MONTREAL, September 13, 2017— Havas Group has announced the opening of La Maison W in Montreal. This new design, branding and architecture studio will deliver its services nationally, with the support of the Havas Toronto team. Architectural services will be offered in partnership with Provencher_Roy, a prominent firm in urban architecture in Canada.
This new studio will create distinct and comprehensive client experiences all based on design. La Maison W’s mission is to build iconic brands environments comprising graphic identities, images, words, objects and spaces.
The first La Maison W opened in France, as part of the Paris-based W agency, founded by Gilles Deléris and Denis Gancel, and also part of the Havas Group. La Maison W is based on five areas of expertise: design, branding and architecture, as well as creation of visual and editorial content. Over the years, it has built a portfolio with prestigious brands such as Alpine, Roland-Garros, Barrière, Sofitel, MGallery, SoLegend and Pernod Ricard. Martin Piot, Managing Director of W, oversees the Paris office of La Maison W.
The new Montreal office will be managed by Nikolaos Lerakis, recently arrived at Havas Montréal: “The talents we have united for La Maison W will enable us to surprise our clients by connecting their brands to their communities, whether it be online or in physical environments, in the media or on social media.” He added, “Furthermore, Havas Montréal already has an established design sensibility and we have begun working together on projects for Broccolini, CDPQ, Luxia Kombucha, Richter, Stikeman Elliott and Ivanhoé Cambridge, as well as Centrale Bergham and Maison Outremont.”
“The opening of La Maison W in Montreal is part of our Together strategy to unite, in every Havas Village, all the expertise required to offer integrated services. It will also perfectly dovetail with the dynamic team in Montreal, which is a UNESCO City of Design,” commented Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Havas Group.
“This initiative solidifies our ambition for international development, within the Havas Villages, and to build a brand known for its creative excellence in design, branding and architecture,” stated Gilles Deléris and Denis Gancel, founders of the W agency.
Claude Provencher, President of Provencher_Roy, added, “The partnership with La Maison W is part of our development strategy. This new offer aligns perfectly with a growing demand from clients for a more global approach to their brand management.”
“By combining the rich history, the strategic reputation and the creativity of the W agency in Paris, with the entrepreneurial savvy of Nikolaos Lerakis and his team, and the expertise of Provencher_Roy, we will be better able to provide Canadian brands with a world-class service offer,” explained Jan-Nicolas Vanderveken, President and CEO of Havas Montréal.
The development of La Maison W will be under the supervision of Nikolaos Lerakis, as well as Stéphane Mailhiot, Vice President, Strategy of Havas Montréal, Vincent Hauspy, Partner, Interior Design Division, Provencher_Roy, and Jan-Nicolas Vanderveken.
About La Maison W
La Maison W has offices in Montreal and Paris, and comprises nearly 200 strategic advisors, designers, architects and copywriters. Two workshops anchor its branding services: The Writing House, which provides personalized storytelling, and The Image House, which creates iconographic approaches and photographic tones. La Maison W’s most notable clients include Alpine, Roland-Garros, Barrière, Sofitel, MGallery, SoLegend and Pernod Ricard.
Provencher_Roy
Provencher_Roy, a leading name in urban architecture in Canada, is a multidisciplinary firm offering services in architecture, urban design, urban planning, industrial design, landscape architecture, interior design and sustainable development. The firm is staffed by more than 200 passionate professionals, who work in both local and international environments.
About Havas
The Havas Group is active in more than 100 countries. Havas Montréal comprises 80 communications specialists offering creative, design, strategy and production services, as well as media expertise to a wide range of local and international clients, including, Air France, National Bank, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Couche-Tard, Fromageries Bel, Ivanhoé Cambridge, LasikMD, Richter and St-Hubert Retail.
Contact
Marie-Geneviève Parent
Executive Assistant and Office Manager
+1 514 284-8926
mg.parent@havas.com
