Manas Lahiri returns to Havas India in newly-created role

Havas India, an integrated communications network, has appointed Manas Lahiri as chief growth officer, in a newly created role. Based in Mumbai, he will report to Rana Barua, group CEO of Havas India, SEA, and North Asia (Japan & South Korea).

This appointment marks Lahiri’s second stint at Havas India. Between 2018 and 2023, he held several positions within the group, including managing director of Havas Creative India. In his most recent role as executive growth partner at VML India, Lahiri played a key role in expanding the agency’s presence and securing several high-profile accounts.

Commenting on the appointment, Barua said, “Manas’ return to Havas India comes at a crucial time as we continue our strong momentum as a proven integrated and future-facing network. With Havas India’s phenomenal transformation over the past few years, we needed a proven leader to scale our growth ambitions further. Manas’ strategic acumen, extensive industry experience, and deep understanding of our network’s values make him the ideal choice to take on this role.”

Barua added that Lahiri will also be pivotal in advancing the agency’s Converged strategy. He will work closely with Sanchita Roy and John Thangaraj, the respective chief strategy officers of its media and creative networks.

Lahiri expressed enthusiasm about his return, stating, “I am thrilled to rejoin Havas India at such an exciting juncture. Havas has always been close to my heart, and the network’s journey of transformation into a consolidated, client-centric ecosystem is truly inspiring. I look forward to contributing to this next phase of growth by driving meaningful partnerships, fostering innovation, and building on the strong foundation created by Rana and the team.”

Lahiri’s extensive experience spans more than two decades across advertising, brand marketing, and business leadership. Having started his career on the client side with Motorola and Samsung, he has held senior roles in prominent agencies, including Ogilvy, McCann, and Contract India. His expertise extends to marquee brands such as Samsung, Lenovo, Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Reckitt. During his previous tenure at Havas Creative India, Lahiri was instrumental in reshaping the agency, driving significant business wins, and strengthening relationships with key clients.

Lahiri’s appointment is part of Havas India’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its executive leadership team. In December, Tanisha Sharma joined Havas Creative Network as executive vice president, further reinforcing the group’s senior ranks.

The company has also been expanding its capabilities. In November 2024, Havas CX, the global customer experience network, established a presence in Singapore, enhancing its Southeast Asian operations. This move combines the UI/UX and experience design expertise of Think Design with the technical capabilities of Ekino, operational in Singapore since 2017.

In October, Havas India launched its global technology, data, and analytics division, CSA, to empower brands with actionable customer data. The integration of PivotConsult, the consulting arm of PivotRoots, into CSA India has strengthened its roster of clients, which includes Kotak Bank, Bisleri, Coca-Cola, Samsung, and Wildcraft. Gaurav Seth was named managing partner for CSA India, reporting directly to Shibu Shivanandan, CEO of PivotRoots.

Havas India’s expansive ecosystem comprises 25 agencies and divisions across media, creative, and health networks. These include Havas Media Network, Havas Creative Network, and Havas Health Network, alongside specialised divisions like CSA, Socialyse, Think Design, and Havas Play.

With its integrated Village model, the network operates across Mumbai, Gurugram, and Bengaluru, supported by regional offices in Kolkata, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai. The group employs over 2,500 professionals, delivering services across digital, e-commerce, programmatic, experiential marketing, and more.

Havas India’s growth trajectory has been accompanied by significant achievements, including multiple client wins and industry recognition. Over the past three years, it has consistently ranked among the top three in R3’s New Business League and has received accolades from Campaign Asia-Pacific, ABBY One Show, and the London International Awards.

Globally, Havas is pursuing a Converged strategy focused on strategic acquisitions, investment in technology and AI, and increased collaboration across its networks. Its spin-off from parent company Vivendi and listing on Euronext Amsterdam in December 2024 marks a pivotal moment in the group’s history.

Yannick Bolloré, Havas’ chairman and CEO, described the move as a “pivotal step” in achieving long-term goals. “It gives us additional flexibility to accelerate our growth across our key business lines and strengthens our unique position within the dynamic marketing and communications industry,” he said.

The Converged strategy prioritises strategic acquisitions, targeting high-growth markets and expertise in data, digital transformation, and AI. The company will also ramp up its investment in innovation by developing capabilities in data and AI to stay ahead of industry trends. It also intends to enhance collaboration by implementing a group-wide operating system to integrate its global expertise and resources.

Havas has set ambitious financial goals, including achieving an adjusted EBIT margin of 14%-15% by 2028 and generating €40-50 million in annual revenue from acquisitions. Despite expecting organic net revenue to remain flat or decline slightly in 2024, the group anticipates a rebound in 2025, targeting organic revenue growth exceeding 2%.