Xavier Rees

Xavier Rees is one of the industry’s most celebrated campaigning leaders. His long list of accolades and industry contributions, partnerships and initiatives include Campaign’s Agency Head of the Year; Oystercatchers’ Industry Influencer/Champion of Change finalist; FT Future of Work panellist; Ad Net Zero Steering Group member; BIMA judge; Effies UK board member; IPA iList inclusivity trailblazer’ Creative Equals board member; and UN Women’s Unstereotype Alliance UK founding partner.

And in 2021, under Rees’ leadership, Havas London evolved from remarkable turnaround story into a creative powerhouse with a portfolio of major global brands that is leading the business world as a force for good.

We became the first major agency to recertify as a B Corporation, and the first to join the Better Business Act Coalition. We committed to net zero by 2025, played active roles in organisations including Ad Net Zero and AdGreen, were named a Campaign ‘Best Place to Work’, and created 100 entry-level roles for people from atypical backgrounds through the Government’s Kickstart Scheme.

And none of this came to the detriment of success – quite the opposite. We won more than £5.2m new revenue, including one of the largest pitches of the year in Asda, retained our prized place on the revamped Government roster and, crucially, did not lose a single client. Our best work came on our biggest clients, including Asda, Durex and EDF, while we won Cannes Gold for The Black Plaque Project – with this great cause becoming, rather fittingly, our most awarded campaign ever.