Horizon Global is the newest player reshaping the global agency landscape. Formed through a joint venture between Horizon Media Holdings and Havas, the network is the first international agency designed in the AI era. With headquarters in New York and a presence spanning more than 100 countries. Backed by a combined $20 billion in billings, the network has positioned itself among the world’s leading media investors.
A Joint Venture Between Two Industry Leaders
The partnership unites the strengths of two of the industry’s most respected media companies. Bill Koenigsberg, CEO and founder of Horizon Media Holdings, emphasized that the venture is purpose-built for the needs of today’s global marketer.
“Built exclusively for the needs of the modern global marketer, Horizon Global is rewriting the agency network playbook,” said Koenigsberg. “With an open ecosystem approach, Horizon Global fosters cooperation, prioritizes transparency and places power back in the client’s hands. As the first agency network built in the AI era, we’re leading with future-forward ways of working, collaborating and delivering outcomes for clients – and we’re doing it responsibly at global scale. This is an exciting new chapter for Havas and Horizon.”
For Yannick Bolloré, CEO and Chairman of Havas, the partnership represents a pivotal moment:
“This partnership marks a significant moment for our agencies. I’ve known Bill for years, and I’m incredibly proud Horizon has turned to Havas as its global partner. In a shifting industry, we look forward to a very exciting partnership, combining our complementary strengths.”
A Distinctive Role in the Market
Unlike traditional agency networks, Horizon Global will concentrate on U.S.-centric global client opportunities, while Horizon Media and Havas Media Network continue to operate independently elsewhere. This model ensures flexibility while enabling the joint venture to pursue large-scale opportunities with unified expertise.
Horizon Global stands out by integrating Horizon’s Blu platform with Havas’ Converged. AI platform to create BluConverged, an AI-native solution designed to unlock smarter insights, deliver faster outcomes, and ensure transparency for clients. The result is a platform built to redefine how agencies and brands collaborate in a data-driven era.
Horizon Global: Leadership to Drive Global Transformation
To guide this new venture, Bob Lord has been appointed interim CEO of Horizon Global. With more than 30 years of experience bridging media, technology, and business transformation, Lord brings a proven track record to his new role while also maintaining his current position as President of Horizon Media Holdings.
“Horizon Global enters the market at a dynamic moment with a global offering that truly puts clients first,” said Lord. “We intentionally designed Horizon Global to usher in a new chapter of connected intelligence, innovation, and client value. Through the BluConverged Platform, and together with our teams and partners, we can now meet the growing demands for performance-based media models and drive enduring growth for the incredible brands we are privileged to represent.”
Alongside Lord, Renata Spackova has been named Global Chief Operating Officer. Based in Paris, she will oversee the strategic deployment of Horizon Global across more than 100 markets worldwide.
Both executives will work closely with the Board of Directors, which includes Koenigsberg, Bolloré, and Peter Mears, Global CEO of Havas Media Network, along with other senior leaders from Horizon and Havas.
Why Horizon Global Matters
The launch of Horizon Global reflects a broader transformation in the advertising and media industry. Marketers are under pressure to achieve more measurable outcomes while navigating a landscape dominated by fewer, consolidated options. By combining resources and technological capabilities, Horizon Global delivers:
- AI-powered insights through BluConverged
- Transparency and accountability to clients
- Performance-based media models for enduring growth
- Global scale with a U.S.-centric strategy
This approach not only strengthens Horizon and Havas’ positions in the market but also introduces a new type of agency network designed to adapt to changing client expectations.
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