Havas has acquired public affairs and strategic communications agency Australian Public Affairs (APA) to grow its H/Advisors strategic advisory network across Asia-Pacific.

APA, which was founded 27 years ago by Tracey Cain, has now become part of H/Advisors and been renamed H/Advisors APA.

Havas said the acquisition is part of the “continued investment in [the agency’s] capability across strategic communications and regulated environments”.

H/Advisors APA’s insight-driven strategic counsel adds “important new expertise and geographic reach” to the network’s global clients as it continues to expand across borders.

The transaction also further strengthens Havas’s presence in Australia, adding new capabilities to better serve its clients.

Yannick Bolloré, chairman and global chief executive officer of Havas, and chairman of Vivendi, said: “APA as part of Havas and H/Advisors will enable us to further accelerate our plans for developing our public affairs, financial PR and strategic communications offering across the APAC region.

“We are delighted to welcome the talent, experience and smarts of Tracey and her team to our Havas family.”

APA’s local leadership team that includes Cain, who serves as the agency’s chief executive officer, deputy chief executive officer Phil McCall and chief financial officer Kathryn Higgs, will continue in their roles.

Cain said: “For nearly three decades, we have built APA as a high-quality, evidence-based firm with expertise in regulated sectors and complex stakeholder environments.  The logical next step for us is to partner with Havas and H/Advisors to expand the services offered and the reach of our client base.

“We have ambitious plans and are excited to take the next step with H/Advisors and the broader Havas family.”

James Wright, group chief executive officer of Havas Creative Network Australia, also commented: “With complementary skills and alignment, H/Advisors APA will be perfectly positioned to fulfil requirements of corporates, governments and NFPs in need of a new approach.”

The announcement comes soon after Havas said it had acquired a 51% stake in Uncommon Creative Studio, describing the move as a signal of its “continued commitment to creativity”.

The global communications group also recently revealed a new brand architecture and visual identity for the first time in 20 years.

Kathryn Higgs and Phil McCall

Independent specialist healthcare communications agency OVID Health has announced the launch of a new patient advocacy podcast to help ‘raise the bar’ in partnerships between pharmaceutical companies and patient organisations.

The ‘OVIDcast: Patient Partnerships’ podcast will invite health charity chief executive officers to give their advice on ways that pharma companies can improve their approach to advocacy and engagement programmes.

Patient organisation leaders will also be sharing examples of their most successful collaborations and how they have helped tackle industry-wide challenges, such as measuring the impact of patient advocacy programmes and overcoming compliance hurdles.

The podcast will feature chief executive officers and senior leaders from organisations including Fabry International Network, the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS), the Patients Association, Ovacome and the Sickle Cell Society, OVID outlined.

Jenny Ousbey, OVID Health’s chief executive officer and founder, said: “If you’re in pharma and working with a patient organisation, or if you’re thinking of a collaboration at a global or in-country level, this podcast is a brilliant source of hints and tips to ensure your project runs effectively so you have the biggest impact on the patients you serve.”

The series, which was launched in September, is available through all major podcast platforms.

Clare Jacklin, chief executive officer of NRAS, said: “Partnerships between industry and patient organisations have improved considerably over time, but there are still challenges – some of which are easy to address through working differently and more collegiately while others will take a more ‘cultural and attitude’ shift for both life sciences sector and third sector/charities.

“I hope life sciences companies are inspired by these podcasts to approach partnerships differently and to continue innovating to help patients.”

In 2020, OVID developed and launched the ‘Patient Partnership Index’, which benchmarks and evaluates the quality of partnerships between industry and patient groups in the fields of patient advocacy, communications, public affairs, clinical trials and research and development.

The agency is also launching its ‘Patient Advocacy and Centricity Tracker’, a measurement tool that companies can use to assess, track and demonstrate the quality of their patient-centricity and engagement.

Jenny Ousbey

Clare Jacklin