Havas Acquires Youth Culture Agency Archrival as Part of Havas Play’s US Expansion

^{From left to right: Eileen Flynn, chief strategy officer, Archrival; Andrea Isaac, managing partner, Havas Play North America; Greg James, CEO, Havas Media Network North America; Ben Harms, chief growth officer, Archrival; and Clint Runge, CEO & founder, Archrival.}

Havas has acquired a majority stake in Archrival, a US-based youth culture and experiential activation agency.

The acquisition expands Havas Play’s offering across sports marketing, live experiences, branded partnerships, creator engagement, and experiential activation, giving clients new ways to cultivate brand desire while deepening audience connection and delivering measurable growth.

Founded in 1997, Archrival has built a reputation for creating culturally relevant programmes that connect brands with younger audiences through sports, collegiate activations, ambassador networks, and immersive experiences. Archrival currently works with some of the world’s most iconic brands including adidas, Spotify, Netflix, EA, YouTube, Disney, and Amazon.

The acquisition marks a significant step in the expansion of Havas Play. Together, Havas Play and Archrival will offer clients an expanded suite of capabilities spanning sports marketing, creator engagement, experiential activation, branded partnerships, ambassador programmes, gaming, and community-led brand building.

“We are very pleased to welcome Archrival to the Havas family,” said Yannick Bolloré, chairman and CEO, Havas. “Their expertise enhances Havas Play’s offering in a high-growth area and represents an important step forward in expanding our capabilities and delivering long-term value for our clients. As sport and fandom play an ever more central role in shaping culture, they’ve become increasingly powerful drivers of growth for brands and businesses, helping build the kind of brand desire that creates a lasting competitive advantage.”

“When we stop chasing trends and understand what truly moves a generation, we win the hearts and minds of consumers,” added Clint Runge, CEO and founder, Archrival. “That belief has fuelled how Archrival helps brands show up meaningfully in youth culture for nearly 30 years. Like us, Havas understands what it takes for challenger brands to break through and isn’t afraid to go against the grain to do it, making this next chapter together a natural fit.”

Havas says that its Converged.AI operating system, combined with Archrival’s expertise in collegiate activations, ambassador networks, and grassroots engagement, will help clients identify emerging cultural signals faster, activate communities more effectively, and translate engagement into measurable business outcomes.

“North America represents a significant opportunity for brands as sports, entertainment, creators, and fandom increasingly shape how audiences discover, engage, and build loyalty,” said Greg James, CEO, Havas Media Network North America. “Clients are looking for partners that can help them navigate this changing landscape and connect more authentically with consumers. Archrival expands our ability to scale those solutions and deliver them in a way that is connected, differentiated, and built for where the market is heading.”

“Archrival brings a unique combination of youth culture expertise, experiential activation, and community engagement that creates meaningful new opportunities for our clients,” added Andrea Isaac, managing partner, Havas Play North America. “Together, we can deliver more connected ideas, stronger outcomes, and the kind of work that helps brands grow while earning a lasting place in culture.”

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