SYDNEY--Havas PR has named James Wright as the first MD of the network's operations across Asia-Pacific.

Wright will retain his existing role as MD of the Red Agency, the Australian agency that is one of Havas PR's member firms. He is now charged with leading Havas PR's expansion in Asia-Pacific, where the network's presence remains relatively small.

Since joining the Red Agency in 2011, Wright has doubled the size of the Australian agency, winning a slew of new business and awards.

"My vision for the region is to develop campaigns that are deliberately social; they don’t have to necessarily live in social media, but they are campaigns that people want to share, talk about and interact with,” said Wright. “As we are a new kid on the block, we don’t have the same old ideas—we have new ones and think differently about how we achieve them. And our award-winning campaigns speak for themselves.”

Formerly known as Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, Havas PR's Asian operations include Siren in Singapore; Hong Kong firm Porda; and Phillippines agency Agatep.

Marian Salzman, the Havas PR North America CEO who also chairs the network's 'global steering committee' noted that "Havas wants to break from conventional marketing thinking, break new ground and be unconventional—and James does all that on a daily basis.”

Prior to joining the Red Agency, Wright worked for Grayling and Trimedia in the UK.