Havas Group ANZ has announced a leadership transition at health communications agency Bastion Brands, with Dan King appointed managing director as founder Simon Davies prepares to step away from the Australian business in June.
Davies, who founded the agency in 2012, will relocate overseas to spend time with family before supporting Havas Health projects in Europe. King will lead the agency’s Melbourne and Sydney operations, with the pair working together during the transition to ensure continuity for clients and staff.
Transition follows period of growth under Havas
The leadership change comes as Bastion Brands continues to grow within Havas Group ANZ, recording more than 17% growth in 2025 and contributing to the group’s strongest year on record following its acquisition in 2022.
The agency works with pharmaceutical and health clients, including Danone, Sanofi, GSK and CSL, and operates across Melbourne and Sydney while also partnering with the Havas Health Network on global and regional projects.
“Bastion Brands has always stood for work that respects science and moves people to act”, said Simon Davies, Founder and CEO of Bastion Brands.
“I am incredibly proud of what this team has built with our clients since 2012. Thank you to our people and our partners for the trust and the results we achieved together. The business is performing strongly, and the acquisition has been a huge success, we are now fully integrated within Havas, this is the right moment to pass the baton.
“Dan knows our clients, our people and our craft. The agency is in great hands. I want to thank the Havas leadership of James Wright, Donna Murphy and Charles Houdoux for their incredible support, partnership and valued counsel.”
King to lead next phase
King joined Bastion Brands in 2019 and most recently served as executive director, working across Australian and global clients in the medical, pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors.
“I am excited to lead Bastion Brands into its next chapter”, said Dan King, managing director of Bastion Brands.
“Our promise remains the same. We connect science with human insight to deliver work that moves people to act. We will keep investing in specialist capabilities, including an AI-enabled, data-fluent team that helps clients move faster and make smarter decisions.
“Within the Havas ecosystem, we are applying responsible, privacy-safe AI to insight mining, medical content workflows and performance optimisation. Clients can expect the same team, the same commitment and even more momentum.”
Havas highlights continuity
James Wright, CEO of Havas Group ANZ, said the transition reflects both continuity and succession planning within the business.
“Simon leaves a legacy at Bastion Brands and within Havas ANZ. He helped create a specialist agency that pairs scientific depth with powerful creativity to drive outcomes for clients. Simon is a great friend, and I want to thank him for the enduring impact he has made.
“Equally, I want to celebrate Dan’s promotion; he has been central to the agency’s continued growth. His leadership through the transition will ensure continuity for clients and set the pace for what comes next. We hope to welcome Simon back into the Havas ANZ fold when he returns from Europe in late 2027.”
Main image: Bastion Brands senior team