Havas Creative Names Stephan Lachmann CEO Amid Market Stability Challenges
Havas Creative has named Stephan Lachmann as its new CEO, a role he took on in autumn 2025. The appointment follows a period where the agency had considered operating without a chief executive. Meanwhile, Havas Media Germany continues to thrive under long-serving leader Sven Traichel, who has headed the division for 19 years.
Before Lachmann's arrival, Havas Creative had planned to move forward without a permanent CEO. His leadership now brings structure, with Götz Ulmer and David Stephan assisting in daily operations. Lachmann and Ulmer previously collaborated at David + Martin, strengthening their working relationship.
The wider Havas Group has seen varied financial performance across regions. North America remains its strongest market, contributing 34% of net revenue and growing by 4.9%. Latin America, though smaller at 7% of revenue, still posted a 3.6% increase. For 2026, the company forecasts modest organic growth of 2% to 3%.
In Germany, Havas has maintained a stable stock market share of around 8-9% over the past five years. This lags behind Publicis Groupe, which expanded from 12% to 15% through digital acquisitions, while Dentsu held steady at roughly 10%. Havas' growth in the country has been moderate, averaging 2-4% annually—slower than Publicis' 5-7% but more consistent than Dentsu's fluctuating 1-5%.
Havas Media Germany secured $64 million in new business during the first half of 2025. The division also retained the global Hyundai Motor Group account, reinforcing its position in the automotive sector.
With Lachmann now leading Havas Creative and Traichel continuing his long tenure at Havas Media Germany, the group looks to steady growth in 2026. The company's focus remains on maintaining stock market share while navigating a competitive advertising landscape. Financial projections suggest cautious optimism for the year ahead.
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