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Tag: Anita Nayyar

  • Rana Barua joins Havas India as CEO

    Rana Barua joins Havas India as CEO

    MUMBAI: In order to bolster its growth strategy and leadership team, Havas India has appointed Rana Barua as the new CEO.

    In his new role Barua will be responsible for Havas India’s transformation and growth, with a focus on collaboration and partnerships, new business momentum, and building and leading teams.

    Prior to this, Barua held CEO roles with Contract India, Creativeland Asia, and worked with agencies like Ogilvy, Rediffusion Y&R, McCann, JWT and held leadership profiles in leading radio stations, such as Red FM and Radio City.

    Barua will report to Havas Group India and Southeast Asia chairman and CEO Vishnu Mohan and will work closely with the existing leadership teams.

    Mohan says, “Rana’s appointment is a key milestone in the Group’s ongoing efforts to build agile teams and integrated structures to deliver the most impact for clients. Rana is an ideal candidate as his expertise will build on what we have already achieved in India and take Havas Group India forward in its next phase of growth and expansion.”

    Speaking on his appointment, Rana Barua mentions, “The growing complexity of platforms and channels calls for a multi-dimensional approach to marketing and advertising and the Havas Village model of collaboration and integration is exactly what clients are looking for. I am extremely excited to be a part of Havas Group’s futuristic agency model and looking forward to working with the team to start a new chapter for Havas Group in India.”

  • Havas Media wins integrated media duties of OYO

    Havas Media wins integrated media duties of OYO

    MUMBAI: Havas Media has bagged the integrated media duties of OYO, South Asia’s largest hotel chain with presence across India, China, Malaysia and Nepal.

    The account will be handled out of the agency’s Gurgaon office led by Uday Mohan, managing partner for North and East India.

    OYO’s expertise in managing chain of hotels backed by technological innovations and its unique business model makes it possible for it to offer high quality standardised experiences at unmatchable scale. Over the last five years, OYO has built distribution, operational and transformational, construction capabilities and its diverse portfolio includes OYO Rooms in the budget category with OYO Townhouse, OYO Home, SilverKey in the mid-market category and Palette Resorts in the leisure category.

    OYO VP of conversions Burhanuddin Pithawala says, “We want our customers to have a hassle-free, technology-driven travel experience with quality living space at affordable pricing. Price point and quality are the two strong differentiators of OYO. With the launch of the brand and expansion into international markets, defining a brand positioning and a go-to-market plan is the need of the hour. We are confident that Havas Media with its integrated media approach and market expertise will take the brand to newer heights.”

    Havas Media Group CEO for India and South Asia Anita Nayyar adds, “According to a research conducted by Havas Group, travel & hospitality ranks No 1 as the most meaningful category globally while in India it stands at No 10. OYO with its unique business model is using technology and talent to fix this socio-economic problem. It is among the few start-ups creating a global brand from India. We are very excited to be partnering with yet another innovative and entrepreneurial brand.”

    “OYO is a pioneer brand in the hospitality space which thrives on technology & innovation. We proposed a unique city level micro-marketing approach leveraging advanced analytical techniques. Going forward, Havas’ Meaningful Brands framework, will be key in mapping the brand chart for OYO. According to the research, brands that are meaningful enjoy 60 per cent higher chance of purchase in the hospitality and travel industry. We look forward to a long and mutually fulfilling partnership with OYO,” mentions Havas Media Group, India managing director Mohit Joshi.

  • Havas Media bags the integrated media duties of Netmeds.com

    Havas Media bags the integrated media duties of Netmeds.com

    MUMBAI: Havas Media, India has bagged the integrated media duties of Netmeds.com, the online pharmacy promoted by Dadha & Company, one of India’s most trusted pharmaceutical companies. 

    The account size is estimated to be upwards of INR 50 crores and will be handled out of the Bangalore office led by Saurabh Jain, Vice President – South, Havas Media India.

    Led by Pradeep Dadha (Founder and CEO), Netmeds.com is a Chennai-based online pharmacy and is one of the first e-commerce sites to provide digital access to prescription medicines, and over-the-counter products including wellness products, vitamins, diet/fitness supplements, herbal products, pain relievers, diabetic care kits, baby/mother care products, beauty care products, and surgical supplies. Netmeds currently has eight fulfilment centres operational in Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad and Kochi. It boasts a long and rich legacy in the pharma industry, since 1914, more than 100 years ago, when the Dadha family first ventured into the pharmaceutical retailing business and later entered into drug manufacturing in 1972. The manufacturing unit, Tamil Nadu Dadha Pharmaceuticals, was later merged with Sun Pharma in 1996. Netmeds began its operations in 2015

    Netmeds.com, Founder and CEO, Netmeds.com Pradeep Dadha said, “Netmeds has positioned itself as ‘India Ki Pharmacy’ by providing safe, reliable and affordable medicines to its customers at their doorstep with just a few clicks of the mouse. Since E-commerce is a space that’s ever-evolving, agile and digital-first partners will be key to our deliveries. We found Havas to be in-line with our requirements and are confident that together we will drive the brand towards meaningful growth.”

    Havas Media Group, CEO, India and South Asia and CEO – Havas Group, North India, Anita Nayyar said, “Netmeds.com continues a legacy of 100 years of success in the pharmaceutical industry. While we are excited to take on the mandate of yet another pioneer brand, it sure is a challenging win for us, as it operates within a regulated sector plus the online pharmacy space is still at a nascent stage in India. Data analytics will be key in predicting consumer preferences, audience targeting and thus predicting demand with accuracy. Together, with the capabilities of our health & wellness division, Havas Life Sorento, we are positive to create value for the client. We look forward to a long & mutually-fulfilling partnership with Netmeds.”

    “Netmeds is a legacy brand and a future-first brand which thrives on technology & innovation which is also the philosophy at Havas Media Group. Havas’ Meaningful Brands framework centered on digital, will be key in mapping the brand chart for Netmeds. According to our research, brands that are meaningful enjoy 60% higher attachment among consumers in the health & wellness industry and have 85% higher chance of repurchase in the E-com sector. We are excited to have Netmeds.com on our roster. This win further bolsters our E-commerce portfolio.” added Mohit Joshi, Managing Director, Havas Media Group, India. 

  • Women media pros speak out about gender equality in the workplace

    Women media pros speak out about gender equality in the workplace

    MUMBAI:  Women’s Day commemorates the movement for women’s rights. First organised by The Socialist Party of America, the earliest women’s day observance, called National Woman’s Day, was held on 28 February 1909 in New York. 8 March was then suggested by the 1910 International Woman’s Conference and labeled International Woman’s Day.

    Over the past decade, a lot of brouhaha has been created about 8 March – Women’s Day – as a day to celebrate eves all over the world. Even as an increasing number of womenfolk are joining the workforce in India, the perception is that the shift to positions of power has happened for a handful only. Yes there are a few women achievers who have made it to the top rungs of corporations and they feature in flashy features in business magazines and newspapers but the number that has made it to the very top is limited.

    Therefore, Indiantelevision.com spoke to a few industry professionals who have made a mark in the Indian media industry on what Women’s Day means to them and about the status of Indian women in media and entertainment organisations and most of them were blunt that corporate India and especially media and entertainment companies have a lot of distance to cover on the issue of gender equality in the workplace. Read on:

    public://Anita Nayyar_CEO Havas Media Group India & South Asia.jpgAnita Nayyar, CEO India & South Asia  at Havas Media Group

    Women’s day is just another day that reminds me how lucky I am to be a woman and to be one among the many inspiring and accomplished women across the globe. Our (advertising agency’s) work reflects our thinking and mindset which further determines workplace equality. As an industry, we’ve come a long way since the #MeToo movement and with more campaigns like #LikeAGirl, #JaneWalker, #UnitedbyHalf we are surely and swiftly moving in the right direction, towards gender equality. Women, across the world, are expected to play a larger part in handling a household and taking care of their family. Long working hours especially in industries like advertising and media, become a hindrance and affect the overall work-life balance. Although our country boasts of a number of successful women entrepreneurs who have created successful business brands across the world, their journeys have not been easy. Women are still considered as a weaker section of society than men and given less importance.

    At workplaces, women need to first believe in themselves, participate more without hesitation and speak up for their rights. At an organisational level, companies should develop and implement comprehensive anti-discrimination policies, as a starting point. Such policies allow employers to make clear to its employees the types of behaviour that will not be tolerated in the workplace.

    public://anita_0.jpgAnita Kotwani, Leader of Client Leadership at Mindshare

    Why should the significance of women be restricted to a day? Her significance to me is “everyday” where she rises to the occasion and excels both personally and professionally. I think one makes a mark in any industry by the sheer outcome that you drive on the business.  At that time, it’s about results and not about gender bias. You deliver, you leave your mark. The only challenge that I faced in my career was how can I better my performance year on year such that I stand proud of my achievements?

    public://Soniya Kulkarni.jpgSoniya Kulkarni, Creative and Business Head for Formats and Productions at BBC Worldwide India

    The media industry is one of the industries where women have done relatively well as compared to many other industries. It requires lateral thinking, creativity, multitasking and democratic methods of operation, these are the things that most women have long proven to be excellent at. We have several instances of women who are leaders in production houses, programming, writers and designers. However, in the larger corporates you definitely see fewer women in senior and strategic positions.

    I don’t believe that women look for any special concessions at the workplace. We only expect to be treated equally, to be paid as much as our male counterparts are and given the same opportunities and the rest is on us to prove our best abilities.

    public://tata.jpgMegha Tata, Chief Operating Officer at BTVI

    Every day is a reminder to pause and reflect on the achievements of womenfolk around the world. There are many women employed in the media industry but I don’t see too many women as business heads or at the board level. It’s not about males dominating this industry, but there is something fundamentally wrong in the way we function of not making the environment more conducive for women to grow

    In this competitive atmosphere, striking a balance between your work and personal life is not an easy job for working women. A demanding career makes things even more difficult. Even as a mother I adjusted, not compromised in my life. There are times when a PTA meeting was more important than a business meeting and at times vice-versa. That’s the balancing you need to do, this can’t be taught but comes from within you, by your experiences, understanding and prioritising what is important at that moment.

    To ensure a healthy workplace for women, the industry needs to implement an egalitarian work culture, starting with equal opportunities and equal pay. There are some work roles that are less explored by women and organisations should encourage women to take forward such opportunities and support her on every possible step.

    public://Ms Leena Lele Dutta (1).jpgLeena Lele Dutta, Business Head at Sony Pictures Networks India for Kids Genre

    Why do we need to celebrate women for just for a day? I believe the key lies in being more gender neutral. I hope we have a day, in our near future, where women and men are both celebrated, free from prejudices where equality comes through in its true form. Indian media has a very healthy mix of both the genders. Women have been celebrated amongst all the sectors and business sectors especially have always enjoyed a strong presence of women professionals, and often in leadership roles. I believe the glass ceiling is cracked, but it’s yet to be broken.

    There is the adage that ‘she would get judged in whatsoever she does’ and that has been hammered in our minds since the start. Working women essay many roles; a mother, wife, daughter, boss and a team member. It is multi-dimensional, pressured, and unfortunately many succumb to the ‘choice’ they need to make. In my case, I have been blessed with an encouraging husband and family. They have been instrumental in calming my anxieties every time I’m faced at the crossroads of making the ‘choice’ – the decision; especially more so after the birth of my twin boys.

    public://rubeena.jpgRubeena Singh, CEO, iProspect India.

    If you go back in history, you will note that roots of Women’s Day lie in Russia where during the World War 1, where driven to despair by the long lines for food, women went on strike. Much later the UN declared 8 March as Women’s Day to celebrate women’s achievements throughout history and across nations. For me, the fact that we observe Women’s Day means that true gender equality is yet to be attained. In India, the media sector is one of the most gender diverse. Across content creation, marketing, creative, advertising women have been continuously making their mark. That said, at the senior and leadership levels we have a long way to go. 

    public://gada.jpgKranti Gada, SVP at Shemaroo Entertainment

    There are many women out there who know that it is not a level playing field for them and who in their own manner want to change it. Women’s day celebrates and recognises women, their solidarity and support for each other.  This is a day that celebrates their collective interests. I feel women have made some commendable progress in the media industry and continue to make a significant mark for themselves. We now see so many women behind the camera on television sets, in news channels and donning different hats in other creative fields. But what we can’t ignore is that, this industry has its own set of challenges. Media is a dynamic, 24X7 industry and has no fixed hours and day offs. A journalist can be summoned at any hour of the day if there is a news break. Films and television shoots almost always go beyond their twelve hours shift and wrap up into the wee hours of the day. 

    There is a high dose of uncertainty involved in this profession and it does become difficult for women to dabble with work, personal commitments and duties at home. It is up to us to decide whether we will ape the masculine or underline the feminine.

    public://ARCHANA-ANAND (1).jpgArchana Anand, EVP & Head of Digital at ZEE5 India 

    The fact that we need to call out and celebrate this gender with a specific day indicates that we still have some way to go before we claim true equality. Patricia Arquette in her Oscar acceptance speech last year spoke about the need for ‘equal wages’, cheered on by Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez. It is really intriguing that even today, women’s equality is being discussed and debated in hugely public forums of the first world. If Madonna and Meryl Streep feel the inequality strong enough to talk about it, that says a lot.

    People also assume that women will not be able to give their full potential as they have to balance work with usual life breaks; marriage, kids, home management, etc. Then there are often assumptions about women not being analytical enough. Women also have a higher EQ which is often underestimated, as is their ability to multi-task. Just stop seeing them as women and start seeing them as professionals, the way you would any man.
  • People’s mindset determines workplace safety: Havas’ Anita Nayyar

    People’s mindset determines workplace safety: Havas’ Anita Nayyar

    MUMBAI: Getting a job is no easy task but the place you spend nearly 9-12 hours of your day can turn into a nightmare for some women. Men touching colleagues inappropriately or passing lewd comments tend to become things that form a part of the office culture.

    Hence, it is of utmost importance that the workplace has a healthy and friendly environment. Yet, more often than not, friendly gestures by colleagues or bosses tend to overreach their professional confines creating an uncomfortable situation for women, leading to a case of sexual harassment.

    There has been no dearth of cases of sexual harassment at prominent companies over the last few months. It blew out of proportion when Hollywood’s most revered mogul and influential kingpin, Harvey Weinstein, was accused of sexually harassing and abusing women for nearly 30 years. Soon after the news broke, numerous people either used the #metoo hashtag or referenced it when discussing their experiences with inappropriate behaviour.

    This is not restricted to Hollywood, Silicon Valley or newsrooms. The issue is as pertinent in India as much as it is in the West. Producers and directors asking for sexual favours in return for a role in a movie or a TV show is not news anymore. The most recent case of a person in power taking advantage of his position was TVF CEO Arunabh Kumar.

    Sexual harassment isn’t restricted to just behaviours of a sexual nature. By definition, it is an unwelcome sexually determined behaviour (whether directly or by implication) as physical contact and advances, a demand or request for sexual favours, making sexually coloured remarks, showing pornography or any other unwelcome physical, verbal, or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.

    To address the issue, Indian Supreme Court in 1997, directed all corporations to have a mandatory Vishakha Guidelines Internal Complaints Committee at all workplaces, headed by a woman employee, with not less than half of its members being women. All complaints of sexual harassment by any woman employee would be directed to this committee. The committee advises the victim on further course of action and recommends to the management the course of action against the person accused of harassment.

    But what is the ground reality when it comes to the advertising and media world? Indiantelevision.com got talking to Havas Media Group CEO India and South Asia Anita Nayyar, who is known to be stalwart and valorous in expressing her point of view. She spoke to us about their adherence to the Vishakha Guidelines, safety measures undertaken by the company, need for the industry to come together for this and more. Excerpts:

    Does Havas Media have a sexual harassment committee (the Vishakha committee) in place for women employees?

    Yes, the committee consists of senior executives including me, two women HR executives and an external legal counsellor. We have a proper time-bound complaint mechanism in place to redress such matters where both parties (victim & the accused) are called and talked to separately. I’m glad though that we haven’t had to call upon this committee because, at Havas, we drive a zero-tolerance culture against sexual harassment.

    What are the measures that Havas Media undertakes to ensure women safety?

    I believe there are a lot of women who are ignorant about this subject and do not even realise if they are being harassed. Hence, awareness is of utmost importance according to me. At Havas, we conduct monthly town halls where such topics are addressed and talked about openly. We also conduct such sessions for only women employees. Working late hours is often unavoidable in agencies. While we provide cab facilities to all employees in such cases, for female employees it is mandatory that they are escorted by security/office person.

    Is the Indian media environment a safer place for women to work in as compared to other industries?

    Industries are made up of people and people and their mindsets determine how safe a workplace is. The more open the environment, the much safer, thereby creating a culture of respect, equality and no-nonsense. 

    Is the Indian media a better place to work at as opposed to the West where we are seeing a lot of such cases recently? Or is it here people choose to remain silent?

    It happens everywhere. It is true that Indian women choose to succumb to societal pressures much easier than their western counterparts and refrain from talking about it. But there is a wave of change we’re seeing in the wake of the recent #MeToo revelations. We are seeing more women come out of their shells and make open confessions. Not to forget the contribution of some supportive men.

    What more needs to be done to ensure a better work environment for female employees?

    In a recent announcement made by our global CEO, Yannick Bollore, he said “Havas will be launching two new mandatory global online training for all employees that cover not only harassment but also business ethics. Harassment can take on many forms, both physical and verbal. Neither is acceptable. These courses will reinforce the behaviours expected of Havas employees.” He added, “Respect is at the core of our values at Havas.”

  • Havas Media’s new identity tells story of brand ethos; new logo embodies integration of services

    Havas Media’s new identity tells story of brand ethos; new logo embodies integration of services

    MUMBAI: Created by Havas (the creative division of the group, formerly known as Havas Worldwide) New York team, the new ‘h’ logo lockup comes from the concept that Havas (Group) is great because of the sum of its parts. In this spirit, the logo concept developed embodies the integration of services, celebrates the diversity of talent and expertise, and comes directly from the three things done every day at the agency – create, share and learn. The logo lockup system showcases the different entities within the HavasGroup.

    Havas Group was founded by Charles Louis Havas in 1835 when he launched the first international press agency. Since then the group has gone through many periods of transformation and acceleration to become what it is today, a collaborative and unified marketing agency. The brand refresh aims to emphasize this unity & reinforce that Havas Group is a global company by sharing one logo across the entire network.

    The multiple colors are intentional and flexible. The logo does not use a single color but offers a broad color spectrum and combines different shades of primary colors which stand for a diverse and expansive agency. A blend of engineering and expression, the new system comes from what makes the agency unique.

    The color choices reflect the large network of people, locations, and clients the agency represents. It covers a wide range of uses and expressions. The typeface projects the clarity and simplicity clients demand in an age of overstatement.

    Havas Media Group India and South Asia CEO Anita Nayyar said, “More than a new logo and matching business cards, this brand refresh signals a deep transformation in the way we work and is an invitation to do what we’ve always done, but better. It reflects both that the company has grown significantly and that we are indeed a collective group which in turn strengthens the group’s vision ‘To Better Together’. Collaboration is the cornerstone of our unified operating model, allowing us to deliver 100% accountability and ideas that flourish without boundaries. The new logo brings vibrancy and variety to the brand system”.

    “Our new brand identity offers a wide color spectrum which is synonymous to the offerings at Havas Media, India i.e. providing diverse, integrated and meaningful solutions to our clients. Our Together strategy means that all of us at Havas (Group) share one vision, one brand, and one offering.It reflects unity in diversity. The new logo highlights this collaborative culture and is designed to be a container for – ideas, knowledge, and aspirations”, added Havas Media Group MD Mohit Joshi.

  • Havas Media’s new identity tells story of brand ethos; new logo embodies integration of services

    Havas Media’s new identity tells story of brand ethos; new logo embodies integration of services

    MUMBAI: Created by Havas (the creative division of the group, formerly known as Havas Worldwide) New York team, the new ‘h’ logo lockup comes from the concept that Havas (Group) is great because of the sum of its parts. In this spirit, the logo concept developed embodies the integration of services, celebrates the diversity of talent and expertise, and comes directly from the three things done every day at the agency – create, share and learn. The logo lockup system showcases the different entities within the HavasGroup.

    Havas Group was founded by Charles Louis Havas in 1835 when he launched the first international press agency. Since then the group has gone through many periods of transformation and acceleration to become what it is today, a collaborative and unified marketing agency. The brand refresh aims to emphasize this unity & reinforce that Havas Group is a global company by sharing one logo across the entire network.

    The multiple colors are intentional and flexible. The logo does not use a single color but offers a broad color spectrum and combines different shades of primary colors which stand for a diverse and expansive agency. A blend of engineering and expression, the new system comes from what makes the agency unique.

    The color choices reflect the large network of people, locations, and clients the agency represents. It covers a wide range of uses and expressions. The typeface projects the clarity and simplicity clients demand in an age of overstatement.

    Havas Media Group India and South Asia CEO Anita Nayyar said, “More than a new logo and matching business cards, this brand refresh signals a deep transformation in the way we work and is an invitation to do what we’ve always done, but better. It reflects both that the company has grown significantly and that we are indeed a collective group which in turn strengthens the group’s vision ‘To Better Together’. Collaboration is the cornerstone of our unified operating model, allowing us to deliver 100% accountability and ideas that flourish without boundaries. The new logo brings vibrancy and variety to the brand system”.

    “Our new brand identity offers a wide color spectrum which is synonymous to the offerings at Havas Media, India i.e. providing diverse, integrated and meaningful solutions to our clients. Our Together strategy means that all of us at Havas (Group) share one vision, one brand, and one offering.It reflects unity in diversity. The new logo highlights this collaborative culture and is designed to be a container for – ideas, knowledge, and aspirations”, added Havas Media Group MD Mohit Joshi.