Havas acquires controlling stake in Hong Kong finance PR agency

Under the terms of a strategic alliance signed today, Havas Media and Porda International will work together to develop Porda’s existing leadership position in its markets and to generate opportunities within the Greater China region for clients of Havas’ agency networks worldwide.

“Our agreement with Porda is further evidence of Havas’ renewed commitment to an ambitious but astute expansion of its international networks,” said Vincent Bolloré, chairman of the Havas board of directors.

The Havas group is already a major player in the Greater China market through its five regional and forty local Euro RSCG offices and its nine Havas Media offices spanning mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Euro RSCG Greater China offers integrated marketing communication solutions, including
advertising, digital marketing, social media, media buying and the largest marketing services operations on the mainland. The group has over 800 full-time staff and 30,000 part-time staff working across the country.

Havas Media, beyond its traditional buying and strategic planning services, is also present in this market in sports marketing and digital media.

“Hong Kong and China are the most exciting markets in financial communications today," said Stéphane Fouks, founder of AMO and executive co-chairman of Havas’s largest agency network Euro RSCG Worldwide.

"Our alliance with Porda and its founding chairman James Chang will provide significant opportunities to develop new crossborder business among the financial communications agencies within the Havas group and in the AMO network,” he added.