Would the #MeToo movement win the world of advertising?
Julien Carette and Christophe Coffre, respectively CEO and creative director of the communication agency Havas Paris, have put themselves "withdrawn" from their functions, after accusations of harassment and sexual assault, confirmed on Monday one leaders of the group to AFP.
Havas, a subsidiary of Vivendi, also launched an audit, after the publication of around twenty anonymous testimonies by the Instagram account Balance Ton Agence.
The latter has been reporting for almost a week the sexist atmosphere reigning within the agency and blames these two officials.
At the helm of the agency for ten years, the two men are accused of having sought to "kiss" or "touch" on multiple occasions collaborators, sometimes trainees, in the premises of Havas Paris or during external events.
“Thirty” potential victims
The management of the agency sent an email to the employees, in which it indicates that it takes these accusations "very seriously", specifies the letter posted on the Instagram account "Balance Ton Agency".
An “internal audit” will be conducted, led by “an independent firm, specialist in issues of quality of life at work and harassment”.
The two leaders then step back in particular to "guarantee the impartiality of the process".
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The creator of this account, Anne Boistard, would have received between 50 and 60 testimonies which quote the group, according to France Inter.
The majority of them, published anonymously, describe cases of sexual or moral harassment, degrading remarks, or even assaults during company parties.
“Everyone knew it”
“JC is a brilliant guy but he has the sexuality of a teenager.
(…) Under cover of being drunk, after two drinks, he jumps on anything that moves.
Same for the CD (creative director) of Havas Event.
I remember to warn trainees not to approach them during agency evenings, ”reports one of these testimonies.
The facts date back, depending on the case, to two or three years and up to 10 years.
They have sometimes led to departures associated with non-disclosure agreements, specifies Anne Boistard.
“Everyone knew it and everyone knows it,” she continues, referring to “about thirty” victims, even if “since MeToo, they have calmed down.
“For the time being, the two leaders continue to work for the agency, specified the leader of Havas.
But "they do not lead meetings and are in withdrawal for all that is management of the agency", he continued.
