Havas Media has announced incumbent CEO Mike Wilson (main photo) has been promoted to chairman and he will be replaced by Matt Houltham (below) who is currently group managing director of Havas Melbourne.

Coincidentally, Wilson starred in B&T’s ‘15 Over 50′ adlanders in a profile posted yesterday.

Houltham will lead a team of more than 100 people across Havas’ Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland offices, as well as Havas Sport and Entertainment, overseeing its breadth of services across strategy, media planning and investment, performance marketing, content development, data consultancy and brand partnerships. He will also have a continuing role overseeing Havas Melbourne.

Commenting on Houltham’s elevation to CEO, Havas Group ANZ chairman Anthony Freedman said: “Matt has a rare blend of experience across media, creative, digital and research businesses, in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and US. He is the perfect person to lead the charge in ensuring Havas Media remains the most progressive media group in the market.”

“Mike has done an outstanding job building a business from scratch, to become a team of 100 people, and in his new role, will be able to consider the partnerships we need to continue to grow, as well as how best to capitalise on the opportunities we have as part of Vivendi.”

Wilson added: ”I’m extremely happy to be able support Matt in his deserved elevation to CEO of the Havas Media Group. Additionally, the Vivendi group of companies provides opportunities for our clients, our agency brands and our people that are unrivalled in the market. I am really excited to be in a position to help unlock these partnerships in earnest for the first time.”

Houltham said: “I’m thrilled to be expanding my remit to work closer with Mike and the brilliant Havas Media Group team in Sydney and New Zealand and look forward to deploying our new Meaningful Media Experience (Mx) process and leveraging the Village model to help our clients grow in 2020.”