Havas Media North America has hired Tom Goodwin, agency veteran and opinionator, as its SVP of strategy and innovation.
UK native Goodwin joins the Havas organization from The Tomorrow Group or Tomorrow Innovation, at which he served as founder and director, but his agency history is extensive: before launching his own operation, he spent more than a year at IPG’s Media Lab as a director of partner development, where his team used “the Internet of things to spark incredible brand experiences.”
Goodwin’s earlier career includes stints at both advertising and PR agencies. Prior to joining IPG, he was director of growth and innovation at New York’s DeVries PR, but earlier roles focused on the accounts side: he led business development for Huge Los Angeles from 2010 to 2011 and held multiple positions within the Lowe and TBWA organizations after transitioning into the agency world from a career in corporate accounts with GlaxoSmithKline.
The release tells us that Goodwin “invented the pull to refresh mobile ad unit” and helped create “the Western world’s first QR code-based campaign.” He has also been writing about the ad industry for some time: recent editorial work includes this MediaPost piece on the slippery slope of measurement, this AdAge essay on the barely-noticeable “thin-ternet” of the future, and a Guardian post arguing for the elimination of agency silos in the name of increased ambition and creativity.
The first thought leadership work from Havas’ new strategy/innovation SVP is “Eight Trends for 2015,” a slideshow featuring conclusions drawn from the recent CES show in Las Vegas. At risk of spoiling the presentation, key takeaways include cars that double as living rooms and wearables for kids.
In his new role, Goodwin will work alongside Chief Strategy and Development Officer Greg James in Havas Media’s New York office.