Havas Play India, the activation arm of Havas Media Network, hosted the Tata.ev Pickleball Weekend Fiesta (September 22). Nearly 200 picklers from across Delhi and NCR participated in this open team-format tournament.
Commenting on their association with the Tata.ev Pickleball Weekend Fiesta 2024, Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd., said: “For Tata.ev, the Pickleball Weekend Fiesta perfectly embodies the blend of community, sustainability, and technology—values that lie at the heart of our mission. As one of the fastest-growing sports globally, Pickleball is gaining remarkable traction in India, with over 10,000 active players and an impressive annual growth rate of more than 30%, both in participation and court development. The sport’s unique blend of accessibility, low environmental footprint, and emphasis on inclusivity deeply resonates with our commitment to a greener, more inclusive future. By supporting events like this, we not only foster healthy, active communities but also promote collaboration that drives meaningful progress for both society and the planet.”
PayU, digital financial services provider, launched its refreshed brand identity.
PayU’s refreshed brand identity marks a “transformational shift towards offering a full-spectrum of digital financial services for merchants, consumers, and financial institutions”. PayU has partnered with Havas’s Conran Design Group for the purpose.
Inaugurating the new logo, Renu Sud Karnad, Chairperson of the PayU Payments Board of Directors, said: “PayU’s refreshed brand identity represents a strategic move to align with its evolving business objectives of building a scalable and integrated digital finance platform, adapting to a dynamic market environment. Congratulations to the team on this significant development.”
Celebrating the brand refresh, Anirban Mukherjee, CEO, PayU said, “As we continue to redefine the digital financial services landscape, our new brand identity reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation, trust, and customer centricity. By positioning ourselves as a ‘Resiliently Progressive’ company, we’re signalling our ability to navigate a rapidly changing market while staying true to our core values. Our goal is to not only become India’s largest and most valuable fintech platform but also to set the global standard for digital financial solutions.”
Left Top Anti Clockwise Ludwig Duran, Rana Barua, Anaïs Guillemané Mootoosamy, Thom Newton, Lee Hoddy
Havas has announced the launch of the Conran Design Group network, a new global offering dedicated to brand and design, based on the long-standing expertise and talent at Conran Design Group, and W, Havas’ leading creative branding agency in France, which will be renamed W Conran Design.
With studios in London, Paris, Mumbai and New York, the network’s team of 250 strategists and creatives will use their expertise in brand strategy, brand design, experience design and communications and engagement to inspire progress for clients and empower brands to make a meaningful impact.
The network launch also marks the release of Conran Design Group’s new proprietary study, Citizen Brands, an evidence-based brand and design framework that identifies which brands are achieving balanced growth.
The study finds that the top 20 ‘citizen brands’ – those able to meet the needs of both individual and society – earned £8bn more in revenues on average yearly than their lowest-performing counterparts. They also achieved equity price increases that are on average five times higher than those of the lowest performers.
Said Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and CEO, Havas: “Conran Design Group is uniquely equipped to lead this new network with more than 60 years of experience in strategic brand and design, a holistic approach, and the benefit of global scale with a local touch. W is the natural partner to support the success of this initiative in France with its 25-year track record of helping companies transform to remain at the heart of the conversation and make a positive contribution to society.”
Added Thom Newton, Global CEO, Conran Design Group: “We’ve entered the era of expectation inflation – and brands are under huge pressure to deliver growth and good.This will only intensify amid ongoing uncertainty and heighted economic and environmental pressures. Brand leaders will be expected to take an even more active role in how their brands meet and balance these pressures. Our study shows that all companies across all sectors need to find a way to achieve balanced growth, critical in an increasingly unbalanced world. But rather than prioritising growth alone – growth at any cost – the focus should be on progress, progress that’s both balanced and sustainable. Our new global network, supported and informed by the Citizen Brands framework, will help brands achieve that.”
Havas has announced the elevations of two senior leaders.
Rana Barua, who will continue to be based in Mumbai, will extend his remit to include South East and North Asia. The expansion of Barua’s scope adds nine additional markets under his leadership in his new role as Group CEO India, South East and North Asia.
Said Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and Global CEO, Havas: “I would like to warmly congratulate Alberto and Rana on their new, expanded roles. Their proven leadership skills, vast expertise and innovative thinking will create new synergies and accelerate growth, allowing our teams to further build on Havas’ integrated approach and offer our clients the best possible outcomes.”
Speaking about his new role, Barua said: “I am extremely excited and thankful to the global leadership team for entrusting me with this additional responsibility. These nine distinct markets in South East and North Asia, provide multiple and diverse occasions for collaboration for both our global and local clients. I look forward to working closely with the regional teams and each country’s leadership to create more meaningful engagements and opportunities for our talent and clients.”
In parallel, Alberto Canteli, based in Dubai, will continue as Chairman and CEO Havas Nordics, Benelux, Central & Eastern Europe, and Middle East, while taking on new responsibilities driving special projects in coordination with Donna Murphy, Global CEO, Havas Creative Network and Havas Health & You.
“During moments like these of continued disruption and transformation, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to combine my regional responsibilities in Europe and the Middle East with a new role that will facilitate a closer collaboration with our global leadership team. AI, Web 3.0 and Blockchain among other advancements, will have a strong impact on our industry and it will be a privilege to contribute to the transformation and turnaround of our business moving forward,”added Canteli.
Conran Design Group Mumbai has announced a collaboration with PEP Technologies, the parent company of mCaffeine, and celebrity, co-founder, and Chief Customer Officer, Kriti Sanon to launch everyday skincare label, Hyphen.
Speaking about the launch, Vaishali Gupta, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, Hyphen said: “Conran Design Group Mumbai shines with unique expertise and creative thinking. They blend design and strategy flawlessly, giving Hyphen’s brand logo a distinct edge.”
Added Geet Nazir, Managing Partner, Conran Design Group Mumbai: “At Conran Design Group, we’re constantly looking for challenges and opportunities to demonstrate our capability in designing simple and effective brand-led solutions to complex business problems, that make a meaningful difference to clients and their businesses. We leverage our proven global methodologies to craft insight-led, differentiated design solutions, and Hyphen is a perfect example of how we delivered a clutter-breaking and ownable brand grammar in the beauty industry.”
He just gave us trademark laugh. And said: “kidhar nahin”. As for the decision to quit, well, he said it’s two months’ old and his three-month notice expires next month. That’s September.
First, let’s look at the communique we received from Havas India this morning:
“Bobby Pawar, Chairman and CCO of Havas India has decided to step down from his role. He joined the network in November 2018. A much-revered advertising legend, Bobby has been a part of the advertising industry for over three decades. Following this, Bobby has decided to move away from advertising. He will, however, be a part of Havas India officially till September 2023 and will continue to consult on Havas’ clients and projects as and when necessary.
““There are some who will think there is some hanky-panky to my stepping away. I understand the
appeal of it. It certainly makes for more interesting gossip sessions. The truth is, sometimes life leads
you to a crossroad. Or, in my case, it is death. Over the last year, I lost way too many people I love,
way too early. All of them had their ‘one day I will do this or that’. This made me realise that I had to
find what I would love to do that ‘one day’ and do it right now. Yeah, it is hard to walk away from
what I have loved for thirty-one years. But I have always chosen to do the hard thing. Like, take on
the challenges of changing the course of the agencies I have helmed. Now it’s time to do that with
my own life. What is certain though, is that writing will be a huge part of whatever I dive into next. I
am nothing if not a storyteller, a craftsman who chisels prose with a pen,” said Bobby.
“Looking back at his time at Havas India, Bobby said, “The concept of Havas Village is what excited me
the most. Moreover, both Rana and I were entrusted with the freedom to build and run Havas India
from ground up, like entrepreneurs. Something I had not experienced before. It takes two to tango,
and with a friend like Rana, who really is more of family than a friend, it was easy. And today, I can
proudly say that we have built a brand-led, digital-first ecosystem, the results of which are here for
all to see. Havas India has undergone an unprecedented transformation and has seen exponential
growth over the last five years. We have made our place in the big league, and we are here to stay. I
am grateful to Yannick Bollore for his faith in us, to our teams across all the companies of Havas
India for giving their all to the mission, and Rana, you know how I feel about you.”
“Speaking on Bobby’s departure, Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, said, “Ours is truly a Yin and
Yang partnership. Especially when you know your creative half for nearly three decades, it becomes
a seamless, productive, and truly memorable journey. Bobby helped me rebuild Havas’ presence in
India, and with his creative prowess and reputation, he completely overhauled the Creative vertical
of the network. With his trademark humour and quirks, Bobby made Havas India more than just a
place to work. Some goodbyes are bittersweet because while I will not see him around at work, he
will continue to be an inextricable part of my life. I wish him all the very best for this new chapter of
his life.””
Before joining Havas, Pawar spent five-and-a-half years at Publicis, and earlier, he was Chief Creative Officer of JWT and CCO of the DDB Mudra group. Pawar was in the United States for seven years where he worked with Ogilvy, New York and BBDO, Chicago. One of his films ran on the Super Bowl, got featured in the MoMA and nominated for an Emmy.
So we asked some ad agency watchers what they think of the development. Well, over the last few months, Havas has ensured it has beefed up its top deck. So we shouldn’t expect old (and new) clients to run away. However, in Pawar’s exit, they believe that the network (or should we say ‘village’) has lost a star campaigner. Creative agencies are all about creative whizkids, and not necessarily about the suits. Hence, Barua will need to ensure that the agency doesn’t get a setback on that score.
And what about Pawar’s next move? Could he joining namesakes Sharad and Ajit and their respective political dispensations? Of course not. Is he, like some other agency captains, turn independent? Or is going to make films, write stuff for OTT or perhaps write a book. Well, the last of these is definitely on the cards. In fact, if all goes well, his first maiden work of fiction may be released next year.
Havas has announced the acquisition of PivotRoots, a digital marketing and communications agency. The acquisition will allow Havas Media India to tap into PivotRoots’ deep understanding of the Indian market and enhance its capabilities in the rapidly growing digital advertising space.
Said Yannick Bolloré, Chairman of Vivendi, and Chairman & CEO of Havas: “We are thrilled to welcome PivotRoots to the Havas family,” “The acquisition is part of our broader strategy to expand our presence in lighthouse markets around the world. With a global network that spans over 100 countries, Havas is well-positioned to help clients reach audiences wherever they are.”
Added Shibu Shivanandan, Founder and Managing Director, PivotRoots: “We are excited to be part of Havas Media India. We share a common vision for the future of advertising, and by combining our expertise and talent we can deliver better solutions, services and results to our clients. We are proud of what we have achieved at PivotRoots so far, and we look forward to the next chapter in our journey.”
Said Rana Barua, CEO, Havas India: “I’m delighted to welcome Shibu and the PivotRoots team to the Havas Family. This acquisition comes at an extremely interesting time for Havas India, which has undergone a complete transformation in recent years and has seen unprecedented growth and success. The addition of PivotRoots and their capabilities, advanced analytics and technology, and a new perspective on creativity and innovation distinguishes Havas Media India in the industry in meeting the evolving needs of its clients and succeeding in an increasingly competitive and extremely dynamic market.”
For the first time in 20 years, Havas has streamlined its brand architecture and updated its look, making it more modern, meaningful, and easier to navigate for clients, partners, and talents. The team at Conran Design Group, Havas’ leading strategic branding agency, helped realize the project, producing a new, unified brand that is powerful, iconic, and timeless, to better reflect the group’s integrated model, and further establish its unique positioning around meaningfulness and entertainment.
Today marks a defining moment in Havas’ almost 200-year history as it unveils a refreshed look and reimagined brand architecture that more clearly tell its story. In line with the acceleration of its strategy rooted in integration, Havas is bringing all Havas branded networks and operating companies under one new, shared brand identity, which will amplify the true nature of Havas: a client-centric, creative powerhouse that is part of the Vivendi Group, at the crossroads of entertainment and communications. Non-Havas branded networks and operating companies will maintain their individual identities but will add an endorsement that clearly links back to Havas.
The refresh kicks off today, June 13, 2023, with Havas’ headquarters in Paris and key Havas Villages around the globe, including London, Madrid, Mumbai, and New York, to be rolled out companywide in phases over the balance of the year. The update encompasses all Havas physical and digital branding worldwide, including a new corporate website organized by core services, providing a more client-centric experience.
As one of the six largest groups globally with more than 22,000 people in over 100 countries, a single, modernized, dynamic brand elevates Havas’ offer and unlocks value for clients and talent alike. Realized in collaboration with Conran Design Group, the new brand is all about positive upward momentum, expressed visually with a dynamic edge that represents the creativity and forward-looking mentality at the heart of Havas’ business.
Said Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and CEO of Havas: “Havas is unique in being the most integrated, meaningful, and entertainment-oriented group in our industry. Our new identity is much more than a logo tweak. It reinforces our difference and gives us a competitive advantage by simplifying our service lines and highlighting our core values. It ensures we are treating our brand as a powerful, meaningful business asset and capitalizing on our integrated approach to deliver seamless communications strategies that exceed our clients’ expectations.”
Added Thom Newton, Global CEO of Conran Design Group: “Making the Havas brand a meaningful business asset, meant addressing two fundamental challenges. The first, to improve client-centricity by integrating the brand architecture system and optimising the navigation of services. The second, to make the Havas brand truly distinctive through a new visual identity built around a characterful, modern logotype and signature assets that represent positive momentum. The new visual identity and endorsement system will present all Havas networks and operating companies as ‘One Havas’, making the group more meaningful as a multiplier that adds value across the portfolio.”
Havas Worldwide India, the creative arm of Havas Group India, has further strengthened its creative team with the appointment of Debanjan Basak as Group Creative Director.
Havas Worldwide India has been on a creative transformation journey in recent years, with notable additions to the team’s creative steam. Basak’s appointment follows the appointment of Anupama Ramaswamy as Chief Creative Officer last year followed by Jaibeer Ahmad as Managing Partner – North. Basak will report to Ramaswamy and will oversee the expansion of the agency’s digital and social portfolio. He’ll be based in Gurugram.
Bobby Pawar
Speaking about the appointment, Bobby Pawar, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, Havas Group India said: “For the last four years, Rana [Barua] and I have gone about shaping Havas Worldwide India into a brand-led, digital-first creative solutions company. This has helped us grow the agency multi-fold. The creative output, too, has gotten steadily better. Anupama is here on a mission to raise it several notches and I believe, with the addition of Debanjan, the creative leadership team will accelerate that. He is a man of many talents – he’s non-territorial, a great team player, and he can write. As you can imagine, I am kinda partial to that.”
Anupama Ramaswamy
Added Ramaswamy: “With a superb body of work, Debanjan brings with him a wealth of experience across formats. He will play a key role in driving our agenda of creativity beyond silos. Debanjan is not only a good creative leader, but he is also an extraordinarily warm and generous person. That’s exactly what Havas Group believes the new bunch of leaders should be. Debanjan will be responsible for driving creative excellence for clients and it really is such a pleasure to have him as a part of the Havas Worldwide India team.”
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.”
Havas Media Group India has bagged the integrated media mandate of millet-based children’s food brand, Slurrp Farm. The mandate includes both offline and digital media duties; and will be handled out of the agency’s Gurgaon office.
Said Shauravi Malik, Co-founder, Wholsum Foods Pvt Ltd (Slurrp Farm): “At Wholsum Foods, we are always looking to partner with people who share the same ethos and values as us – the team at Havas does exactly that. We are pleased to partner with Havas Media Group to bolster our offline and digital media efforts, and look forward to working with them to further evolve our storytelling and introduce new audiences to Slurrp Farm.”
Added Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Group India: “We are delighted to be partnering with India’s most loved, wholesome, meaningful kids’ food brand, Slurrp Farm. With rising health concerns such as malnourishment, obesity, diabetes among children, healthy food and nutrition-based diet have become a priority. Through its innovative portfolio of millet-based food products, Slurrp Farm is successfully contributing towards inculcating healthy eating habits among children and adults alike. We look forward to further strengthening the brand’s journey and driving its vision, by building meaningful connections with the consumer.’’
Langoor, a digital marketing agency which was until recently part of Havas, has appointed Vinay Rao as its Head of Client Success.
Said Venugopal Ganganna, CEO, Langoor: “At Langoor, we are always scaling up and adding new clients to our roster. To ensure that our clients receive all the support and advice they need and to help their business grow, we decided to onboard Vinay. He is very driven and has innovative ideas and effortless communication skills that he brings to the table which is crucial for our business. Vinay’s vision for Langoor aligns perfectly with ours, making him the ideal match for the role.”
Havas Media Group India has bagged the integrated media mandate of millet-based children’s food brand, Slurrp Farm. The mandate includes both offline and digital media duties; and will be handled out of the agency’s Gurgaon office.