MUMBAI: Havas Digital has appointed Alan Boughen as SVP global search director with immediate effect.

Boughen comes in from Google, where, as global agency business leader, he was responsible for managing Google‘s strategy and relationships.

In his new role, Boughen will be based in London and will report to Havas Digital EVP global director of product development Rob Griffin. He will be in charge of managing and developing the search product within the agency and managing Havas Digital‘s search partners and building stronger relationships with the agency‘s global clients, with a strong focus on continued development of search services and teams.

Before joining Google in March 2008, Boughen spent over seven years in senior search marketing roles at WPP companies in the UK and US. He was involved in the launch of the US operations of NeoSearch@Ogilvy, the search marketing division of Ogilvy‘s digital and direct media global network, where he managed a large team of search marketing experts running SEM campaigns for Ogilvy‘s Fortune 1000 clients. Before working in search marketing, Boughen held positions with AIG and Whirlpool.

Griffin said, "The search landscape is evolving at an extremely fast pace and advertisers are demanding more sophisticated solutions in order to stay relevant. In order to meet the needs and requirements of our clients, we need best in class tools and the most knowledgeable professionals. We have known Alan for a long time, and we are convinced he will add a new level of strategic leadership to the team, and will help define our Search capabilities going forward."

Boughen added, "I look forward to becoming a part of the Havas Digital team. By combining my search experience with the advanced search capabilities of Havas Digital, I will ensure all of our clients get the results they‘ve come to expect."