MxMIndia

Tag: Havas India

  • To broaden its offering with added PR capabilities

    Havas announces acquisition of PR Pundit

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas has announces the acquisition of PR Pundit. The firm will now be rebranded PR Pundit Havas Red.

     

    PR Pundit has been an affiliate of Havas in India for a while and the acquisition will help up Havas’ capabilities to extend public relations services in India as part of its bouquet of creative, media and healthcare offerings.

     

    Said Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and Global CEO, Havas: “We are thrilled to welcome PR Pundit to the Havas family. The synergies between PR Pundit’s expertise, Havas India’s clients, and the global PR clients of Havas Red are exceptionally strong, setting the stage for many meaningful collaborations. With the backing of Vivendi and their extensive entertainment assets in India, the expansion into PR, communications and social media is a strategic move that aligns perfectly with the evolving landscape of the market and industry.”

     

    Added Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India: “This acquisition once again reinforces our commitment of delivering comprehensive and impactful solutions to our clients. In our endeavour to offer integrated end-to-end communication solutions, we identified that the PR function was a missing piece. This acquisition brings together, two extremely powerful entities, Havas Red which has presence across 15 global markets with unmatched influence and reach, and PR Pundit, one of the most respected PR agencies in India with unparalleled brand reputation and a robust clientele. I welcome team PR Pundit to the Havas India family. Together with Havas Red, I look forward to the beginning of an exciting journey.”

     

  • As ECD

    L&K Saatchi & Saatchi appoints Debanjan Basak

    By Our Staff

     

    Debanjan Basak
    Debanjan Basak

    L&K Saatchi & Saatchi has appointed Debanjan Basak as Executive Creative Director. He will based in Gurugram and report to Rohit Malkani, Joint National Creative Director.

     

    Prior to joining L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, Basak was with Havas India as a Group Creative Director. His earlier stints include Contract Advertising, Dentsu Creative, and Percept.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Malkani said: “Good things come to those who wait, and I am certainly hoping the adage proves true with Debanjan (Debu). His hire comes after a long hiatus, and we are excited to have him on board. Debu belongs to a rare tribe of young creative leaders who combine new-age thinking with technology and culture. His passion for crafting and polishing communication across mediums is commendable. He garnishes all of this with a lop-sided grin and humaneness that is endearing. We can’t wait for him to add muscle to an already buoyant Delhi office.”

     

  • Its 69th Annual General Meeting held last Friday

    The Advertising Club elects Rana Barua as President

    By Our Staff

     

    Rana Barua
    Rana Barua

    The Advertising Club has announced the Managing Committee for 2023-2024, at its 69th Annual General Meeting held last Friday. Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India has been elected to lead the body. Partha Sinha will continue as a member of the Managing Committee as the Immediate Past President for the ensuing year.

     

    Speaking about the appointment, Barua said: “It’s an honour to serve as the President at The Ad Club, a nearly 70-year-old venerable institution, whose legacy is deeply rooted in its unwavering commitment to excellence and is a beacon of inspiration for our industry. Our mission extends beyond accolades; it’s about actively shaping belonging and how we engage and influence the larger fraternity and the newer generation. Our new management team, a mosaic of diverse leaders across sectors, embark on a journey of limitless possibilities and opportunities. Together, we commit meaningful initiatives that will enable us to attract fresh talent into the industry, championing women empowerment, nurturing future leaders, advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and fostering progressive alliances and conversations.”

     

    The officebearers are:

    Rana Barua – President

    Dheeraj Sinha – Vice President

    Dr Bhaskar Das – Secretary

    Shashi Sinha – Joint Secretary

    Mitrajit Bhattacharya – Treasurer

     

    Other Managing Committee members:

    Avinash Kaul, Malcolm Raphael, Prasanth Kumar, Punitha Arumugam, Shubhranshu Singh, Sonia Huria, Subramanyeswar Samayam.

     

    In addition, given below is the list of co-opted industry professionals:

    Ajay Kakar, Pradeep Dwivedi, Vikram Sakhuja

     

    The following are special invitees and bring immense value to The Advertising Club through their expertise and deep understanding of the respective industry segments:

    Ajay Chandwani, Alok Lall, Anusha Shetty, Lulu Raghavan, Mansha Tandon, Nisha Narayanan, Raj Nayak,  Satyanarayan Raghavan and  Vikas Khanchandani

     

  • With key appointments

    Havas Worldwide India strengthens strategy team

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Worldwide India, the creative arm of Havas India, has strengthened its strategy and account planning teams across its Mumbai and Gurugram offices with two key appointments. Mohini Varma has joined as Executive Vice President & Planning Head – North, and Jasravee Kaur Chandra has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Havas Worldwide India. Both will report to Anirban Mozumdar, Chief Strategy Officer, Havas Worldwide India, and will be based out of Gurgaon and Mumbai, respectively.

     

    Anirban Mozumdar
    Anirban Mozumdar

    Commenting on the appointments, Anirban Mozumdar, said: “It is a very exciting time for Havas Worldwide India as we make even bigger strides in our growth journey. I’m beyond thrilled to welcome such impressive strategic thinkers with proven track-records as Mohini and Jasravee to our team. Mohini’s insights are the investment we need for our key clients to rise to the challenges of the new-age consumer and propel us in the right direction in our endeavour of providing integrated solutions. In Jasravee, we find the right blend of experience and thought leadership, which will be instrumental in nurturing and building on our strategic ability from a consumer, data, and integration perspective.”

     

  • Joshee will be based in Mumbai and will report to Tarun Jha, CEO, Havas Worldwide India

    Kundan Joshee joins Havas Mg Partner & Head – W&S

    By Our Staff

     

    Kundan Joshee
    Kundan Joshee

    Havas Worldwide India, the creative arm of Havas India, has appointed Kundan Joshee as Managing Partner and Head – West & South. He joins the agency from Wunderman Thompson. Joshee will be based in Mumbai and will report to Tarun Jha, CEO, Havas Worldwide India. He will work closely with Anupama Ramaswamy, Chief Creative Officer and Anirban Mozumdar, Chief Strategy Officer.

     

    Tarun Jha
    Tarun Jha

    Speaking about the appointment, Jha said: “Havas Worldwide India has been witnessing an impressive growth trajectory and the agency has entirely restructured its leadership team to support this rapid expansion. Kundan is a seasoned industry professional, with a great track record of building businesses and managing large outfits. He will be a natural fit in our ambitious senior leadership team of Anupama, Anirban and Jaibeer Ahmad, Managing Partner – North and East. With Jaibeer helming the North and East India markets, Kundan’s addition will help us drive value, optimise revenue, and expand the ever-growing client portfolio of Havas Worldwide India as he takes the reigns of our business in the West and South regions. We all welcome him aboard and look forward to him making a meaningful difference to the brands that we lovingly nurture.”

     

  • A 6-month internship programme and career development opportunities

    Havas India flags off Havas Spark 3.0

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas India has flagged off the third edition of its flagship internship programme, Havas Spark. Launched in 2021, the programme set the bar high in terms of interest from applicants and outcomes as evidenced by the number of interns hired, which was 16 and 22 in 2021 and 2022 respectively. This year, the initiative aims to onboard 20 interns, putting greater emphasis on the specifics and rigour that each role brings, while simultaneously providing more opportunities for interns to work in tandem with the senior leadership team across the network’s various agencies & divisions.

     

    Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, said: “Havas Spark has become a standout program in our network and the industry. It embodies our commitment to making meaningful contributions to the community and advertising world. It has now become the definitive standard for nurturing and introducing new talent nationwide. This ensures that our legacy and future are in capable hands, as we not only build a successful business but also empower these young minds to become tomorrow’s leaders.”

     

    Vandana Tilwani, Group CHRO, Havas India, added: “I am extremely excited to launch Havas Spark 3.0. This year’s edition has been meticulously crafted to provide our interns with the best possible exposure to the industry and familiarity with its working methods. By the time they graduate, we will already have a team capable of showcasing their finest abilities. Our structured and practical approach ensures that the interns will be the best-in-class in the industry. Interns from our previous batches are now firmly rooted in the Havas India ecosystem, and we are looking forward to the new pool of candidates to once again embark on this rewarding journey together.”

     

  • While Mohan will be MD, Havas Media, Venkatasubramanian will be MD, Havas Play in addition to his current role of President – Investments at Havas Media

    Havas Media elevates Uday Mohan & R Venkatasubramanian as MDs

    By Our Staff

     

    Uday Mohan
    Uday Mohan
    R-Venkatasubramanian

    Havas Media Group India has announced the elevation of two of its senior leaders. Uday Mohan, previously President and Chief Client Officer, has been promoted as Managing Director of Havas Media India, while R Venkatasubramanian has been elevated to the position of Managing Director of Havas Play in addition to his current role as President – Investments at Havas Media India. They will report to Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Group India.

     

    Rana Barua
    Rana Barua

    Commenting on the elevations, Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India said: “At Havas, we have created a unique and integrated Village ecosystem that fosters the best talent and leaders, enabling us to deliver distinct solutions that are at par with global capabilities. Scaling up our group and promoting home grown leaders has been a natural outcome of this approach. Uday and Venkat have been two very strong pillars of this ecosystem and in their respective new roles, I see them contributing in an even larger capacity to our overall media network and the group business goals.”

     

    Mohit Joshi
    Mohit Joshi

    Added Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Group India: “The elevations of Uday and Venkat, two of our key leaders come at a time when Havas Media Group India is on an incredible growth trajectory, having won several new accounts and being recognised for its innovative work. The agency is focused on providing its clients with innovative and effective solutions that help them achieve their business objectives, and with Uday and Venkat at the helm, we are well positioned for exciting times ahead.

     

    Huge congratulations to Uday and Venkat on their well-deserved promotions and we can’t wait to see their continued contributions to the agency’s success in their new roles.”

     

  • To drive strategic globalization initiatives

    Sangeeta Barde elevated as CEO of Havas Life Sorento

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Health & You (HH&Y), the global health and wellness network, has elevated Sangeeta Barde as CEO of Havas Life Sorento India. As part of her new role, Barde will drive the success model for offshoring and achieving strategic and impactful globalization initiatives and will also be the Regional Head of HH&Y Middle East. She will continue to report to Rana Barua, CEO, Havas India, and Charles Houdoux, CEO of APAC & LATAM for HH&Y.

     

    Said Charles Houdoux, CEO of APAC & LATAM for HH&Y: “I’m so pleased to oversee this new era across the entirety of APAC as the region is poised for substantial growth in the healthcare sector. These markets are vital for health communications, and we are confident in our ability to continue to help transform and future-proof our clients’ businesses. Sangeeta’s elevation is incredibly well deserved. Under her leadership, Havas Life Sorento has witnessed tremendous growth and is known as a leading health agency in the country and her expanded role as Regional Head of HH&Y Middle East, at a time when the focus on health and wellness is only intensifying, will further propel the progress that we have been witnessing.”

     

    Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, added: “The network has experienced steady growth across its three key verticals: creative, media, and health. For years, Havas Life Sorento has consistently outperformed in an industry as nuanced and specialised as health communications, particularly in the face of shifting health and wellness narratives. With a leader like Sangeeta at the helm, Havas Life Sorento has consistently made a meaningful difference for clients, enabling Havas India to raise the bar for what excellence can be.”

     

  • As head of design will build competitive advantage in the region

    Conran Design Group Mumbai appoints Mayuri Nikumbh

    By Our Staff

     

    Mayuri Nikumbh
    Mayuri Nikumbh
    Lee Hoddy
    Lee Hoddy

    Conran Design Group Mumbai has appointed Mayuri Nikumbh as Head of Design. In her new role, Nikumbh will be responsible for creative stewardship for clients in the region and will lead the creative vision for Conran Design Group, Mumbai. Conran is part of Havas India.

    Said Lee Hoddy, Executive Creative Director, Conran Design Group: “The branding and design industry in India is growing at an extraordinary rate, providing a huge opportunity to innovate across a broad range of client sectors and categories. We are delighted to welcome Mayuri to Conran Design Group. With her passion for great design, breadth of experience and cultural understanding of the market, Mayuri will support the growth of our offer and help us to build competitive advantage in the region.”

     

     

  • The International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter has released a multimedia campaign to focus attention on the need to raise funds to rehabilitate the hapless victims of the Cyclone that caused havoc in the two States

    IAA & Havas India release campaign for Bengal & Odisha

    By A Correspondent

     

    The International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter has released a multimedia campaign to focus attention on the need to raise funds to rehabilitate the hapless victims of the Cyclone that caused havoc in the two States.

     

    Said Punit Goenka, President, IAA – India Chapter: “While the entire Nation is fighting against Covid-19, Bengal and Odisha have also been battling with the impact caused due to the cyclone. We have always believed in the fact that effective communication implemented at the right time, positively generates the required change. I am very glad that the team IAA’s India Chapter along with Havas India, instantly synergized and created an impactful campaign, urging people to virtually join hands and support the rehabilitation initiatives. “.

     

    Added Bobby Pawar Chairman & CCO Havas India: “The campaign posed a difficult challenge. How do you get people who are themselves affected by a crisis to care about the plight of those who have been struck by another? The solution was to use the very same things we find hard about our current situation and depict how much worse it is for the millions affected by the cyclone and the pandemic. IAA always rises to the occasion when there is a need and I am thankful to them for letting us be a part of this effort.”

     

    Said Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India: “As a member of the IAA and a responsible part of the communications industry, it’s really up to us to create work that stirs the conscience of the world and makes people understand the true extent of this terrible situation in Bengal and Odisha. I am sure this initiative driven by the IAA and Havas will help create an impetus for people to contribute and help in the massive rehabilitation programs.

     

     

  • The business will be managed out of the agency's Mumbai office

    Havas to manage integrated comms mandate of Citroen

    By A Correspondent

     

    European auto major Groupe PSA has entered the Indian market in April 2019 with the launch of Citroën. It has tasked Havas Creative India to manage its integrated communications mandate which includes handling the creative, social and digital creative duties including reputation management.

     

    Citroën aims to launch its first car in Indian market before the end of 2020, in line with its core proposition ‘Inspired By You’. Havas Creative India will partner with Citroën for the launch with brand strategy and amplification customised for the Indian market.

     

    The business will be managed out of the agency’s Mumbai office, and work on the account has begun, we are told.

     

    Said Roland Bouchara, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Citroën India: “India is a key focus market for the internationalisation initiative of PSA Groupe. Citroën is a truly International brand present in 90 markets with 1.05 million sales in 2018 and a strong history. It’s a French brand, which in 2019 celebrates its centenary. Havas Creative’s consumer-centric approach has made us believe that they are the right partner for us. We are confident this partnership will enable us to launch the Citroën brand in India and create awareness amongst our local target audiences.”

     

    Added Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India: “Over the last three decades, Citroën and the Havas group have shared a beautiful and legendary partnership, in building this Iconic brand which has resulted in stellar and memorable work.  We are proud to get an opportunity to partner brand Citroën a successful international brand in the dynamic Indian automobile market, with our ‘Together’ strategy that encompasses simplicity and effectiveness.”

     

     

  • Chakraborty joins Havas from Contract Advertising

    Sanghamitra Chakraborty to head Havas’ RB biz

     

     

    Sanghamitra Chakraborty has joined the Gurugram operations of Havas India as Senior Vice President and Business Bead. She will lead the integrated Reckitt Benckiser (RB) team at Havas India, which is the creative partner for many of RB India’s brands. It is also a hub responsible for origination of thinking and creative work on three major RB brands – Harpic, Mortein and Veet – for the entire world other than for Europe and North America. Chakraborty joins Havas from Contract Advertising.

     

    Welcoming her aboard, Nirmalya Sen, Chief Executive Officer, Havas India said:”Anyone who has worked with Hong – clients and colleagues alike – will agree that she isn’t just a ‘make-it-happen’ person. She is a ‘make-everyone-happen’ person. Her energy is infectious, as is her ability to pull off the impossible. I am sure our relationship with Reckitt Benckiser will be even stronger with her at the helm.”

     

    Commenting on the development, Chakraborty said:”My decision to join Havas was easy. In an environment where agencies have been trying to redefine themselves to stay relevant, Havas, for me, seems to have found the sweet spot as an agency. It is a whole new experience to work in an environment where the offline and online worlds, as well as the creative and media worlds, have been woven seamlessly into one Village, held together with the brand’s philosophy of ‘Better Together’. My other reason, really, was fairly selfish, Havas and RB gave me the opportunity to be an origin market for some of the biggest brands in the FMCG space, and that to me is challenging and should be rewarding at the same time.”