Havas acquires independent agency Kaimera to fuel ANZ growth and AI strategy

Fresh off the launch of its ‘deliberately different’ group positioning, Havas has moved quickly into acquisition mode, buying independent media agency Kaimera to accelerate its expansion across Australia and New Zealand.

The deal expands the scale and specialist capabilities of Havas Media Network in the region while fast-tracking the deployment of Converged.AI, the group’s global AI-driven, data-powered operating system spanning media, creativity and technology.

Founded in 2016, Kaimera has grown into a 50-plus person agency with offices in Sydney and Melbourne and team members in Auckland. Its client roster includes Nando’s, Scape, IMB Bank, Afterpay and BritBox. The agency will now operate as Kaimera, a Havas Company.

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Kaimera’s founders Nick Behr and Trent McMillan will continue to lead the business and report to James Wright, group CEO of Havas ANZ. The agency will initially remain in its current offices in Surry Hills and South Melbourne. With the acquisition, Havas ANZ’s local headcount rises to more than 450.

The move lands at a pivotal moment for Havas in the region, following the recent rollout of its ‘Deliberately Different’ positioning, which frames the group as a high-performance “Village” model combining the agility of an independent with the scale, data and technology of a global network.

“I’m delighted to welcome Nick Behr, Trent McMillan and the talented team at Kaimera to the Havas family,” said Yannick Bolloré, chairman and CEO of Havas. “This deal reinforces our commitment to the Australian and New Zealand markets… and bringing in Kaimera’s expertise and strong reputation will further strengthen our network and accelerate the deployment of our Converged.AI strategy.”

Wright said the acquisition was a clear expression of Havas’ ANZ growth agenda.

“The acquisition of Kaimera is a clear statement of our ambition in Australia and New Zealand,” Wright said. “As part of our new ANZ business plan and positioning of being ‘deliberately different,’ we are focused on growth and entrepreneurial investment in the region. To deliver on this, we want to bring in the best talent and resources to deliver more powerful and meaningful results for our clients.”

Kaimera founder and CEO Nick Behr said the move provides greater scale while preserving the agency’s culture.

“Joining Havas gives us access to greater investment, scale, resources, tools and technology, particularly in AI, while allowing us to stay true to our culture and approach,” Behr said. “Together, we can deliver even more meaningful growth for brands across Australia, New Zealand and beyond.”

The acquisition further heats up competition among global holding groups in Australia as networks reposition for an AI-driven, consolidating media market.