Press release
Brussels, May 5, 2026
H/Advisors, the strategic communications advisory group owned by Havas, is pleased to announce a major expansion of its Public Affairs Office in Brussels.
H/Advisors is unifying its offering in Brussels by combining the services provided by H/Advisors Gauly and H/Advisors Acento, together with its existing office, to create a market-leading, multi-disciplinary team to respond to the needs of leading organisations, institutions and member states throughout the European Union and across the world.
The expanded Brussels office will serve as a central EU Public Affairs hub within the growing H/Advisors business, home to an unrivalled team whose expertise spans European policy and senior‑level decision‑making.
The Brussels office will be chaired by Maria Lledo, former Secretary General for the European Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who joined H/Advisors Acento in 2024. She will partner with Vanessa Haumberger, Managing Partner at H/Advisors Gauly, who will additionally take on the role of Chief Strategy Officer for H/Advisors Brussels. In this capacity, she will be responsible for business development and for establishing a dedicated media relations offering.
Together, they will lead the Brussels team in advising clients on navigating the European Union’s complex regulatory and political environment.
The team are specialists in industries ranging from technology to energy, healthcare, defense, mobility and finance. They will provide bespoke solutions that address the unique challenges and opportunities of the European Union’s regulatory environment.
Stéphane Fouks, Executive Chairman of H/Advisors and Executive Vice President of Havas, said: “The integration of Gauly’s and Acento’s Brussels offering marks a defining step in building a truly European Public Affairs Hub. Brussels is not just another office for us. It is the epicenter of policy, influence and decision-making in Europe.”
Fouks continued: “By bringing together top-tier public affairs expertise with our strategic communications capabilities, we are uniquely positioned to support our clients in navigating an increasingly complex and fast-moving regulatory environment. Maria and Vanessa embody this ambition: combining deep institutional knowledge with a forward-looking approach to influence and reputation. Their leadership will be instrumental as we establish H/Advisors as a leading voice at the heart of European policymaking. I would also like to thank all our teams in Brussels and across the network who have contributed to building this platform and making this next phase of growth possible.”
Maria Lledo, Executive Chairwoman, H/Advisors, Brussels added “In Brussels, influence is not improvised — it is anticipated, structured and deployed at the right moment. But it is also, fundamentally, the result of continuous dialogue between institutions, member states, businesses and society.
This is an environment where complexity and speed go hand in hand, and where impact depends as much on insight as on the ability to engage and connect. Dialogue is not a formality here, it is the engine of decision-making.
Our ambition is to support clients not only understand the rules of the game, but to actively shape the conversation with clarity, credibility and strategic intent. Together with Vanessa and the team, we are building a platform that combines deep policy insight with strategic communications to navigate, and influence, the European agenda.”
Vanessa Haumberger, Chief Strategy Officer, H/Advisors, Brussels, adds: “Born and raised in Brussels, I feel real European and it’s in my DNA to promote this idea. I’m looking forward to further enhance – together with Maria and the team – our widened offering matching the demand to navigate through the EU institutions. Combining our deep expertise with H/Advisors’ in-depth knowledge in the Member States as well as Media Relations in Brussels will set us apart”.
For more information, please contact:
Kate Keepax
Global CMO, H/Advisors