Tag: Rana Barua

  • 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.”

     

  • 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.”

     

  • 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.”

     

  • Goafest 2022 ends with some partying, a new Creative Agency winner & some stars in the house

     

     

    By Our Staff

     

    Saturday, May 7 saw curtains drawn on the 15th edition of Goafest. The three-day fest saw several marketing and glamour stars, master classes and parties and of course awards on each of the evening. Around 1500 delegates are reported to have been in attendance.

     

    Day 3 began with Mithali Raj – Indian women’s cricket captain in conversation with Sharlene Lobo, Anchor, Mirror Now.  This was followed by a digital conclave an introductory address by Gowthaman ‘Gman’ Ragothaman, CEO, Aqilliz & Co-Founder, Web3 Marketing Association. And then there was Sandeep Bhushan, Director and Head of India GMS for Meta.

     

    Later, there was a fireside chat on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion with Rathi Gangappa, CEO, Starcom India, Dheeraj Sinha, CEO & Chief Strategy Officer, South Asia, Leo Burnett, Rohit Ohri, Chairman & CEO FCB Ulka and Suhela Khan, Country Program Manager, We Empower Asia, UN Women on the panel. Post the lunch break, actor and comedian, Aiyyo Shraddha regaled the house with her stand-up act.

     

    Later then was a session on influencers with Ranveer Allahbadia, Niharika NM, Raj Shamani, and Madan Gowri moderated by Viraj Sheth, Co-Founder & CEO of Monk Entertainment.

     

    There was also Rujuta Diwekar, Nutrition Expert and Author in conversation with Anupriya Acharya, CEO-Publicis Groupe, South Asia.

     

    The highlight A&M session of the day was by Kash Sree – Executive Creative Director / Writer who was later engaged in a Q&A by Rana Barua.

     

    The last session for the day had actor Madhuri Dixit in conversation with actor Tisca Chopra.

     

    The mastercasses through the day were conducted by Keigan Pinto, Chief Creative Officer, FCB Ulka, Amaresh Godbole, CEO, Digital Technology Business, Publicis Groupe India, Ram Cobain Creative Shop, Meta, Prakash Jha, Indian film Producer, Actor, Director, and Screenwriter in conversation with Mayank Shekhar, journalist and film critic. The last of the masterclasses on YouTube Shorts by Google.

     

    At the Creative Abby, a total of 32 Video Craft ABBYs, 2 Radio Craft ABBYs, 29 Branded Content ABBYs, 13 Brand Activation & Promotion ABBYs, 4 Diversity ABBYs, 17 OOH ABBYs including 1 Grand Prix, 19 Still Print and Still Craft ABBYs, 4 Still Digital ABBYs, 20 Audio Visual TV/Cinema ABBYs, 41 Audio Visual Digital ABBYs, 1 Young ABBY, 2 Red ABBYs, 11 Integrated ABBYs and 3 Green awards ABBYs were handed out to deserving winners.

     

    Speaking about Goafest 2022, Anupriya Acharya, President – Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) said, “Goafest 2022 had an electrifying start by celebrating the superpower within. It has grown to become the magnum opus event for the industry. With meaningful sessions and evenings filled with entertainment and fun, the last 3 days of the festival and the ABBYs, truly celebrated excellence and creativity, making Goafest a unique and enthralling experience. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed towards making Goafest 2022 a huge success with their encouragement and moral support. I’d also like to congratulate all the participants and winners in making the ABBYs’ an eventful evening at all three days.”

     

    On awarding the ABBYs at Goafest 2022, Partha Sinha, President – The Advertising Club said, “Goafest has once again proven itself to be an extravaganza that brings together the entire media and creative fraternity. Reinvigorating Goafest after a break of two years was a challenge that we successfully sailed through. After months of dedication and relentless work by the AAAI and The Advertising Club teams, bringing international jury and the enthusiasm witnessed from all has resulted into yet another marvellous festival this year. Our collaboration with The One Show this year proved to be a game changing proposition, making the ABBYs’ even more aspirational. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and also thank the jury for their meticulous and fair evaluation that makes Abby Awards more globally recognised.”

     

    Added Jaideep Gandhi, Chairman, Goafest 2022 Organising Committee: “After two difficult years, Goafest 2022 came together to celebrate the true essence of happiness and cheer amongst the industry. Over the last three days, not only did we witness some of the best speakers deliver insightful and encouraging talks, we also witnessed stories of empowerment and futuristic innovation. We also saw some of the brilliant creative minds engage and interact with each other, reiterating the true spirit of the festival. I’d like to congratulate each and every one for their incredible win.”

     

    Said Rana Barua, Chairman, Abby Awards Governing Council 2022 & Vice President of The Ad Club: “As we come to the conclusion of Day 3 and of Goafest 2022, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the speakers and delegates for taking out time in to make the conference and the awards a great success. This year, we have witnessed an overwhelming response in terms of participation but what is heartening to note is that agencies are making their presence felt, showcasing some brilliant work.”

     

  • It’s Goafest time again…

     

     

    By Our Staff

     

    Goafest 2022 started on high energy. Singer Sukhbir electrified the auditiorium to kick off the 15th edition which happened after a two-year Covid pandemic-led hiatus. The festival started with the lighting of the lamp and the unveiling of AAAI’s new logo. The underlying theme being of celebrating The SuperPower Within.

     

    AAAI’s new logo has been created created by Tempest Advertising’s art director, Lohidasu. The agency’s design was chosen amidst 200 entries. The logo effectively brought the past, the present and the future of both AAAI and advertising in unison. The official unveiling of the redesigned logo at the Goafest, was done by Rohit Ohri, Chairman and CEO of FCB Ulka and film star, Yami Gautam.

     

    Further, the Industry Conclave presented by ABP Group marked the beginning of the festival with the first session of the day, witnessing actress Yami Gautam in a one-on-one conversation with Rana Barua, Chairman, Abby Awards Governing Council 2022 and Vice President of The Ad This was followed by a keynote by Vineeta Singh, Co-founder and CEO, SUGAR Cosmetics & Shark, Shark Tank India, who highlighted the importance of building a brand with quality products and content before focusing on advertising. She also emphasized the power of empowering a team, which mirrors the ethos of Sugar, passionately stating, “Empower them and let them go rule the world!”

     

    The next session saw Ankush Sachdeva, Co-Founder & CEO, Sharechat & Moj, in conversation with Vikram Sakhuja, Group CEO Madison Media & OOH at Madison World.  Following this was a session in partnership with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), where Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary (CA), Ministry of Consumer Affairs & Food Distribution spoke with Piyush Pandey, Chairman of Global Creative Ogilvy Worldwide & Executive Chairman, Ogilvy India discussing the importance of consumer protection and its responsibility that we have as professionals. The session was moderated by Subhash Kamath, Chairman, ASCI & CEO, BBH, India. Singh ended the session on an impotant note: “If we don’t look after the interest of the consumer, who will?”

     

    After that Kiran Bedi, Former Lt Governor Puducherry and one of India’s best known retired IPS offices, highlighted the importance of leadership, emphasising: “Leadership is internal – you start with yourself; if you can’t lead yourself, you can’t lead people.”

     

    This year, for the first time ever,  after over 50 years of being solo, the Advertising Club collaborated with The One Show.

     

    Speaking about Goafest 2022, Anupriya Acharya, President, Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) said, “It’s been a tough two years, and it’s great to be back on-ground not only in terms of organising the festival but also where achievements are concerned. We are thrilled to  have everyone back, bonding and celebrating this festival.”

     

    Added Jaideep Gandhi, Chairman, Goafest 2022 Organising Committee: “Goafest has undoubtedly grown into one of the most prestigious conventions in South Asia, bringing together some of the most talented and brightest creative geniuses from all walks of life to celebrate the ad-land spirit. We are looking to keep the overall exuberance of this year’s festival about enjoyment, about people coming together to celebrate and connect. As a result, we will be able to understand the true essence of organizing a festival after experiencing two major setbacks in the past. The Goafest festival gives young talent the chance to interact and learn from some of the industry’s stalwarts. These people have played a crucial role in paving the way for them, making the event worthwhile. In addition to these benefits, it serves as a place where young people can engage and network cohesively with the entire media and advertising fraternity.”

     

    Discussing the ABBY Awards at Goafest 2022, Partha Sinha, President, The Advertising Club said, “2022 is definitely a landmark year because of the collaboration of the Abby  Awards with The One Show, and this is a game-changing proposition. It gives a platform to a plethora of agencies, enabling it to become more global. We owe it to the industry to bring something of global standing especially when we are one large world.”

     

    Speaking about the Abbys Awards, Rana Barua, Chairman, Abby Awards Governing Council 2022 & Vice President of The Ad Club said, “A staggering number of participants has been witnessed, surpassing all previous records. In addition to agencies that have participated since our inception, we have also seen those returning every year. Overall, the numbers are higher this month since we had to package everything together in one month. This year and henceforth, Goafest will be considerably bigger and more extravagant.”

     

     

  • 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.”

     

  • 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.”

     

  • 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.”

     

  • Havas India restructures creative leadership

    By Our Staff

     

    As part of the ongoing restructuring of the senior leadership team at Havas Worldwide India, Havas Group India has elevated Arindam Sengupta and Prashant Tekwani to new profiles. Prior to this, Manas Lahiri was elevated as Managing Director and Ravinder Siwach as ED & National Creative Director of Havas Worldwide India, respectively.

     

    Rana Barua
    Rana Barua

    Said Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India: “Despite the challenges of the last two years, as a network, we have witnessed unprecedented growth through new business wins, acquisitions and extending several global expertise to India. All of which has helped us build a marquee list of new clients and partnerships. Havas Group India has emerged as one of the strongest integrated networks in India, offering our clients effective solutions through collaboration and coming together of the best talent and expertise. I am confident both Arindam and Prashant will continue to drive excellence and take us to greater heights.”

     

     

  • Havas rejigs top deck

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Group India has announced a restructuring of its senior leadership team at Havas Worldwide (Creative) India.

     

    Ravinder Siwach
    Ravinder Siwach
    Manas Lahiri
    Manas Lahiri

    Effective immediately, Manas Lahiri, President – North, has been elevated to the role of Managing Director and Ravinder Siwach, currently National Creative Director, has been promoted to the role of Executive Director and National Creative Director of Havas Worldwide (Creative) India.

     

    Rana Barua
    Rana Barua

    Lahiri will continue to report to Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India. He will lead both the offices (Gurugram and Mumbai) of Havas Worldwide India and work closely with the leadership team of the other Havas group companies to drive growth, digital innovations and help in the overall integration across businesses and functions. Siwach will continue to report to Bobby Pawar, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, Havas Group India and continue to drive the creative excellence of the group.

     

    Talking about this restructuring, Barua said: “We have witnessed an exponential growth in a short span of 2 years and have added a phenomenal set of new clients and talents across both our offices.  It was time to recognise a strong leadership to drive the client consolidation and take charge of the day-to-day operations of Havas Creative.”

     

    Bobby Pawar
    Bobby Pawar

    Added Pawar: “Ravinder and Manas are a rare pair of leaders who are equally passionate about creating great work and growing the agency. The way they collaborate sets the right tone for the rest of the team. Their elevation is a recognition of all their contributions and the passion they bring to Havas’s mission of helping brands make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”

     

  • Havas Media bags Just Dial mandate

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Media Group India has won the integrated media mandate for both offline and online of Just Dial, the local search engine.  In addition, HMG India will also be managing Just Dial’s social media mandate.

     

    The account which is one of the biggest wins of the year for Havas Media, will be managed by the network’s Gurugram office, led by Uday Mohan, President & Head – North & West India, Havas Media Group.

     

    Said Prasun Kumar, CMO, Just Dial: “Being one of the pioneers of the consumer internet industry, our constant endeavour is to provide fast, reliable, and comprehensive range of products and services to our users. As one of the largest platforms in India, we also work with millions of business owners, both small & large, and help them grow. To help drive our aggressive growth- oriented brand strategy, we are partnering with some of the best marketing agencies.  Havas Media impressed us with their thinking & ideation. I am confident that they will add significant value in our overall marketing strategy & programs.”

     

    Added Rana Barua, CEO, Havas Group India: “Both 2020 and 2021 were stellar years for our creative and the media units. Quarter-on-quarter, Havas Media Group India has recorded tremendous business growth, which has set a great momentum for the agency. This win also reflects how effectively we have been able to make a meaningful difference to our clients and their businesses, especially in the last two years. We are delighted to have Just Dial onboard and looking forward to partnering them in this new phase of growth.”

     

    Added Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Group India: “We are extremely proud to have added Just Dial to our ever-growing and marquee client portfolio. This win is a testimony, how successfully we married our meaningful media experience with that of the aggressive growth plans of Just Dial. This win also reflects our media buying efficiencies. And going forward the task will also be to integrate social with that of the offline and online strategy of Just Dial.”

     

  • Havas Media registers strong Q3

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Media Group India reports added new businesses worth INR 750+ crore.

     

    The new business wins include some of the marquee brands, namely, Ambuja Cement, Bira91, Campus Shoes, De Beers Forevermark, Dr. Reddy’s, and Realme. One of the biggest clients of Havas Media Group India, Swiggy, has further consolidated its association with the network by giving the media mandate of Swiggy Instamart.

     

    Rana Barua
    Rana Barua

    Said Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India: “Over the last two years, Havas Group India has displayed some phenomenal growth, in terms of new client acquisitions – some of them have been really esteemed ones. We have built our expertise through acquisitions, strengthened our teams through exceptional hiring of talent, and elevated the cultural and organizational shift. This has clearly set us apart from the competition and it’s evident in our growth story. I am glad that the vision with which we set out to achieve has culminated into an outstanding momentum for the network. I’m also extremely delighted with all my colleagues at Havas Media, Creative and all our group companies for showing such resilience and commitment during such volatile times.”