Lesley Sillaman Promoted to Managing Director of HAVAS Red U.S.

Lesley Sillaman has been named managing director of HAVAS Red U.S., where she will oversee day-to-day agency operations and drive the agency’s positioning for continued growth in the U.S. market.

Lesley will report to Dara Busch, CEO of HAVAS PR North America, who joined HAVAS in June 2024 to lead the company’s PR businesses in the U.S. — HAVAS Red and HAVAS Formula.

“Lesley’s strategic acumen, relentless drive and deep expertise in PR and merged media have been instrumental to our success,” says Busch. “Her ability to guide teams through complex challenges and deliver meaningful results for our clients has made her an authority within our organization and industry. I have every confidence that Red will continue to thrive under her leadership.”

Lesley’s career with HAVAS spans nearly two decades, during which she has played a critical role in the agency’s growth and innovation. Previously serving as executive vice president, she has led the agency’s Pittsburgh office and been a key member of the company’s global leadership team, coordinating cross-border work with HAVAS Red teams worldwide. Her expertise spans strategy, content creation, speechwriting, media relations and crisis communications, making her a versatile and impactful leader.

“With Lesley at the helm, HAVAS Red I am confident will continue to redefine the role of PR and how it can power our clients’ businesses,” says James Wright, Global CEO of HAVAS Red and Global Chair of the HAVAS PR Network. “She knows the industry and our agency inside and out, leads happy and high-performing teams, and is a trusted advisor to our clients. Our agency is already growing at an unprecedented speed; Lesley’s promotion positions us to crush this next phase of growth.”

Lesley’s impact on the industry has not gone unnoticed. She has earned numerous awards and accolades, including the 2016 PR News PR People Award for Agency PR Professional of the Year.  In 2018 she was a Cannes Lions Grand Jury member in the PR category and was the Jury President for the 2020 Lisbon PR Awards. In 2021, she served as a judge for the Platinum PR Awards, and in 2022, she was a juror for CreativePool’s “The Annual” awards and in the same year was inducted into the Renaissance Hall of Fame by PRSA’s Pittsburgh chapter.