Laura Maness Promoted at Havas WW

In a newly created U.S. Chief Growth Officer role, Havas Worldwide has chosen Laura Maness to head new business development and organic agency growth for the United States.

Maness brings to her new role more than 15 years in digital marketing and agency business development, ranging from independent, pure-play digital shops to globally integrated ad agency networks. She joins Havas Worldwide today from San Francisco- and Brooklyn-based Propane Studio, where she was the digital agency’s senior vice president. There, Maness led national business development and marketing efforts while positioning the independent agency for rapid growth.

“Laura has a proven ability to visualize what an agency is capable of achieving and to map a clear path to get there,” said Ron Bess, President of Havas Worldwide North America and CEO of Havas Worldwide Chicago. “Her business insights and collaborative spirit are an ideal fit for our executive team, and we are excited to have her join us.”

Prior to Propane, Maness led the West Coast business development efforts for Draftfcb and spearheaded growth initiatives across the agency’s global network and client roster, notably Hewlett-Packard. Before that, she oversaw a period of explosive growth for WPP/Wunderman-owned Designkitchen, and previously held management positions with Chicago-based digital shops Giant Step (now Arc Worldwide) and Black Dog Interactive.

“I am thrilled to be joining Havas Worldwide to help accelerate growth across the network,” said Maness, who will be based in Chicago. “I connected immediately with the team and was inspired by their vision and unprecedented 24-month track record of success in new business.”

In her time outside the office, Maness enjoys providing the industry with awareness, advocacy and agency review guidance through her affiliations with the 4A’s and Mirren. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing from Loyola University Chicago.