Christophe Coffre was targeted, for several weeks, by a series of anonymous testimonies published on the Instagram account “Balance Ton Agency” which denounces facts of harassment. He had put himself, in early May, “behind”.
Le Monde with AFP
Christophe Coffre, the director of creation of Havas Paris, one of the largest French communication agencies, was laid off on Tuesday, May 17, by the Havas group after the publication of an accusation evoking a Sexual assault, according to an internal email consulted by the France-Presse agency (AFP).
m. Box was targeted, for several weeks, by a series of published anonymous testimonies on the Instagram account” Balances Ton Agency “ which denounces harassment. He put himself, in early May, “behind”, as well as the CEO of the agency, Julien Carette, the time of an audit by an external cabinet.
In this message addressed Tuesday afternoon to the employees of the agency, the management of the Havas group says it “decided its conservatory layoff, with immediate effect”, after having read “of an allegation of aggression sexual “concerning him.
“The group specifies having never been aware, at any time whatsoever, of facts of such a nature” before, and having “immediately reported to the Asw cabinet mandated on May 4”, according to this document .
According to this testimony published Monday in Story (format whose lifespan is limited to 24 hours), a former “creative” tells “having rejected, for several years, sexual, moral harassment and violent assaults” of the leader , “to the point that we fought physically” in his office. “He threatened to destroy my nascent career and that I could never work in this environment anymore, if I did not give in.”
suspension of the employment contract and the remuneration
About twenty anonymous testimonies have been published by the “Balance Ton Agency” account, which has been denouncing for almost a week the sexist atmosphere for a long time in the agency and challenges these two officials. In the controllers for ten years of the agency, of which they are today co -presidents, the two men are accused of having sought to “kiss” or “touch”, on multiple times, collaborators sometimes trainees, in The premises of Havas Paris or during external events.
“JC, he’s a brilliant guy, but he has the sexuality of a teenager. (…) Under the guise of being drunk, after two glasses, he jumps on everything that moves. The same for the DC [ Director of Creation] of Havas Event. I remember warning the trainees not to approach them during the agency evenings “, according to one of these testimonies.
“Comments on all clothing, hands on the shoulder and size, kisses very close to the mouth, I avoided it and feared only one thing, to find myself in front of him”, says one of his Former collaborators about Christophe Coffre. Others remember, about him, with a gesture simulating a sexual act and inappropriate words.
The Havas Paris agency had confirmed, at the beginning of May, the “withdrawn” of their functions of its two co -presidents, who however continued to work for their customers. The layoff of Mr. Coffre means, this time, the suspension of the employment contract and the remuneration.
Contacted, the Havas Paris agency and the Havas group made no comments.