MxMIndia

Tag: Havas Group India

  • Nayyar joined Havas in 2007 as CEO of Havas Media India

    Anita Nayyar quits Havas Group (& Vivendi)

    By A Correspondent

     

    Anita Nayyar

    On October 11, MxMIndia reported on Anita Nayyar moving out of day-to-day ops at Havas Media. She had then moved to a larger group-level assignment with Vivendi, the holding company of Havas. But now the news is that Nayyar, the New Delhi NCR-based media agency veteran is moving on from the agency network and the holding company to pursue other interests. She will leave the group in the beginning of May 2020. Her India leadership role, as reported by MxMIndia earlier, has transitioned to Mohit Joshi, Group MD, who is reporting into Rana Barua, CEO, Havas Group India.

     

    Nayyar joined Havas in 2007 as CEO of Havas Media India and save a few months when she moved to Bennett Coleman and Company Ltd (BCCL) as Head of Customer Strategy and joined back seven months later, she has been spearheading Havas Media. Joshi has also been working with the group since 2007. In 2018, Nayyar was promoted to CEO of Havas Media Southeast (SEA) Asia in addition to her role as CEO of Havas Media India.

     

    Vishnu Mohan

    Commenting on the development, Vishnu Mohan, Chairman & CEO, Havas Group, India & Southeast Asia said: “Anita has played a pivotal role in Havas Media India’s success and growth over the years. A future forward-thinking leader with a deep understanding of people, brand and media, Anita has also been an inspiration to many young professionals. We are grateful for her significant and lasting contribution to Havas Media India and wish her the very best for her next chapter.”

     

    On her departure, Nayyar added: “It has been an extremely fulfilling and meaningful journey at Havas India over the last 13 years. I am grateful for the opportunities given by the network including the broader remit of SEA in 2018. As Havas Group India continues to reinforce its integrated model of operations, I am confident the Group will continue to chart its success story and I wish the team at Havas Group well with its future development.”

     

    Rana Barua

    Said Rana Barua, CEO, Havas Group India in a statement: “Anita is credited with growing Havas Media India’s footprint and elevating its presence. Her dedication and passion are exemplary that has led to her becoming a strong voice in the industry. On behalf of the network, I would like to thank Anita for all that she has done and wish her all the best going ahead.”

     

    And this is what Joshi has said: “Working with Anita for over a decade has been an immensely rewarding and learning experience. She has been an integral part of Havas Media and valued by both clients and colleagues alike. As I welcome the new challenge, I would like to thank the network for the opportunity and Anita for her mentorship and guidance.”

     

    That, we must say, is a nice tribute for a mentor and former boss from Joshi, which is part of an official release from Havas.

     

     

  •  As part of the mandate, Havas will be responsible for the creative strategy and execution across online and offline platforms

    Havas Creative bags integrated mandate for William Grant

    By A Correspondent

     

    Havas Creative has announced the bagging of the integrated communication mandate for William Grant & Sons, following a  multi-agency pitch in December.  The agency will be handling the entire India portfolio business, which includes brands like Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Grant’s, Monkey Shoulder, Hendrick’s and Drambuie. As part of the mandate, Havas will be responsible for the creative strategy and execution across online and offline platforms. The business will be managed out of the agency’s Gurugram office.

     

    Said Payal Nijhawan, Head of Marketing, William Grant & Sons India: “We are very excited to have Havas Group India on board as we head into the next stage of our journey in India. Together with the teams at Havas Group, we will continue building momentum with our brands and speaking to our consumers through an integrated marketing approach.”

     

    Speaking on the win, Rana Barua, CEO, Havas Group India added: “We are delighted to partner with a legendary brand like William Grant & Sons, who have a bouquet of iconic brands like Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Grant’s, Monkey Shoulder and Hendricks, and our task will be to take the brands further with unique and meaningful ideas. With our Havas’ integrated Village model, we will continue to make a meaningful difference to the brands by providing seamless and agile business solutions. We look forward to further strengthening their legacy in the Indian market.”

     

     

  • India’s oldest experiential agencies is Havas’s third buy for 2019

    It’s Shobiz for Havas

    Image courtesy a screengrab of the popular game Pacman

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    In 1974, the veteran Alyque Padamsee commissioned one of the biggest event organiser Rehamatali Tobaccowala to launch Rexona in India. Tobaccowala wa known as one of the biggest wedding celebrations in Mumbai and beyond. And then Rehmatbhai, as he was popularly called, was involved with the Indian versions of Evita, Man of La Mancha and Jesus Christ Superstar.

     

    In 2016, Shobiz Experiential Chairman and Managing Director passed away at the age of 84. When in the early 1990s, this correspondent was to introduced to Rehamatali Tobacowala as the Father of the Indian Events and Experential Industry, the sector itself was in its infancy.

     

    Today, three years after Rehamatbhai’s his company was acquired by leading communications marketing services conglomerated Havas for what’s being billed as a handsome sum.

     

    This is Havas’s third acquisition in 2019, and perhaps its biggest. Shobiz may not be the #1 in size, but it’s decidedly the first and most experienced experiential agency. It employs over 300 professionals across its five offices in India. According to industry sources, a few years back Shobiz was close to inking a deal with WPP, but that didn’t happe. The current acquisition by Havas took over a year to fructify.

     

    Headquartered in Mumbai, the Shobiz portfolio boasts of over 142 recurring clients. While Sameer Tobaccowala, CEO, Shobiz will continue to oversee the business along with Vishnu Mohan, Chairman & CEO, Havas Group India & South East Asia, the daily operations will be led by COO Tejpal Singh Patpatia who will report into Rana Barua, CEO Havas Group India.

    In May this year Havas Group acquired Think Design, the leader in user experience consultancy and design in India, followed by the acquisition of Langoor a full-service digital agency led and driven by creative technologists in September this year.

     

    said Sameer Tobaccowala, CEO, Shobiz:

    “Crafting unforgettable brand experiences has the power to engage consumers in ways not seen before. Havas Group’s integrated approach to brand building coupled with their entrepreneurial spirit resonated with us. We are confident that this collaboration will unlock unprecedented growth opportunities for us and forge stronger consumer connections that foster trust, loyalty and business results. We are thrilled to be a part of Havas and look forward to a meaningful journey ahead, together,”

    Said Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and CEO Havas Group comments in a statement: “India has increasingly become a priority for Havas, and even more so over the past 12 months. With the acquisition of Shobiz we have delivered on our ambitious growth plan to triple our footprint in India. Shobiz’s talented teams are renowned for their solid track record and their excellence in the planning and flawless execution of complex events. After strengthening our local digital and service design capabilities with the acquisitions of Think Design and Langoor, we can now significantly boost our activation and experiential offer on the rapidly growing events market in India. Shobiz is a precious addition to Havas and I welcome them warmly.”

     

    Added Vishnu Mohan, Chairman & CEO, Havas Group India & South East Asia:

    “Experiential marketing is a critical component of an integrated approach to brand building as consumers are demanding personalized and meaningful interactions across all touchpoints. The acquisition of Shobiz will further strengthen the breadth of our multi-disciplinary Village model of working and bring on board a different kind of creative skills set. Shobiz’s transformation from a leading production house to be one of the country’s leading experiential communications agency is impressive and I am delighted to welcome Sameer and his entire team to the Havas family.”

     

    Said Rana Barua, CEO Havas Group India: “Shobiz’s acquisition adds an enviable strength to Havas Group with its forte in the experiential space. Shobiz’s thirst for innovation, impact and results, adds tremendous value to our existing offerings as a group, and seamlessly fits in with Havas Group’s multi-faceted, integrated, client centric “Village” style of working, giving us a distinctive advantage and making it a much stronger force to reckon with.”

     

    So what’s next for Havas. Accordiing to the grapevine, it has started discussions with a few leading PR agencies for a buy. But that’s possibly next year.

  • He will report to Bobby Pawar, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer – Havas Group India

    Ravinder Siwach appointed as NCD for Havas Creative

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ravinder Siwach

    Havas Group India has strengthened its leadership in India with the appointment of Ravinder Siwach as National Creative Director for Havas Creative, effective immediately.

     

    Siwach, who joins Havas from McCann Delhi, where he was the Executive Creative Director, will lead the creative team and drive the next phase of growth for multiple brands under Havas Creative with a focus on further cementing the creative value proposition across all Havas Group India disciplines – creative, media, health, digital and design. He will report to Bobby Pawar, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer – Havas Group India.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Pawar said: “Ravinder has been in this industry for almost two decades and he comes with a rich creative background and experience working on a cross-section of brands and categories. I had the opportunity to work with him in the past and I am confident that his strategic thinking and understanding of the evolving media landscape will take our creative capabilities and output to the next level.”

     

     

  • Dasgupta will lead strategy across all disciplines

    Havas Group India appoints Shivaji Dasgupta as Chief Strategy Officer

    By A Correspondent

     

    Shivaji Dasgupta

    Havas Group India has appointed Shivaji Dasgupta as Chief Strategy Officer. In his new role, Dasgupta will lead strategy across all disciplines, which includes – creative, media, health and digital and will report to Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Barua said: “The appointment is a critical step forward for the Group in India towards the evolution of its ‘Together’ strategy that brings together all the verticals under one roof known as Havas Village. Shivaji will further strengthen our integrated product offering and help further strengthen the collaboration between Havas and Vivendi companies in India.”

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Bobby Pawar, Group Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, Havas Group India added: “Shivaji’s vast experience and planning expertise will help clients in building an integrated approach which will aim to create a unique and valuable brand experience. His appointment is a step forward in our endeavor to provide clients with a more agile and holistic approach to deliver a seamless experience cemented by a deep strategic understanding of brands that will further elevate our creative offering.”

     

     

  • A media professional with over 14 years of experience in the media and marketing arena, Mehra’s last stint was at Creativeland Asia as Editor-in-chief – Content Marketing. Prior to that, she was Associate Editor at exchange4media.com

    Havas appoints journalist Priyanka Mehra as Director Marketing and Communications

    By A Correspondent

     

    Priyanka Mehra

    Havas Group India has appointed Priyanka Mehra as Director Marketing and Communications. Her appointment is in line with unifying communications across all disciplines under the Havas Group umbrella, notes a communique, adding: “Her remit includes working with the senior leadership in India and the regional communications team to elevate brand reputation and awareness.”

     

    A media professional with over 14 years of experience in the media and marketing arena, Mehra’s last stint was at Creativeland Asia as Editor-in-chief – Content Marketing. Prior to that, she was Associate Editor at exchange4media.com.

     

    Bobby Pawar
    Rana Barua

    Said Bobby Pawar, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, Havas Group India: “The sheer length and breadth of communications at Havas collaborating with Vivendi entertainment and content platforms provide us with great marketing ammunition and Priyanka’s appointment is a step forward in showcasing our strength as a Group in the Indian market.” Added Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India: “Given Priyanka’s understanding of content and communications, her appointment is part of a management structure that brings together all communication disciplines – creative, media, healthcare under the Havas Village umbrella. Part of her mandate will be overall communications and going forward key strategic tie -ups and initiatives given Havas Group India’s future-forward vision.”

     

    Said Mehra on her new role: “What makes Havas Group India an exciting place to be is the integrated offering across media creative and healthcare. Added to this is the collaboration with Vivendi which includes Universal Music, GameLoft and Daily Motion, which in turn creates a unique narrative and a unique marketing force “

  • With over 16 years of experience in advertising, Lahiri has worked with agencies like Contract Advertising, McCann, Ogilvy & Mather and Creativeland Asia

    Havas appoints Manas Lahiri as GM for Gurugram office

    By A Correspondent

     

    Havas Group India has appointed Manas Lahiri as General Manager Havas Gurugram. Lahiri’s mandate includes bringing in new business and managing overall operations of the Delhi branch, leveraging Havas Group’s integrated capabilities.

     

    With over 16 years of experience in advertising, Lahiri has worked with agencies like Contract Advertising, McCann, Ogilvy & Mather and Creativeland Asia.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India said: “For Havas India Advertising operations in North, we needed a driven and capable leader who is not only aligned with our vision of exponential growth in terms of winning new clients, attracting versatile talent, and demonstrating our integrated strength but is equally comfortable leading a strong Havas team and our partnership with Reckitt Benckiser. In Manas we have the perfect leader who will help me drive both mandates and make our operations stronger, more relevant both externally and internally”.

     

    Added Lahiri: “I am very excited to be part of the Havas India team. The concept of Better Together truly comes to life here with our various offerings from Havas and our partnering companies from Vivendi Group. We now need to strengthen our communication solutions to local and global clients.  My focus will be on driving on aggressive business growth, creating exciting work for our clients and building a team that lives up to Havas’s global standards of creativity.”