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Tag: Havas Group India

  • He will support Sangeeta Barde, Managing Director, Havas Life Sorento, in further building the agency’s perception and position in the market

    Havas Life Sorento appoints John Mathew as President

    By Our Staff

     

    John Mathew

    Havas Life Sorento (HLS), the health division agency of Havas Group India, has announced the appointment of John Mathew as President.

     

    As a part of his role, Mathew will oversee the HLS business in collaboration with the Global Havas Health & You (HHY) team. He will support Sangeeta Barde, Managing Director, Havas Life Sorento, in further building the agency’s perception and position in the market.

     

    Sangeeta Barde
    Sangeeta Barde

    Speaking about the appointment, Barde said: “Havas Life Sorento has been witnessing a robust growth trajectory on the back of innovative campaigns over the last few years. We’re delighted to welcome John on board as we continue to grow further, breaking barriers and disrupting conventions for the health of brands, businesses, and people through purposeful and meaningful work.”

     

    Rana Barua
    Rana Barua

    Added Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India: “I am delighted with the progress and the growth we have made with Havas Life Sorento in the last few years with Sangeeta at the helm. It became pertinent to further bolster the leadership team of the agency and I am glad John has taken on this profile. I wish him all the best and welcome him to the Havas Family.”

     

    Mathew was until recently part of Glenmark as Head – Digital & Multichannel Marketing.

     

  • To further catapult the creative transformation of the agency

    Havas appoints Anupama Ramaswamy as CCO

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Worldwide India has announced the appointment of Anupama Ramaswamy as its Chief Creative Officer. She comes on board to further catapult the creative transformation of the agency, which has seen unparalleled business growth over the last three years. Anupama’s last stint was with Dentsu Impact where she was working as the Managing Partner and National Creative Director.

     

    Ramaswamy will be reporting to Bobby Pawar, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, Havas Group India, and begin her new role at the agency effective October 2022. She will also work closely with Manas Lahiri, Managing Director, Havas Worldwide India.

     

    Said Pawar: “We have steadily been building Havas Worldwide into a company that embodies Yannick Bollore’s ‘Together’ philosophy. Where skill sets from the old world and new work seamlessly and harmoniously. This and the rising standard of our work have made us the fastest growing agency. Now is the time for our work to take a giant leap. And I can’t think of a better person to lead this than Anupama. She is a hugely talented creative with a heap of awards and great work to prove it. But the one talent of hers that I value the most is her ability to nurture a culture that makes people and their ideas better. She is a team player and fits right into our philosophy. And I believe she will be a leader who will usher not just Havas, but also our industry into the future.”

     

  • While Govind Agarwal has joined as Vice President – Account Management, Sulagna Chanda has been appointed Associate Vice President – Strategic Planning, and Neha Gupta has joined as Associate Vice President – Client Servicing

    Havas announces three senior appointments

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Worldwide India, the creative arm of Havas Group India has announced three key appointments.  Govind Agarwal has joined as Vice President – Account Management. Meanwhile, Sulagna Chanda has been appointed as Associate Vice President – Strategic Planning, and Neha Gupta has joined as Associate Vice President – Client Servicing. Both Chanda and Gupta will work out of Havas Worldwide Delhi.

     

    Commenting on the appointments, Manas Lahiri, Managing Director, Havas Worldwide India, said: “Over the last two years, we have garnered exponential growth through valuable partnerships and added several marquee brands to our ever-expanding portfolio of traditional as well as new-age clients. We make a meaningful difference to the brands that we associate with through engaging storytelling, strategic expertise, and unique offerings. In our constant endeavour and commitment to make a meaningful difference, we continue to invest in strengthening our teams. With Govind, Sulagna and Neha on board, I’m confident we will further scale up our strategic planning capabilities and client relationships.”

     

  • Billed as India's first sport, culture and entertainment agency

    It’s Cake-time for Havas India

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Group India has announced the launch of UK-based creative agency, Cake, in the country. Cake India is billed as the country’s first creative agency specialising in sport, culture, and entertainment. It will be part of Havas Creative Group India.

     

    Cake will be seamlessly integrated with Havas Village India, and work closely with Shobiz Havas and the recently renewed Havas Sports & Entertainment vertical of Havas Media Group India. Cake will further augment the expertise brought forth by Shobiz Havas in the space of activation and deals, and partnerships by Havas Sports and Entertainment.

     

    To lead Cake in India, Havas Group India has appointed Rajika Mittra as Managing Partner. Mitra is better known for bringing in Promax and the India Radio Forum for many years.

     

    Said Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India: “Over the last few years, we have been strengthening our offerings in India through Meaningful Conversations, launching new expertise, strategic tie-ups, acquisitions, and joint ventures. As a result, in a very short span of time, we grew from 3 to 15 companies and specialist verticals, which has led to unparalleled growth for us,” adding: “As we race back to normalcy, our endeavour is to become the most future-ready network in the country, focusing on introducing first-in-India expertise, products, and innovations. Bringing Cake to India is a resolute step towards that goal. Moreover, there has been a steady increase in India’s young affluent class that wants to be part of new, innovative experiences. Cake will collaborate seamlessly with Havas Village India to drive these reimagined ideas.”

     

    Added Rosie Holden, Chief Executive Officer, Cake: “Cake’s expertise in sport & culture, our channel-agnostic creativity, and boundless passion and energy have always delivered best-in-class work for our clients. We felt that there simply wasn’t a better moment in time than now to bring Cake to India, as it is the most exciting sports & entertainment market in the world right now. And we feel privileged that our partnership with Havas Group India has enabled us to do that.”

     

    Said Rajika Mittra, Managing Partner, Cake India: “What really excited me about Cake was the novelty of the idea. Through my career, I have realised that there is an untapped land of opportunity for a structured ecosystem like Cake in the space of sport, culture, and entertainment. Cake India will help marketers connect with affluent consumers by tapping into their passion-points of sports, culture and entertainment. I’m delighted to lead the agency and confident that we will make a meaningful difference in India.”

     

  • A strategic tie-up between Havas and Kolkata-based QED

    With QED in tow, Havas Group India eyes East

    By Our Staff

     

    L-R Manas Lahiri, Rana Barua and Anisha Singh Motwani

    Paris-headquartered advertising conglomerate Havas Group India has announced its foray into eastern India through a strategic tie-up between Havas Worldwide India and Kolkata-based digital marketing agency Quite Easily Done (QED).

     

    The new entity, Havas QED, will partner with Havas Creative Group India, which has agencies, including Havas Worldwide India (creative), Havas CX (customer experience), Think Design (UI/UX), Conran Design Group Mumbai (design) and Shobiz (experiential). The agency will be led by Anisha Singh Motwani, Founder & CEO, QED who will report in to Manas Lahiri, Managing Director, Havas Worldwide India (Creative). This collaboration will further drive the creative and digital excellence of Havas Creative Group India.

     

    Talking about the expansion, Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India, said: “Over the previous two years, we went from three to 10 companies through acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances, adding agencies such as Conran Design Group, Havas CX, Think Design, and Shobiz Havas under the creative umbrella. Media saw the addition of verticals including Havas Content, Havas Sports and Entertainment, Havas Market, and a strategic alliance with Tribes. This has resulted in tremendous growth and has propelled our reputation in the industry. Eastern India, without a doubt, offers unexplored commercial potential. This strategic alliance, I believe, is the first resolute step in the market and opens the door to the possibility of our fourth Village in India, in the future.”

     

    Added Motwani: “Our collaboration with Havas Worldwide India has been moving from strength to strength.  This strategic alliance is an organic step towards further strengthening our partnership with the agency. I am confident that we will continue to deliver ground-breaking work together.”

     

  • Strengthens leadership in India

    Havas CX announces key appointments

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas CX, the specialised customer experience unit of Havas Creative Group India, has bolstered its leadership team with key appointments.

     

    Arunima Singh
    Arunima Singh

    Arunima Singh has been appointed Vice President – Customer Success and Ashtad Gandhi has been roped in as Associate Vice President – Data & Analytics. Both will report to Prashant Tekwani, Managing Partner, Havas CX India.

     

    Rana Barua
    Rana Barua

    Said Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India: “Havas CX India has witnessed exponential growth in less than 2 years through massive business wins across Mumbai and New Delhi. In addition, it has successfully built resonance in the industry through its annual report X Index. We understand that brands that get CX right will be the ones that stay relevant in the future, and therefore, our aim now is to scale up Havas CX to the next level and further expand both its expertise and our teams.”

     

    Prashant Tekwani
    Prashant Tekwani

    Added Tekwani: “Over the past few years, we have partnered with brands to create business solutions with data and technology playing an integral role. As Arunima and Ashtad come on board, we’re embarking on the next phase of our rapid growth. The experience and expertise that both bring to the table will help us strengthen our offering further and empower us with the necessary tools to provide strong, strategic counsel to our clients.”

     

  • To decipher the health benefits of consuming OTC medicines for minor ailments

    Value of OTC medicines in India: Havas Life Sorento & Oppi Study

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Life Sorento, the health division agency of Havas Group India, recently commissioned a study, Value Of OTC in India, with the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI).

     

    KG Ananthakrishnan
    KG Ananthakrishnan

    Citing the importance of such a study in India, KG Ananthakrishnan, Director General, OPPI, said: “In India, the need for a self-care policy needs to be a top priority. Self-medication has always been viewed as a convenient solution for the management of commonly occurring ailments, with minimal intervention from HCPs. Accessibility to regulated over-the-counter (OTC) medicines through the development of a robust policy will ease the current uncertainties. To give a deeper understanding of the synergy between self-medication and the health ecosystem in the country and to support regulators and policy makers in assessing the role of self-care in health systems, OPPI collaborated with Havas Life Sorento for the first of its kind study in India to determine the ‘Value of OTC in India’ and assess the role of self-care in health systems.”

     

    Rana Barua
    Rana Barua

    Added Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India: “At Havas Group India, we believe in making a Meaningful Difference to consumers lives through meaningful work, conversations and initiatives. The Value of OTC in India Study by Havas Life Sorento and OPPI is extremely unique considering that there is no such study that quantifies the economic benefits of self-medication in India. A whitepaper such as this can go a long way in reinforcing the need for self-care initiatives through meaningful dialogues with policy makers and other key stakeholders. Going forward, we plan to launch such relevant studies that will aid in assessing various healthcare related implications and making informed decisions.”

     

  • Flexible one-stop solution combines media metrics and e-retail data

    Havas Media floats global e-commerce vertical

    By Our Staff

     

    It’s raining new business and new business divisions at Havas Media, the media agency arm of Havas Group India. It has now announced the launch of Havas Market, a full-service e-commerce offering that aims to empower consumers in their shopping journey, providing meaningful e-retail experiences and generating incremental business for brands.

     

    To lead this division, HMG India has appointed Sharukh Lakhani as Lead – Havas Market. Lakhani joins from Wavemaker where he led the e-commerce media strategy for clients including Mondelez & Sun Pharma.

     

    Rana Barua
    Rana Barua

    Commenting on the launch, Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India, said: “With the launch of Havas Market, India is poised to become a leader in creating meaningful shopping experiences. The division will give clients access to real-time market intel to help them form better decisions on the back of data and technology. I’m excited about the Group’s ambitious plans, forging into new avenues, that not only strengthen our capabilities, but also ensure upskilling of our people and processes, thereby providing a seamless and integrated experience to our clients.”

     

    Mohit Joshi
    Mohit Joshi

    Added Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Group India: “The current e-retail landscape in India is very competitive and complicated for the consumer. From fashion, beauty, electronics and mobile, to food, healthcare and entertainment, each product category has witnessed a significant growth in e-commerce spends. India already has close to 200Mn+ online transacting users. Given Havas Media Group India’s diversified client portfolio, we identified a great opportunity to develop an in-house e-commerce practice. With Havas Market, we want to become the go-to-market entity in the industry, offering an end-to-end solution and optimizing clients’ e-retail business. I’m confident with Havas’ existing capabilities and the stellar team of experts, we will be able to scale the vertical to even greater heights.”

     

  • The business will be led by Uday Mohan, President and Chief Client Officer, Havas Media Group India

    Havas Media launches Havas Content

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Media Group India has announced the launch of its specialised content division called Havas Content. The business will be led by Uday Mohan, President and Chief Client Officer, Havas Media Group India. To further strengthen the division, the agency has made two key hires. Prachi Narayan has joined as Vice President, Content and Shivani Kaushik as Content Manager, who will support Uday in scaling this offering across Havas Media Group India’s client portfolio.

     

    While Narayan has worked as a journalist and producer in news broadcasters like NDTV, CNBC-TV18, TV Today Network and Republic as also running campaigns for brands, Kaushik is a writer and joins Havas from Josh Talks where she was heading content for North.

     

    Rana Barua
    Rana Barua

    Speaking about the launch, Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India, said: “We understand the power of good content and the launch of Havas Content couldn’t have come at a better time. The wide range of work that the team has done for a varied set of clients in the content space, and the impact it has made to our client’s business made it a logical step to launch this as a separate vertical and further scale it up. It’s another step towards further empowering the brands that partner with us, and help them craft more meaningful stories.”

     

    Mohit Joshi
    Mohit Joshi

    Added Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Group India: “Content has been an integral part of Havas Group’s Meaningful Brands proprietary study each year. In the past, the study has revealed that Content is falling massively short of consumer expectations. With the current content overload, misinformation, fake news and the pandemic-driven shifts in consumer behaviour, it has become more imperative than ever to create differentiated content that not just grabs the consumer’s attention but also helps & rewards them, making the brand a seamless part of the consumer’s journey. I am confident that Uday, along with Prachi and Shivani will make the content division the best in the business in India.”

     

    Uday Mohan
    Uday Mohan

    Added Mohan: “In this new world order, consumers are constantly on the lookout for brands with a greater purpose, brands that can impact their lives positively. Content has proved to be an important tool in making consumers see that purpose. Havas’s reputation globally in the content space is unparalleled. With Indian brands becoming content-conscious, we believe this was the perfect time for us to officially launch our content division in India. Bringing together the combined expertise of Havas Village, and the content powerhouse within the Vivendi network, we are confident Havas Content will become a one-stop-shop for all our client’s content needs.”

     

  • As Director Marketing & Communications

    Havas appoints Samarpita Banerjee

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Creative Group India has appointed Samarpita Banerjee as Director Marketing & Communications. She will report to Pritha Dasgupta, Chief Marketing Officer, Havas Group India, and will be based out of Mumbai.

     

    Samarpita will work across all agencies of Havas Creative Group India, including Havas Worldwide, Havas CX, Think Design, Conran Design Group Mumbai, and Shobiz Havas Experiential. Sneha Pillai Ahuja, Senior Manager – Marketing & Communications, will continue to lead corporate communications of Havas Media Group India.

     

    Said Dasgupta on the appointment: “The current momentum of Havas Group India is unparalleled. The complete transformation that the network has witnessed is not just on the back of outstanding business growth but also a result of several industry-first initiatives, like Havas Spark, UN Unstereotype Alliance, Women Who Inspire, Women Bounce Back programme, etc. This undoubtedly makes Havas Group India, perhaps the most progressive agency network in India that is deeply invested in making a meaningful difference to the industry and the community at large. With Samarpita coming on board, we will be able to build stronger, more meaningful chronicles around the legacy and the future we are building.”

     

  • Facilitates a landmark deal between BCCI and Swiggy Instamart for IPL 2022 & 2023

    Havas Sports & Entertainment relaunched

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Media Group India has announced it is relaunching Havas Sports & Entertainment, the sports and sponsorship vertical of the agency. To begin with, Havas Sports & Entertainment India has facilitated a two-year deal between Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Swiggy Instamart, as the official on-ground partner for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 & 2023.

     

    Rana Barua
    Rana Barua

    Said Rana Barua, Group, CEO, Havas Group India: “The sports advertising market in India is estimated upwards of Rs 8000+ crore. The sports genre is pegged to explode further giving advertisers across sectors various opportunities to create long term value. The relaunch of Havas Sports & Entertainment 2.0 comes at a significant time, and we’re excited to kickstart its journey by facilitating a landmark partnership between India’s biggest sporting event, IPL, and our long-standing unicorn client, Swiggy. We look forward to further consolidating our position in the sports and experiential market by forging many more strategic partnerships and offering integrated and meaningful solutions.”

     

    Ashish Lingamneni
    Ashish Lingamneni

    Added Ashish Lingamneni, Head of Brand, Swiggy, said, “Over the years, our association with the mega cricketing event has helped establish the fact that food and cricket go hand-in-hand. IPL is one of the most celebrated sports leagues in the world, and this year, we are excited to partner with the BCCI to offer a wholesome experience to audiences with our large assortment of munchies, beverages and other snackable options through our quick commerce grocery service, Instamart. The association brings with it the IPL fandom and reach to elevate the match viewing experience of millions of viewers. It will additionally help us drive clutter-breaking campaigns, varied consumer engagement, and business offerings at scale.”

     

  • To work across key clients of the Gurugram office

    Havas appoints Jigisha Chawla as EVP

    By Our Staff

     

    Jigisha
    Jigisha Chawla

    Havas Worldwide, the creative arm of Havas Group India, has appointed Jigisha Chawla as Executive Vice President, Gurugram. Chawla will report to Manas Lahiri, Managing Director, Havas Worldwide (Creative) and will work across key clients of the Gurugram office.

     

    Said Lahiri: “With the exponential growth of the Gurgaon unit, we are focussed on beefing up our senior leadership and our product. Jigisha will play a pivotal role in enhancing and strengthening our client relationships and widening our product portfolio.”