Creative Production

Havas Studios appoints James Sanderson as Global COO

Havas Studios, Havas’ integrated global production business, has appointed industry leader James Sanderson as Global Chief Operating Officer. In this new role, he will work alongside Global CEO, Paul Ward to help develop the global delivery capabilities of the micro-network of connected content studios.

Sanderson joins from consulting and services company ICP, where he was Global Creative Operations Practice lead. Prior to this, he founded and spent three years as Global Head of Wunderman Thompson Inside, WPP’s in-housing solution. He had previously spent two years as COO of in-housing agency OLIVER.

He began his career at DNA Consulting (now Publicis Sapient), before spending seven years at Glue Isobar (now Isobar) as joint MD and then COO, and then Digitas, where he was UK President from 2009-2011. 

Since its launch, Havas Studios has built an integrated network of content studios spanning London, Prague, New York, Chicago and Paris, backed by a low-cost offering in Kuala Lumpur. Further studios are planned for Latin America, China and India.

Sanderson has been tasked with further developing Havas Studios’ global delivery architecture, embedding technology at the heart of the network to provide clients with omnichannel production capabilities.

These delivery capabilities – which will span existing, planned and new studios around the world – will be purpose-built to ensure the right work is delivered from the right place at the right time, while fundamentally maintaining the creative integrity of the work itself.

Paul Ward, Global CEO of Havas Studios, says: “I met James six years ago and knew then that at some point we’d work together.  As we started to hone the Havas Studios business plan, I naturally found myself drawing a James shaped role into the business – he brings exactly what we need to get us to the next level. He is an exceptional operator and will be a great asset to Havas Studios”. 

Sanderson adds: “The beauty of Havas Studios is that it was built from the ground up, without the legacy of outdated technology or ways of working – and there’s a real opportunity to build the most modern, efficient and creatively-driven global production agency in the market. Global demand for content-at-scale continues to grow unabated, and through organic growth of existing capabilities, new market launches, and acquisition, my role is to ensure Havas Studios continues to do likewise”.

In June 2021, Havas Studios appointed former Rattling Stick ‘First Lady’ Katie Keith as its first Global Head of Content. In an innovative dual role, she was also appointed Head of Production at Havas London – creating a unique, hybrid proposition designed to foster collaboration and instil a production-led ‘makers’ ethos into the heart of the creative agency.

Since its launch, it has produced or co-produced major above-the-line campaigns for brands including Aston Martin, Ella’s Kitchen, PayPal, Rekorderlig, The Body Shop and Citroën.