Havas Media Manchester is restructuring its senior team, as it aims to become the fastest growing agency in the region.
It has created a new joint-General Manager role, which will be taken up by Strategy Partner, Lucy Barnes and Managing Partner, James Reddington.
The pair were integral to securing the Matalan and Stagecoach accounts, which along with the retention of the BBC account, have seen its billings increase 150% in a year.
They will also sit on the Havas Media Group UK leadership team.
“Both Lucy and James have demonstrated masterful stewardship of the business in Manchester,” said Patrick Affleck, CEO of Havas Media Group UK & Ireland.
“They’ve played a leading role in the agency’s rapid growth in the region in the last year, most notably working brilliantly together to secure the Matalan account earlier this year. Lucy’s strategic pedigree coupled with James’ impeccable client management skills will help propel our Manchester operation forward.”
Barnes joined Havas Media Group in 2019, having previously held senior roles at Dentsu and Carat Manchester.
“Nothing makes me happier than finding more disruptive and dynamic ways to solve our clients challenges. I am excited by the momentum we’ve already achieved here and what more’s to come as we attract new people and clients that want to challenge the status quo in their category,” she said.
Reddington has been Managing Partner at Havas since 2020. Prior to that he spent 24 years at Carat Manchester. He was a shareholder in the then start-up agency, Mediavest Manchester, which was acquired by Dentsu in 2011.
“Clients want a different option in the North to what they’ve traditionally been offered. That’s why we offer the size and scale of a major network but the service and relationship of an independent. Crucially, there’s an opportunity to adapt the overall Havas Media Group UK goals to help clients capitalise on the Manchester marketplace,” he added.
The appointments come after Managing Director, Stu Lunn, left for Apadmi last month.
