GLOBAL – LONDON, MAY 31, 2012: Havas Media’s digital agency group Havas Digital has appointed ex-Google advertising search expert, Alan Boughen as SVP, global search director, effective immediately.
Based in London, Boughen is charged with managing and developing the search product within the agency. Reporting to Rob Griffin, EVP global director of product development, Boughen will be managing Havas Digital’s search partners and building stronger relationships with the agency’s global clients, with a strong focus on continued development of search services and teams.
During his stint with Google, where he was a global agency business leader, Boughen was responsible for managing Google’s strategy and relationships with some of the world’s largest media and advertising agency networks.
Prior to joining Google in March 2008, Alan spent over 7 years in senior search marketing roles at WPP companies in the UK and US. Alan launched and led the US operations of NeoSearch@Ogilvy, the search marketing division of Ogilvy’s digital and direct media global network, where he managed a large team of search marketing experts running SEM campaigns for Ogilvy’s Fortune 1000 clients. Before working in search marketing, Alan held positions with AIG and Whirlpool where he gained a background in information technology, business analysis and project management.
"The search landscape is evolving at an extremely fast pace and advertisers are demanding more sophisticated solutions in order to stay relevant. In order to meet the needs and requirements of our clients, we need best in class tools and the most knowledgeable professionals. We have known Alan for a long time, and we are convinced he will add a new level of strategic leadership to the team, and will help define our Search capabilities going forward," says Griffin.
Boughen added: "I look forward to becoming a part of the Havas Digital team. By combining my search experience with the advanced search capabilities of Havas Digital, I will ensure all of our clients get the results they’ve come to expect."
