Havas Media Group Australia appoints James Zipeure to the role of chief commercial officer

Havas Media Group Australia has appointed James Zipeure to the role of chief commercial officer, with the hire completing the local management team after the group launched in the local market at the end of last year.

Most recently, the founder and executive board member of several digital and content businesses across the region, Zipeure (or ‘Zippy’ as he is more usually known) also has extensive experience in senior investment positions in companies such as Aegis, Zenith Optimedia and Mediacom.

Says Mike Wilson, CEO, Havas Media Group Australia: “James brings an unrivalled experience set to this role. As well as a great track record in senior investment roles in Australian agencies, he is a digital entrepreneur. His profile exactly matches the blueprint of Havas Media – a digitally centred, flexible, creatively-minded communications company.”

Says Zipeure: “I’m delighted to be back in the agency landscape, in particular with the Havas team.  Having worked in media for nearly two decades, I decided three years ago to step outside the day to day media landscape and setup my own business venture. This has been both invaluable and exceptionally rewarding allowing me time to get a greater understanding of what it takes to grow an idea into a reality.

“An opportunity arose to work with Mike Wilson and team Havas which I couldn’t turn down, to help build and be part of what I believe will be a great business.  I cannot think of a more exciting time to step back into media.”

Havas Media is in its first full year of operation in Australia, and has already experienced local successes including recent wins of OneShift, DE Master Blenders and PayPal media accounts to add to its global assignments on companies such as Emirates and LG Electronics.