Havas Group Australia has announced the promotion of Vicki Bainbridge as the new Director of Human Resources and addition of new hirings such as Brittany Haskins, Yarra Harb and Xanthia Gardner to enhance the media group’s HR operation. The latest recruitment is done to bring additional capabilities and skill sets to the company’s employee retention plans.

Prior to her promotion, Vicki Bainbridge spent seven years as the One Green Bean/Red Havas talent and HR manager and would be tasked with leading the growing HR team.

Bainbridge succeeds former Havas chief people officer/HR and talent director, Thierry Lalchere who has resigned to take up a new role.

Host/Havas CEO (on behalf of Havas Group Australia) Laura Aldington said, “The HR function is key to the success of the entire Havas Group, and we have the utmost confidence Vicki will do an exceptional job in these extraordinary times when expectations for agencies and employers are higher than ever.

She also thanked Thierry for her enormous contribution to the business over the past four years, including her instrumental role in launching a range of progressive HR offerings across the Group and wished her well for the future.

In addition to Bainbridge’s promotion, Brittany Haskins and Yarra Yarb are hired as the new HR admins while Xanthia Gardner is hired as the new talent executive.

Bainbridge is an industry veteran of 24 years, who has worked across PR account service, recruitment, and HR roles

“It is going to be an interesting 12 months for HR teams across the entire industry, with still increasing salaries and back to office hesitancy in what is clearly a talent market. The evolution of the Havas HR operations will ensure we remain at the forefront of a shifting industry by both continuing to innovate our offering and truly listening to our people’s needs – not assuming what they want,” said Vicki Bainbridge.