KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 5): Invictus Blue Sdn Bhd said it has entered into an affiliation agreement with global communications giant Havas Group to provide media and integrated requirements for Havas' clients.

In a statement, Invictus Blue also announced the appointment of Citaglobal Bhd president and executive chairman Tan Sri Norza Zakaria as its new chairman in a move towards further bolstering the company’s position as a formidable player in the local communications industry.

Invictus Blue chief executive officer Gerald Miranda said the company is delighted to be affiliated with Havas, which according to him is one of the most forward-looking agency groups in the world. Norza as the company’s chairman will enhance the partnership, he added.

“Havas being part of Vivendi, a global leader in culture, entertainment, media and communications, is a major differentiator in the marketplace. This means we think about culture, not just communications.

“Brands rightly have a role to play in culture as well as how they entertain, inform and make positive changes to the world,” said Miranda.

Additionally, Miranda noted that Norza’s position as president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia is a further boon for the company as the latter has his pulse on the sporting environment in Malaysia and will aid in leveraging sports in the communications arena.

Norza, commenting on his appointment, said he is hopeful to leverage his corporate experience to provide fresh perspectives into Invictus Blue’s operations as well as enhance the company’s value proposition by boosting business synergy.

“Communications today [have] become very complex. Clients expect agencies to be able to deploy cutting-edge tools and processes across borders and Invictus Blue delivers on these criteria,” he added.

Alberto Cantelli, Havas Group's CEO and chairman of Nordics, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, Southeast Asia and North Asia, said the decision to enter the affiliation agreement with Invictus Blue was made after the group reviewed the Malaysian firm's impeccable track record in the country.

“[Invictus Blue] deeply understands local cultures and nuances and has a global outlook. In Gerald Miranda, Havas has found a formidable local partner to tap into the immense growth in the region,” said Cantelli.

To better anticipate its clients’ needs, Havas has adopted a fully integrated model through its over 60 Havas villages worldwide — in each village, creative, media, and healthcare and wellness teams work together to ensure a seamless and agile experience for its clients.

Cantelli said that Invictus Blue’s experience in media and non-media services across social content aligns with the group's Havas village concept.