Havas opens sports division in Moscow

The Moscow office sits alongside Havas' Russian agencies, MPG, Arena Media and Euro RSCG (now Havas Worldwide), and is overseen by Dmitry Konstantinov, president of Havas Russia and CIS. The office is being led by Maria Gavrilova, who previously led a brand engagement team operating within MPG and Arena Media.

She said: 'The opening of Havas Sports & Entertainment Russia comes at a very strategic time, as Russia continues to attract an increasing number of international events.

'Crucially, we have local insight and can call on the support of the global Havas Sports & Entertainment network to help both local and international brands develop meaningful long-term relationships with Russian consumers.'

The new business aims to bring together sponsorship, PR, social media, experiential and content creation for clients in the Russian market, as well as Havas' global clients looking to enter the region.

Havas Sports & Entertainment president and global CEO Lucien Boyer said: 'Our experience of working for ten Olympic sponsors around London 2012, combined with our global track record with major sports and entertainment stakeholders and brands, gives us the expertise to advise clients looking to connect with consumers around big events.'