Nationally revered PR agency Havas Formula has formally launched a crisis communications practice as part of its comprehensive integrated offering, which includes general market and Hispanic public relations, digital/social and experiential marketing. Donovan Roche, an industry veteran of 24 years, will head the practice from the agency’s San Diego office.
“Naturally, Havas Formula has been providing clients with crisis communications services since the agency launched in 1992. However, it usually has been handled on a case-by-case basis by the team servicing the account,” said CEO Michael Olguin. “With all that is going on in the world right now – from the COVID-19 pandemic to the Black Lives Matter movement – we felt the time was right for us to launch a dedicated crisis practice. And we couldn’t think of a better person to lead it than Donovan Roche, who has been working in this capacity behind the scenes for years.”
Roche’s responsibilities as vice president, crisis communications, include working with existing and new clients to conduct vulnerability assessments, develop issues/crisis management plans, train brand-side crisis management teams, craft communications protocols, and provide ongoing crisis communications support.
Joining the agency in 1996, Roche has worn many hats over the years, from business development to strategic services such as internal/external communications, staff education, and the agency’s awards program. His crisis experience includes helping clients in diverse industries – including healthcare, technology, food/beverage and retail – with both crisis preparedness and management.
“I’m really looking forward to this new chapter here at Havas Formula,” Roche said. “We are living in truly extraordinary times and many brands aren’t prepared to navigate these unchartered waters. Our goal is to help organizations effectively identify and anticipate potential issues or crises before they occur and provide the guidance, tools and support to minimize them when they do.”
