of Havas Media Group's Meaningful Brands research, a unique framework that analyses and tracks the connections brands have with quality of life and well-being.

Gallagher joins the agency with 10 years of experience working with international media and digital agencies in Australia. At Zenith Optimedia Melbourne, his previous job, he worked as a communications strategist, driving strategy for Honda, Lion Nathan and Reckitt Benckiser. Prior to this, he spent seven years with Universal McCann Brisbane, where he worked as client services and strategic director. He has also had a stint at digital agency Kruse Digital.

Based out of Singapore, Gallagher will report into SK Biswas, chief strategy officer at Havas Media Group, Asia-Pacific. Commenting on his appointment, Biswas says, "Josh is a very welcome addition to the regional strategy team. He has an unrelenting curiosity for uncovering consumer insights and is a champion of integration. He is one of those rare strategists, who have a hands on and practical experience of working on integrated strategies and expertise in both offline and digital communications planning processes."

Talking about his role, Gallagher comments, "As brands enter the digital age it becomes critical for them to increase their meaningfulness quotient or they face the risk of extinction. The agency's framework is a very unique roadmap for brands and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to support this vision."

Havas Media is an integrated communications agency with digital at its core. In India, it delivers media and marketing solutions across platforms that include traditional, digital, mobile and outdoors - suited to the client's requirement. Havas Media Group includes Havas Sports and Entertainment and Arena. Together, they draw from the expertise within the group, including Mobext for mobile solutions and Ecselis for performance marketing.