Global communications group Havas has picked up a majority stake in Acento Public Affairs, one of Spain’s leading public affairs consultancies, as it speeds up the international growth of its strategic advisory arm, H/Advisors.
Founded in 2019 and jointly led by Alfonso Alonso and Pepe Blanco, Acento has a team of more than 50 professionals operating from Madrid, Barcelona and Brussels. Following the transaction, the consultancy will be folded into the H/Advisors network and rebranded under the global name, while Alonso and Blanco continue to run the business.
The deal significantly deepens H/Advisors’ presence in Southern Europe and reinforces Spain’s importance within Havas’ advisory and public affairs strategy. With the addition of Acento, the network will further scale its services in the country, adding to its global footprint of around 1,500 specialists across 50 offices worldwide.
H/Advisors has been on an acquisition drive across major markets in recent years, picking up Gauly Advisors in Germany, Cunha Vaz & Associados in Portugal, Australian Public Affairs in Australia and Klareco Communications in Singapore. In Spain, the group has operated since 2022 following the acquisition of communications consultancy Tinkle.
Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and CEO of Havas, said Spain and Portugal remain strong territories for the group and that the Acento deal marks an important new phase for H/Advisors in the region. He welcomed Alonso, Blanco and their teams to Havas, adding that they would help set new standards in strategic advisory communications globally.
Alonso called the move a natural progression for the firm, noting that Acento and H/Advisors share similar values and a focus on senior-level counsel for clients working in complex environments. He added that joining a multinational network dedicated to top-tier public affairs would allow the consultancy to extend its reach on a global scale.
European affairs continue to be a priority for H/Advisors. Over the past year, the network has consolidated operations in Brussels, bringing together teams from Acento’s Belgian office and Germany-based Gauly Advisors, strengthening its presence at the centre of EU policymaking.
Stéphane Fouks, Executive Chairman of H/Advisors and Executive Vice President of Havas, said the acquisition highlights the rising importance of public affairs and strategic communications for organisations navigating political, regulatory and reputational challenges. He added that strengthening leadership in Spain and Europe alongside investment in growth markets such as the United States remains central to Havas’ ambition of building a truly international advisory group.
The deal underlines Havas’ broader push to scale H/Advisors into a fully integrated global platform for public affairs and strategic communications, with Europe positioned as a cornerstone of its long-term expansion plans.