Havas has reported a “solid” first year as a stock exchange listed company, with growth of 3.1 per cent, slightly ahead of their target of 2.5 per cent to three per cent.
The global advertising group, with 22,641 staff, posted full year net revenue of €2.78 billion (A$4.65 billion). Net income (profit) was €210 million, an 11.1 per cent increase on 2024.
Despite an uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, the company is forecasting organic growth of between two per cent and three per cent.
The positive annual results were powered by a strong December quarter; organic growth was 3.7 per cent in Q4, up from a negative 0.8 per cent in the same period the previous year.
Across its European business (which generated 50 per cent of net revenue), Havas recorded organic net revenue growth of 2 per cent, but its performance was stronger on the other side of the Atlantic. In North America (34 per cent of net revenue), it was up 4.9 per cent, and in Latin America (7 per cent of net revenue) it grew 3.6 per cent. APAC and Africa (9 per cent of net revenue) experienced 1.7 per cent growth.
Havas Creative accounted for 40 per cent of the group’s net revenue, Havas Media was 38 per cent, and Havas Health posted the remaining 22 per cent.
In 2025, Havas acquired five agencies worldwide, including prominent Australian independent media agency Kaimera, now part of the Havas Media Network. This lifted Havas ANZ’s headcount to 450 staff.
CEO Yannick Bolloré described 2025 as “a transformative year for Havas”.
“Focused on our strategic vision, we fully delivered on our guidance with strong results, including organic growth of +3.1 per cent and an adjusted EBIT margin of 12.9 per cent,” he said.
“These achievements reflect the strength of our client‑centric model and our position as the strongest challenger in a highly competitive market.
“We continued to evolve as an AI‑driven organisation fuelled by human ingenuity, where technology amplifies human creativity rather than replacing it.
“We also expanded our capabilities with a series of strategic acquisitions across key markets and high‑growth sectors, further strengthening our global footprint.”
Havas intends to pursue its strategy of bolt-on and targeted acquisitions by acquiring five to ten businesses in 2026.
Looking ahead to 2026, Havas said it expects organic growth of somewhere between two per cent and three per cent, and an adjusted EBIT margin of between 13.2 per cent and 13.5 per cent.
