Havas Sports swoops for Sponsorship Media

Havas Sports, the sports communications division of Havas Media, has acquired London-based agency Sponsorship Media as part of an international expansion. The company wants to get a foothold in the UK before the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Sponsorship Media clients include EDF Energy, Asda and Friends Provident and last year it reported profits of £1m.

Its chief executive Keith Impey will become chief executive of Havas Sports, while Sponsorship Media’s co-founder Marcus Wight becomes managing director.

“This move will give us access to more international briefs while also allowing us to grow our existing UK business with external agencies and clients via our ‘white label’ brand Sponsorship Media,” says Impey.

Havas Sports is headquartered in Paris and already has offices in Spain, India and China. Its clients include Coca-Cola, Orange and Unilever. The company is also part of a network of agencies that includes Euro RSCG, Media Planning Group, B6 entertainment, Upside TV, Steampower and Meteor Worldwide.