The Face, one of Australia’s most celebrated specialist employer branding agencies, today rebranded to Havas People to align itself with the growing global brand that is part of the Havas Group.
The Face has worked with hundreds of organisations of all sizes since its inception in 2007.
Award-winning communications executive, Havas Worldwide managing director, James Wright, will lead the expanding team, bolstered by the recent appointment of account director Kate Griffiths, as well as the continued creative leadership from national creative director, Sean Elliott, who has been with the company since it began. It has also launched a new website, www.havaspeople.com.au.
Wright said the move will enable the agency to leverage off even stronger ties to the global network to help clients in the challenge of managing talent acquisition, retention and engagement.
“We’ll still provide the same boutique and local service, with the same passion and drive our clients have come to expect, but we’re now benefiting from even greater access to unique global tools, trends and approaches, as well as our worldwide teams’ experience and knowledge,” Wright said.
With 74% of employees either not engaged or actively disengaged at work in Australia “Worldwide, 13% of employees are engaged at work,” Sam Crabtree, Gallup, 8 October 2013. Wright says the rebrand is an opportunity to launch a new era for Havas People in reshaping a challenging market.
“Employer branding has never been more important. With high employee disengagement, wide-reaching skills shortages and an ageing population, recruiters, HR managers and organisational decision makers are searching for the key to finding, keeping and motivating staff,” says Wright.
National creative director Sean Elliott added: “With the rebrand, we’re also refreshing our own philosophy of employer branding and engagement in Australia. We’ll share more details later this year on the approach, but integral to this will be helping clients to instil widespread pride in their workforces. Never before has the job experience held so much power when it comes to influencing brand perception. Rediscovering pride in your work will be the big story of 2015.”
The Face has supported a wide range of clients from diverse industries, including banking, IT and telecommunications, energy, education, cosmetics to healthcare in Australia.
One of the agency’s most successful campaigns in recent times involved developing and championing a new women’s employer brand to overcome a significant gender imbalance within a major telecommunications company. This was delivered through leveraging ambassador and digital engagement assets. The campaign led to a dramatic improvement in female applications at the company, with an average of 27% each quarter, with a high of 47%.
Offering a truly integrated approach to employment branding, Havas People, part of the Havas Worldwide global network of 11,000 people in 316 offices, works with clients from the inside out to shape positive perceptions that attract and retains the best talent.
Wright will continue to lead Red Agency, Havas’ PR arm in Australia, in addition to his role as Managing Director of Havas Worldwide Melbourne that incorporates Havas People.
