Havas Exceeds 2025 Goals with AI and Strategic Acquisitions

PARIS, France – February 17, 2026 – Global communications group Havas has delivered a solid full-year 2025 performance, meeting its financial guidance and posting strong results driven by a dual-pronged strategy of aggressive AI integration and targeted acquisitions. The company announced organic revenue growth of +3.1% and an adjusted EBIT margin that climbed to 12.9%, signaling resilience and strategic success in a competitive advertising landscape.

The Paris-based group's net revenue for the year reached €2.78 billion, while net income attributable to the Group rose by 9.2% to €189 million. These figures cap what Chairman and CEO Yannick Bolloré described as a "transformative year" for the company.

“Focused on our strategic vision, we fully delivered on our guidance with strong results,” Bolloré stated in the earnings release. “These achievements reflect the strength of our client‑centric model and our position as the strongest challenger in a highly competitive market.”

Performance in a Competitive Field

Havas’s +3.1% organic growth places it favorably against the broader advertising and PR sector, which saw an estimated revenue increase of just 0.9% in 2025. While its growth rate trails the impressive +5.6% posted by rival Publicis Groupe, it demonstrates a robust performance that outpaces the general market and keeps it competitive with peers like Omnicom. The improved profitability, with the adjusted EBIT margin rising 50 basis points to 12.9%, underscores a disciplined approach to cost management even as the company invests heavily in technology and expansion.

Geographically, the growth was broad-based, with North America leading the charge with a solid +4.9% organic growth for the year, driven by strong performances in both media and creative divisions. Europe also contributed positively with +2.0% growth, while Latin America and the APAC & Africa regions posted gains of +3.6% and +1.7%, respectively.

Investor sentiment following the announcement has been largely positive, though some caution remains. Analysts note the company’s valuation is attractive, but are closely watching how Havas balances its significant reinvestments in AI and M&A with shareholder returns. In a move to bolster shareholder value, the company initiated a €25 million share buyback program in 2025 and has proposed a dividend of €0.80 per share, representing a payout ratio of around 40%.

The Converged.AI Engine

Central to Havas's recent success and future strategy is its deep investment in artificial intelligence. The company has committed €400 million through 2027 to bolster its data, technology, and AI capabilities, with its proprietary 'Converged.AI Operating System' at the forefront. This system is designed to unify the group’s vast creative, media, and production services onto a single, AI-powered platform.

The goal is to enhance everything from audience planning and data analysis to creative ideation and content personalization. Complementing this is AVA, a global Large Language Model (LLM) portal designed to give Havas's nearly 23,000 employees secure and centralized access to advanced AI tools, fostering widespread adoption and upskilling.

Bolloré emphasized the group's philosophy on the technology: “We continued to evolve as an AI‑driven organization fueled by human ingenuity, where technology amplifies human creativity rather than replacing it.”

To accelerate this vision, Havas forged key strategic partnerships in 2025. It took a minority stake in Vurvey Labs, an AI platform that generates consumer insights from millions of real interviews, and partnered with Akkio, a leader in AI infrastructure for media agencies. These collaborations are intended to fast-track the agentic capabilities of the Converged.AI system, automating manual tasks and freeing up creative and strategic teams to focus on high-value innovation. The strategy appears to be yielding tangible results, with the company citing improved campaign performance and efficiency for major clients like KFC and Sanofi.

Growth Through Strategic Acquisition

Alongside its technological push, Havas has pursued an aggressive and disciplined acquisition strategy. In 2025, the company acquired majority stakes in 11 agencies, exceeding its annual target of five to ten. This momentum has carried into 2026 with two more deals already announced in Spain and Sweden.

These acquisitions are not random but are carefully selected to enhance specific capabilities and expand geographic reach. The 2025 acquisitions included:

• Gauly (Germany): A leading corporate and financial communications firm, bolstering Havas’s H/Advisors network in Europe.
• Unnest (France): A data consulting and engineering firm, strengthening the group's data and analytics arm.
• Bearded Kitten (UK): An award-winning experiential agency, now part of the Havas Play network.
• Kaimera (Australia & New Zealand): An independent media agency expanding Havas Media Network’s footprint in the region.
• DIGIZIK (Belgium): A culture and entertainment agency that launched Havas Play in the Belgian market.

This M&A activity demonstrates a clear strategy to build a more integrated and full-service offering for clients globally. By acquiring specialists in high-growth areas like data analytics, experiential marketing, and strategic advisory, Havas is ensuring it has the expertise to meet the complex demands of modern brands.

Looking ahead, Havas has projected confidence, setting its 2026 guidance for organic growth between +2.0% and +3.0% and a further increase in its adjusted EBIT margin to between 13.2% and 13.5%. With a proven strategy combining technological innovation, targeted expansion, and a clear vision to help brands become more desirable, the group has laid a strong foundation to continue its trajectory as a formidable challenger in the global communications industry.