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It's always interesting to see what a network agency in a local market is capable of, especially at a moment in advertising history when geography matters less than it ever has.

A few weeks back, I got a chance to sit down with Havas Chicago's Chief Strategy Officer, Chase Cornett, and Chief Creative Officer Frank Dattalo to talk about the change they're implementing as a leadership team that includes President Kat Ott.

Our conversation was wide-ranging and covered their approach to thinking about the new duality of marketing today- a concept they call "High/Low", the importance of building brand, treating talent with kindness, and recognizing the power and the limitations of AI.

1. The Leadership Triad

In 2025, Frank Dattalo joined President Kat Ott and Chief Strategy Officer Chase Cornett to rebuild Havas Chicago's creative, strategic, and cultural core.

Together, they're positioning the agency as a modern, independent, culture-driven hub within the Havas network.

Chase: "It's been great to come back to Chicago and reimagine what Havas Chicago can be, a modern agency with the freedom to build what's needed without red tape.

Frank: "We knew what we didn't want to be, slow or rigid. We wanted a nimble, modern marketing approach with culture at the forefront.

2. The 'High–Low' Model — Think Like a Brand, Act Like an Influencer

Havas Chicago's creative philosophy pairs strategic brand thinking ("high") with the speed, fluency, and emotional immediacy of creators ("low"). Inspired by fashion's high–low aesthetic, it merges rigor and agility to create culturally resonant brands.

Frank: "Our north star is thinking like a brand but acting like an influencer or content creator.

Chase: "This isn't agency fluff. It changes how we hire, how we make, and how we operate."

3. Breaking Down Silos — The Feed as the New Brand Canvas

Havas Chicago rejects the traditional divide between social, brand, and performance teams. Culture, not channel, drives brand growth, and the feed is where that happens.

Chase: "Brand building starts and ends in the feed. If it's not in the feed, people aren't talking about it.

Frank: "Networks separate social and strategy, we're building an agency that does both."

4. Reclaiming Brand Building — Escaping the Performance Trap

Cornett frames the 2010s as the "gold-rush era of performance marketing," where brands traded long-term equity for short-term metrics. The new Havas model rebuilds meaning, pricing power, and emotional value.

Chase: "Performance became the buzzword, and brand was painted into a corner as arts and crafts." "If you follow the efficiency train, you're racing yourself to the bottom."

5. Culture, Kindness, and Creativity — Building a Human-Centered Agency

The trio's internal philosophy blends high creative standards with genuine humanity. They aim to make Havas Chicago a place where talent thrives, not just performs.

Frank: "It's not about being nice; it's about being kind. Be hard on the work, kind to people."

Chase: "We've created mandatory maker hours; no meetings, just making."

6. AI as Tool, Not Savior — Protecting Creativity's Human Core

Both leaders embrace AI for speed and efficiency but reject its overuse. For them, imagination remains the irreplaceable differentiator.

Frank: "AI is like a bionic arm; powerful, but it doesn't have a creative point of view."

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