Christian de la Villehuchet in The Media Leader: What’s Next for EACA?

In a recent interview with The Media Leader FR, Christian de la Villehuchet shared his insights on the evolving landscape of the communications sector and the priorities for his second term as EACA’s President.

Our industry stands at a crossroads, where talent attraction, AI integration, sustainability, and agency-client relationships are shaping the future. EACA is committed to empowering agencies with the insights, advocacy, and support they need to navigate these changes successfully, as the President highlighted in his responses:

TML: You have been re-elected as President of EACA for another two-year term. What are your main objectives for this new mandate?

CDLV: I was re-elected (laughs!). Seriously, it’s an exciting and demanding role—especially now, when Europe must assert its purpose, values, and uniqueness, including in our sector.

I have set myself two major priorities. First, to better serve all our members—1,200 across national associations and agencies—by equipping them more effectively for their daily challenges: attracting young talent, promoting women, integrating artificial intelligence, contributing to stronger environmental advocacy through communication, and, of course, strengthening agency-client relationships by improving awareness of our industry’s value. In this regard, we are launching the first-ever European study on what marketing leaders expect from their agencies today and in the future, which will be published just before Cannes Lions.

My second priority is to ensure that EACA remains, more than ever, the voice of the communications industry among all stakeholders—engaging with European policymakers in Brussels, enhancing our collaboration with advertisers to reinforce our contribution to their business success, and working closely with digital platforms to uphold brand and consumer protection through regulations such as the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Every year, we bring together professionals from across Europe for Effectiveness Week to celebrate the power of effective communication. We’ve seen growing engagement from advertisers, with over 170 cases submitted in 2024, reflecting their increasing recognition of our industry’s value. This year, we are also introducing a major new initiative: a high-profile gathering with European Parliament members focused on The Value of Advertising, ensuring that policymakers fully grasp our industry’s vital role in society.