AVENIR GLOBAL, the Canadian communications firm, has today (Wed) announced three senior promotions at Hanover, its 200-strong EMEA corporate and public affairs agency.
Charles Lewington, Founder and CEO of Hanover will become Executive Chairman of the Hanover Group and will continue to report to AVENIR GLOBAL’s President and CEO Jean-Pierre Vasseur.
In this newly created role, Lewington will focus on major client engagement, delivery of the strategic growth plan, and expansion into new markets globally. He will also chair the Hanover Group Leadership Board.
Gavin Megaw, who joined the agency in 2011 to build the agency’s corporate communications practice, will become President and Managing Director of the Hanover Group, reporting to Lewington. He will be responsible for all day-to-day operations, accountable for revenue growth, budgets, staffing, internal communications, customer service, and deeper integration of the Group’s 20+ service lines.
Hanover’s Financial Director, Ian Chapman expands his remit after a strong decade of growth at Hanover Group to become CFO and Operations Director, EMEA for AVENIR GLOBAL, working across the Firm’s four European brands – AXON, Cherry, Hanover, and Madano. He will report to AVENIR GLOBAL’s Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Royal Poulin.
Commenting on the news, Jean-Pierre Vasseur, President and CEO of AVENIR GLOBAL said: “Over the past 25 years, Charles has led Hanover to achieve true trusted advisor status. Since our acquisition of the agency in 2019, Charles and I have developed a great relationship of mutual trust and shared ambition, working closely to generate growth across the Group. I have great respect for Charles, Hanover, its team, and its clients and I am looking forward to continuing our work together to strengthen our position as a global powerhouse of specialist communications firms.”
Lewington said: “Gavin has been at my right hand for the past 12 years and has the energy and vision to drive Hanover to even greater heights of performance. Hanover has an ambitious five-year plan to grow revenue and profitability through integrated service line development and market diversification. Gavin has all requisite leadership skills to help make that happen.”
Megaw said: “Hanover is an awesome business. We have a much-envied roster of clients in healthcare, technology, financial services, media, and sport. I can’t wait to take Hanover on the next stage of its extraordinary journey.”
About AVENIR GLOBAL
AVENIR GLOBAL is a Montreal-based holding and management company with an active operations mindset and a hands-on approach to all its investments. A global powerhouse of specialist communications firms, AVENIR GLOBAL has 1,000 staff and offices in 22 locations across Canada, the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, and ranks among the top 20 largest communication firms in the world.
In Canada, AVENIR GLOBAL owns NATIONAL Public Relations, the country’s leading public relations firm, servicing clients across a wide range of sectors. In the United States, AVENIR GLOBAL owns SHIFT Communications, a data-driven integrated communications agency; and the public relations and communication company Padilla, which includes the brand consultancy Joe Smith and the food and nutrition experts at FoodMinds. In Europe, AVENIR GLOBAL owns the London-based strategic communications consultancy Madano and Hanover, one of the EMEA’s leading strategic communications and public affairs consultancies, with offices in London, Brussels, Dublin, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. Hanover Group also includes creative communications agency The Playbook. The AVENIR GLOBAL network also includes healthcare specialists AXON Communications, with offices in Toronto, the U.S., the U.K. and Europe and healthcare creative agency Cherry, based in London.
AVENIR GLOBAL is owned by RES PUBLICA.
About Hanover
Hanover is one of EMEA’s leading strategic communications and public affairs consultancies, with
more than 200 full-time employees and 2022 revenue of £27m. It has delivered consistent top-line growth over the past ten years and plans to double the size of the company by 2027.
Hanover provides a full suite of communications services to clients in healthcare, financial services, technology & media, energy, FMCG, transport, and sport.