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Tag: Havas Worldwide India

  • Cannes gets a WIN-dow to the future of creativity and inclusion

    Cannes gets a WIN-dow to the future of creativity and inclusion

    MUMBAI: The Women Inspiring Network (WIN) turned up the volume at Cannes 2025 with its buzzing #WINLounge, a high-energy hub at Hotel Martinez that celebrated diversity, daring ideas and disruptive conversations. With over 50 speakers from more than 20 countries, the event proved WIN isn’t here to whisper—it’s here to roar.

    WIN’s golden moment? Anupama Ramaswamy, chief creative officer at Havas Worldwide India CCO Anupama Ramaswamy and a #WINLounge speaker, clinched India’s first Gold Cannes Lions of 2025 for Ink of Democracy. Cue the standing ovation, and a thousand proud hearts back home.

    The day-long creative jam on 18 June opened with a keynote from Bridget Evans, global head of business marketing at Spotify, and segued into 10 powerhouse panels, interactive workshops, and fireside chats featuring everyone from Snap AR’s Resh Sidhu to Vevo’s Natalie Gabathuler-Scully and TikTok-famous changemakers from across continents.

    If the agenda felt like a mixtape of the future—it was. Panels tackled themes like inclusive innovation, philanthropy 2.0, emotional branding, and the metamorphosis of marketing with AI and AR thrown into the blender. Highlights included ‘The 21st-Century Blueprint for Purpose-Driven Brand-Building’, ‘Culture is Capital’, and ‘Disrupting the Default’—each one as punchy as its title.

    WIN also turned up the heat at Spotify Beach, where its podcast platform WIN Voices spotlighted a rising tribe of African storytellers including South African media dynamo Kim Jayde, UK-Nigerian director Meji Alabi, and Kojo Marfo of My Runway Group. From Afrobeats to blockchain, these voices brought cultural currency to the Croisette.

    Speaking about Cannes 2025, Women Inspiring Network (WIN) founder Stuti Jalan remarked, “Cannes was raw, electric, and unforgettable—a melting pot of ideas, creativity, and global change makers. It was incredible to see WIN in the middle of it all. Riding this momentum, we are now gearing up for our next chapters across New York, Davos, India and other global stages.I would like to acknowledge and express gratitude for the support from our partners—Dasra, Camphouse, Masimo, and Vevo. Their belief in our mission made this powerful exchange of ideas and inspiration possible.

    Workshops kept the spark alive. Bonnie Wan’s The Life Brief helped guests craft purpose-driven roadmaps, while Leading Beyond Imposter Syndrome by Trust Your Creative was an emotional tune-up for leaders navigating uncertain terrain. In a special fireside chat, Jalan went tête-à-tête with Caspar Lee, former YouTube star turned co-founder of Influencer.com, who shared his $65 million journey from creator to VC.

    With New York, Davos and India in its crosshairs.

     

  • Durex launches close-fit invisible condom

    Durex launches close-fit invisible condom

    Mumbai: Durex, a condom brand, announced the launch of Durex Close Fit Invisible Condom, a close-fit thin condom. Durex Close Fit features an ultra-thin condom with a promise of snug fit, allowing couples to experience enhanced closeness and sensations without compromising on protection.

    Capturing the essence that a close fit makes all the difference, Durex Close Fit offers supreme comfort, allowing couples to feel more sensations and enjoy a satisfying experience that deepens both emotional and physical connection. As condom penetration in India lingers at just 9.5 per cent, Durex aims to tackle the barrier that condoms reduce sensations, pleasure, and intimacy. The latest first-of-its-kind innovation, Durex Close Fit provides consumers the perfect balance between increased pleasure and reliable protection.

    Speaking on the launch, Reckitt – South Asia, regional marketing director, health – Kanika Kalra said, “As a brand known for pushing boundaries, Durex is constantly innovating to meet the evolving needs of today’s modern and conscious consumers. With condom penetration in India at just 9.5 per cent, a key challenge remains the mental barrier that condoms dull sensation and intimacy. At Reckitt, we are committed to tackling this challenge and promoting wellbeing through innovative and new age solutions. Durex Close Fit is a game changer — offering a closer fit that redefines the sexual experience for couples, empowering them to enjoy pleasurable, intimate moments without compromising on protection.”

    Conceptualised by Havas Worldwide India, the campaign film focuses on that special snug feeling when something fits and contours around you perfectly and closely. In the unique Durex flair, the film employs an avant-garde storytelling style and technique to transport you to a tactile world where intimacy is heightened, and every sensation is viscerally felt. Using metaphors of swimming, athletics and dance the film establishes, that in matters of pleasure, ‘A close fit makes all the difference’.

    Havas Worldwide India joint MD & chief creative officer Anupama Ramaswamy said, “Durex as a brand has constantly maintained a distinct positioning around ‘intimacy’, drawing from its legacy of technology-led innovations. To highlight the innovation of Durex Close Fit Invisible, the film explores an impactful new narrative style pushing the boundary of storytelling and visualization to make an unforgettable film.”

    Durex as a brand has constantly maintained a distinct positioning around ‘intimacy’ and ‘performance’, drawing from its legacy of technology-led innovations, helping people feel good about themselves and their partners. In India, Durex has also been focused on raising awareness on sexual health and wellbeing with its purpose program- ‘The Birds and Bees Talk’.

    Durex Close Fit condoms are now available at retail stores across India and on leading e-commerce websites, priced at Rs 181 for a pack of three condoms and at Rs 599 for a pack of 10 condoms.

  • Havas India appoints John Thangaraj as chief strategy officer of Havas Creative Network India

    Havas India appoints John Thangaraj as chief strategy officer of Havas Creative Network India

    Mumbai: Havas India has appointed John Thangaraj as the chief strategy officer of Havas Creative Network India and his remit will include Havas Worldwide India (creative), Havas CX India (customer experience), Conran Design Mumbai (brand design), Ekino (technology), and Havas People India (employer branding). John will be responsible for driving the strategic mandate of the creative network and will also work closely with Havas Village India leaders to drive integration.

    He will be based out of Gurugram and report to Havas India, South East Asia and North Asia (Japan & South Korea) group CEO Rana Barua.

    Speaking about the appointment, Barua said, “Havas Creative Network India has gained tremendous scale and size over the last six years. One of the agencies which has seen unprecedented growth, new leaders, tremendous business traction is Havas Worldwide India and therefore John will work closely with Anupama Ramaswamy and Kundan Joshee to further drive the growth of the agency. In addition, he will also work closely with Geet Nazir (Conran Design Mumbai), Prashant Tekwani (Havas CX India) and Arindam Sengupta (Havas People India) to further strengthen the strategic vision.  He will further consolidate our client relationships and drive thought-leadership to ensure meaningful business growth and establish Havas Creative Network India as the most future-forward and progressive creative network conglomerate. I wish him all the best.”

    Thangaraj said, “I couldn’t be more excited to be embarking on this journey with Rana and the rest of the Havas India team. As the saying goes, it takes a village. And the Havas Village remains one of the most deeply and seamlessly integrated creative networks in the world. The opportunities to create meaningful client value across the entire chain are quite literally, limitless, and I can’t wait to get started.”

    John comes armed with 22 years of experience as a multi-functional marketing communications strategist across consumer research, marketing, advertising and media. With a postgraduate degree in Marketing, Advertising, and Communication, he began his career in PR in 2002. In 2007, he joined adidas, managing the launch and promotion of the adidas Originals brand in India. In 2008, he transitioned to advertising with Rediffusion Y&R as Head of Strategic Planning, handling brands like Bacardi, Danone, and Tata Steel. At MullenLowe Lintas Group from 2010, he worked with brands including Hindustan Times, Nestle, and HCL Technologies. In 2013, he led strategic initiatives at Mindshare for clients such as Pepsico, Lufthansa, and GlaxoSmithKline. Most recently, at FCB Group India, he worked with major brands like Google, Uber, Bata, Pernod Ricard and Vistara.

  • Muthoot FinCorp launches Book My Gold Loan campaign with Shah Rukh Khan

    Muthoot FinCorp launches Book My Gold Loan campaign with Shah Rukh Khan

    Mumbai: Muthoot FinCorp Ltd (MFL), the flagship company of the 137-year-old Muthoot Pappachan Group (Muthoot Blue), has launched its ‘Book My Gold Loan’ campaign featuring Shah Rukh Khan. This groundbreaking campaign introduces a first-of-its-kind service in India: book a Gold Loan instantly, anytime, from anywhere. The newly launched feature allows customers to initiate loans with a simple missed call, integrating advanced technology with exceptional customer service.

    This unique service makes Gold Loans more accessible and convenient for consumers and is powered by the robust phygital presence of Muthoot FinCorp across the country with 3700+ branches and Gold Loan from Home in 50+ cities.  

    Muthoot FinCorp Ltd CEO Shaji Varghese said, “Through our campaign, we aim to transform financial accessibility for every Indian. Partnering with Shah Rukh Khan, the ‘Book My Gold Loan’ campaign represents a major leap for us. With the ‘Book My Gold Loan’ service we aim to make life easier for all our consumers with gold loans that can be taken at any of our branches or from their homes. Our loans empower our customers to fulfil their aspirations daily.”

    Muthoot FinCorp’s ‘Book My Gold Loan’ campaign has been conceptualized and created by Havas Worldwide India (creative) and executed by Havas Media India (media) and features a captivating television commercial (TVC) starring Shah Rukh Khan.  The TVC whisks viewers through a sequence of aspirations – starting businesses, studying abroad, and buying a new car. As each scene unfolds, Shah Rukh Khan subtly incorporates the ‘call me’ gesture, hinting at a simple solution.  In the end, Khan reveals the answer behind his ‘call me’ gesture – Muthoot FinCorp’s ‘Book My Gold Loan’ service. This first-in-India service makes getting a Gold Loan as easy as a missed call to 80869 80869 to turn your dreams into reality.  Additionally, Muthoot FinCorp has also released a musical video promoting the new initiative with SRK.

    Havas Worldwide India, joint MD & chief creative officer Anupama Ramaswamy said, “We came up with a signature gesture for our unique feature of Book Your Gold Loan with a missed call and got Shah Rukh Khan to tell the world about it. And as always, he gave it a unique twist.”

    Havas Media Network CEO Mohit Joshi said, “We are excited to be part of this campaign with Muthoot FinCorp and their newest brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan. Muthoot FinCorp’s constant innovation to make financial access easier for people is commendable and we are sure the multilingual campaign will meaningfully connect with the larger audience across the country.”

    This campaign will be broadcast in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, and Gujarati. It will encompass OOH, digital platforms, television, print, and on-ground activations, ensuring a widespread reach and pan-India impact.

    Muthoot FinCorp recently achieved record-breaking consolidated loan disbursements in FY24, at Rs. 61,703.26 crore. With the launch of ‘Book My Gold Loan,’ the company is poised to make a significant leap forward in simplifying the lending landscape.  

    The campaign promises to resonate deeply with audiences of all demographics, paving the way for a more accessible and convenient lending experience.

  • Havas Creative Network India’s key leaders elevated

    Havas Creative Network India’s key leaders elevated

    Mumbai: Havas India, part of Paris-headquartered global communications network Havas, has announced a significant leadership transition across three key agencies under the Havas Creative Network India umbrella, including Havas Worldwide India (creative), Conran Design Mumbai (brand design), and Havas CX India (customer experience).

    1  Havas Worldwide India managing partner Kundan Joshee has been promoted as managing director of the India operations.

    2  Havas Worldwide India CCO Anupama Ramaswamy, will also mantle the additional responsibility of joint managing director along with the CCO profile.

    3  Conran Design Mumbai managing partner Geet Nazir, has been elevated to managing director of the agency.

    4  Havas CX India managing partner Prashant Tekwani has been elevated to managing director of both Havas CX India and Ekino (technology) India.

    Strengthening the creative network in India:

    Havas Creative Network India, which now consists of eight agencies, has been growing steadily, driven by global expertise, acquisitions, new business wins, a strong talent pool, and numerous award wins. Havas Worldwide India, Conran Design Mumbai and Havas CX India have played a critical role in positioning the overall Havas Creative Network India as one the most future-ready networks in the country.  

    In addition, the Creative Network includes Think Design (UI/UX) led by Deepali Saini, CEO, Shobiz (experiential) led by Sameer Tobaccowala, CEO, PR Pundit Havas Red (public relations) led by Archana Jain, CEO, Havas People (employer branding) led by Arindam Sengupta as Managing Director, and Prose on Pixels (production) led by Makarand Nirmal, Vice President – Operations.

    While Kundan, Geet and Prashant will be based out of Mumbai, Anupama will continue to be based out of Gurgaon. All four along with Sameer, Archana, Deepali and Arindam will continue to report to Havas India, South East Asia & North Asia (Japan & South Korea) Group CEO Rana Barua.

    Over the last one year, Havas Worldwide India witnessed a flux due to some leadership exits but even during this period of transition, both Anupama and Kundan played a pivotal role in further consolidating the agency and strengthening its relationships with key clients like Reckitt, Stellantis, MamaEarth, Suzuki, William Grant, UTI Mutual Fund and Harman, amongst others. Anupama has been instrumental in not just creating some of the most talked-about campaigns of the last two years for clients including Harpic, Veet, Mortein, Mamaearth, IQOO, Vivo, Karnataka Bank, UTI Mutual Funds, Vanish and many more but also in consolidating and building a strong creative team. Meanwhile, Kundan has helped in fortifying and stabilising client relationships, winning several new businesses like Karnataka Bank, Indie (IndusInd Bank), IQOO and RealMe, to name a few, and streamlining processes that have strengthened the overall business, attracted talent, and increased client satisfaction scores.

    Conran Design Mumbai was launched in 2021 under the leadership of Geet Nazir, who has led the agency to become one of the most prominent brand and design consultancies in India. Over the past three years, the agency has built a roster of marquee clients including Zydus Lifesciences, PayU, Coca-Cola India, Nestle, Usha Martin, to name a few. Within three years of its existence, Conran has won prestigious local and global awards including a Gold at Transform Asia, Silver in the South Asia Brand Design Agency of the Year category at Campaign’s Agency Of The Year Awards 2023 amongst many more. Recently, Havas launched 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. Geet’s elevation comes at this critical juncture and will play a central role in scaling up the agency further.

    Prashant has been instrumental in building and leading Havas CX in India since 2020. Over the years, he has steadily built and consolidated the agency through a strong CX team along with Ekino, and some of the biggest clients including Bandhan Life (erstwhile Aegon Life), Bosch Mobility Services, Tata Steel, STT Telecommunications, Air Asia, to name a few. Over the years, the X-Index proprietary study by Havas CX has also made the agency a strong voice in the industry. Going forward, with Prashant at the helm, Havas CX India is going to play a more critical role in the region and scale up its India operations by ramping up talent and expertise like CRM, technology, loyalty, etc.  

    The journey ahead:

    This transition marks an exciting phase for Havas India as it continues to innovate, lead, and deliver exceptional results for its clients.

    In discussing the recent elevations, Rana Barua emphasised the strategic trajectory of the organisation, stating, “Over the past few years, our focus has been on enhancing our expertise and solidifying our position as the most progressive communications network in India. While our Media Network, under the leadership of Mohit Joshi, Uday Mohan, R Venkat, and Shibu Shivanandan, has thrived, Havas Creative Network India has grown exponentially both organically and inorganically and has built the creative repertoire of Havas India.”

    “Kundan, Anupama, Geet, and Prashant have been instrumental in scaling up the operations of their respective agencies, demonstrating resilience and genuine leadership qualities,” Rana continued. “As we transition towards a new phase of growth, I am confident that these four leaders will play an even greater role in driving our growth, both within India and on a global scale. Their dedication and leadership is paving the way for our future success. I wish them all the best.”

  • Moov launches new film Aao Dard Mitayein

    Moov launches new film Aao Dard Mitayein

    Mumbai: Moov, the name in pain relief solutions, has released its new campaign, Aao Dard Mitayein, for Moov, aimed at highlighting the brand’s commitment to providing effective pain relief for people of all ages. Since its inception in 1986, Moov has been synonymous with trust and efficacy, offering a range of products designed to alleviate everyday chronic pains.

    The new film, conceptualised by Havas Worldwide India, showcases Moov’s evolution over the years, emphasizing its enduring position as the go-to choice for individuals seeking long-lasting relief from aches and pains. Available in both gel and spray formats, Moov’s innovative formula, fortified with ‘Four Active Ingredients’, penetrates deep into muscles, providing warmth and relaxation for swift recovery.

    The film portrays the universal nature of pain and the importance of finding quick and gentle solutions to overcome it. By alleviating discomfort, Moov enables individuals to focus on what truly matters – cherishing moments with loved ones, pursuing passions, and making a positive impact on the world.

    Speaking about the campaign,  Reckitt regional marketing director, South Asia – Health & Nutrition Kanika Kalra said, “For over three decades, Moov has aimed to help people by not letting pain come in the way of their life. Our advertising has always reflected this purpose. As we worked on this campaign, we reflected on what Moov’s purpose meant for today’s India. Today, as Indians, we aim to maximize life by not just helping ourselves and our family but also by leaving a positive impact on the world around us. But, we can only do that if we are ourselves free of pain. That is what the new campaign by Moov tries to capture through it’s beautiful message of ‘Don’t let pain come in the way of doing good’. We believe that as India’s most-loved pain relief brand, Moov’s new campaign will resonate with every Indian and inspire them to maximize their lives pain-free.”

    Havas Worldwide India chief creative officer Anupama Ramaswamy said, “What makes this world go round is not the big things; it’s the small acts of goodness that people do for others without expecting anything in return. And Moov believes that the last thing that should come between such acts of goodness is physical pain. With this endearing story, Moov nudges you to go beyond the call of duty and relieve others of their problems… Aao dard mitayein.”

  • Havas Worldwide India duo clinches TOI & ECI’s Power of Print Contest 2024

    Havas Worldwide India duo clinches TOI & ECI’s Power of Print Contest 2024

    Mumbai: With over 15.8 crore Indians eligible to cast their votes in the ongoing General Elections of the world’s largest democracy, two young creatives of Havas Worldwide India have crafted a groundbreaking campaign, to remind citizens of their democratic rights and responsibilities.

    The Power of Print Contest 2024 is run by The Times of India Group in collaboration with the Election Commission of India. Havas Worldwide India’s creative talents, Soham Ghosh, Creative Supervisor (Copy), and Ravinder Kumar, Associate Creative Director, have won the coveted award and will represent the agency at Cannes Lions 2025.

    The winning entry, selected from over 560 entries from across the country on the theme ‘I Vote For Sure’, aims to inspire greater voter turnout by highlighting the significance of every individual’s vote.

    Unveiled in The Economic Times, Bengaluru edition on April 26, 2024, coinciding with the city’s voting day for the second phase of the 18th Lok Sabha Elections, the winning concept employs a striking visual metaphor. The entire newspaper page has been rendered in purple ink, symbolising the unused electoral ink from the 2019 elections. This innovative approach serves as a hard-hitting reminder of the wasted potential inherent in unmarked fingers and uncast votes. To motivate people from across the country to vote, the campaign will be published in the most important markets of the publication over the next two weeks.

    Times of India head of creative strategy, innovation, branded content and trade marketing for BCCL Response Sagnik Ghosh said, “After a tough competition and intense evaluation by the eminent jury, the fifth edition of The Times Power of Print, supported by the Election Commission of India, has its winners. Among the many strong entries, the winning ad stood out for its effective portrayal of the urgency of the issue of low voter turnout and the masterful use of print as a versatile medium, open to innovative possibilities. We hope that this ad is inspiring to the readers and motivates them to exercise their right to vote on D-Day.”

    Speaking about the idea, Havas Worldwide India chief creative officer Anupama Ramaswamy said, “At Havas Worldwide India, we truly believe in the power of ideas to drive meaningful change. Soham and Ravinder’s powerful idea exemplifies our commitment to leveraging creativity for social good, empowering citizens to shape the future of our nation.”

    Soham Ghosh said, “Our idea stemmed from the low voter count in the last Lok Sabha Elections. The insight was simple yet powerful – if people are not getting their fingers marked with purple ink, then they’re not just wasting the electoral ink, they’re also wasting the power of democracy. So, we suggested printing an entire page of the newspaper using purple ink for people to take notice of the unused electoral ink.”

    For Ravinder Kumar, this campaign is much more important than just winning tickets to the Cannes Lions next year. He said, “Going to the Cannes Lions Festival has been a life-long dream but with this newspaper innovation using purple ink, if we can inspire even one person to step out and vote this time, it will be a bigger victory for us.”

  • Anupama Ramaswamy, Ashish Chakravarty, and Rajdeepak Das Named Abby Awards 2024 jury chairs

    Anupama Ramaswamy, Ashish Chakravarty, and Rajdeepak Das Named Abby Awards 2024 jury chairs

    Mumbai: Anupama Ramaswamy, chief creative officer, Havas Worldwide India, Ashish Chakravarty, executive director, and India head of creative, for McCann Worldgroup and Rajdeepak Das, chief creative officer Publicis Groupe, South Asia and chairman, Leo Burnett, South Asia, join as jury chair for Still Digital category, Audio category, and Film (below 1 minute) category respectively, at The Abby Awards 2024 powered by One Show.

    Havas Worldwide India chief creative officer Anupama Ramaswamy has been appointed jury chair of Abby Awards 2024 powered by One Show in the Still Digital category.

    Anupama is touted as one of the most celebrated creative minds in the country. She has made an indelible mark through her clutter-breaking work, passion for art direction and pure play advertising.

    Through her career, she has worked with some of the leading agencies in India and several marquee global and indigenous brands across sectors including Maruti Suzuki, Reckitt, Ikea, Vivo, Paytm, Subway, Tata Tea Digital, Samsung Mobiles, Airtel, Dabur, Lacoste, and many more.

    Her recent campaigns, including the Paytm Divide and Chotu, made her win the One Show, a couple of Spikes, and New York Festivals, and she was featured as one of the Impact Creative Stars ’21. During her stint at JWT Delhi as senior creative director, Anupama led the Delhi office to its first Cannes Lions and Clio Gold.

    She has also been a recipient of some of the most coveted awards including Cannes Lions, Clio, Adfest, New York Festivals, Abby, Effies, Spikes, Global Healthcare Awards, IAA Awards and The One Show and her work for Fuji Film has been featured in the prestigious Gunn Report as one of the top 20 most awarded print campaigns in the world.

    Anupama has been on the jury of several prestigious awards like The One Show and Spikes Asia and the grand jury at AME awards, and New York Festivals.

    Ashish Chakravarty executive director, and India head of creative, for McCann Worldgroup

    has been appointed jury chair of Abby Awards 2024 powered by One Show in the Audio category.

    Ashish has worked in most of the major agency networks and on some of the biggest global, and Indian brands.

    He is the recipient of more than 400 national and international awards on top advertising shows like One Show, Cannes, D&AD, Clio, Ad-fest, Spikes, Kyoorius, and Goafest, among others.

    Ashish has served as jury or jury chair, at many top international advertising awards, as well as all the top Indian award shows.

    Ashish has been recognized as one of the top 10 Creative Directors in India by Economic Times, the leading business newspaper, and was also ranked among the top ECDs in the world in industry rankings

    Rajdeepak Das chief creative officer of Publicis Groupe, South Asia and Chairman of Leo Burnett, South Asia has been appointed Jury Chair of the Abby Awards 2024 powered by the One Show in Film (below 1 minute)category.

    Raj firmly believes that the true potential of creativity and technology is finding human-centric solutions for the biggest brands because what’s good for people is good for brands. And his body of work reflects his vision for creativity.

    Raj was the force behind the iconic work for P&G Whisper ‘Touch the Pickle’ – one of the first social movements to break the taboo around periods in the Indian sub-continent. To his recent work for Whisper – the Missing Chapter which won him a Grand Prix in Sustainable Development Goals at Cannes Lions 2022 – an award which is very close to his heart as it made a real difference in the lives of young girls by breaking period taboos and getting the chapter on periods added in school books, helping 23 million girls stay in school.

    He and his team gave every Indian a piece of national treasure, by building Bajaj motorbikes out of the legendary warship INS Vikrant. In collaboration with India’s biggest petroleum brand and the government of India, they innovated the world’s first anti-collision road management system to reduce road accidents on Himalayan Roads.

    For one of India’s biggest financial brands, he created India’s 1st social media-based microfinancing system.

    Raj was featured in the Netflix Docuseries – Creative Indians Season 4 – a series which showcased the most talented Indians from Oscar winners to Bollywood Stars and artists to Grammy Awards-winning musicians. He has led and been a part of several jury cohorts at some of the biggest platforms including Cannes Lions, Spikes Asia, Dubai Lynx, and One Show to name a few.

    His HumanKind approach to creativity led Leo Burnett India to win multiple Grand Prix and metals at prestigious platforms like Cannes Lions, One Show, D&AD and Spikes Asia. But he believes his biggest creation to date is Apollo 11 a specialised division of Leo Burnett India, consisting of what he calls ‘the mutant creatives’. Team of young people in their 20s with backgrounds in aerospace engineering, product design, data analysis and environment scientists solving human and brand problems with him.

    “I have always believed that an award is as good as its jury. This year too, the Abby Awards powered by One Show have a stellar lineup of both domestic and international luminaries as Jury Chairs, across 23 categories. Over the last two years the number of women jurors has been significant, and this year, with over one-third being women masters of their craft. To win recognition from such respected Jury Chairs is a matter of immense pride for the AdClub, the participating agencies and brands.” said Ajay Kakar, chairperson of Awards Governing Council, Abby Awards 2024 powered by One Show and managing committee member, The Advertising Club.

  • Havas Worldwide India appoints Arjun Jetly, Neharika Awal, Ajitesh Verma & Monish Gupta as executive creative directors

    Havas Worldwide India appoints Arjun Jetly, Neharika Awal, Ajitesh Verma & Monish Gupta as executive creative directors

    Mumbai: Havas Worldwide India, the creative agency of Havas India, has strengthened its creative team with the appointment of Arjun Jetly, Neharika Awal, Ajitesh Verma, and Monish Gupta as executive creative directors.

    Based out of Gurugram, all four will report to Anupama Ramaswamy, chief creative officer of Havas Worldwide India, and will be responsible for further strengthening the creative offering of the agency.

    Speaking about the appointments, Havas Worldwide India chief creative officer Anupama Ramaswamy said, “Now is the time for our work to shine. And I can’t think of a better team to lead this than Neharika, Monish, Arjun and Ajitesh. I’m delighted to welcome them into the Havas family. They are a dynamic bunch, brimming with new ideas, each having their own individual strengths, which will not just help the brands we work on but also the teams. I believe in their capabilities and mindset to take Havas Worldwide India to newer heights.”

    His second stint with Havas Worldwide India, Arjun was the brain behind some of Durex’s most-loved campaigns including Mutual Climax and Invisible. He joins the agency from Cheil India and has also worked in agencies like The Glitch. Over the course of his career, he’s worked extensively on marquee brands from across categories including Durex, Veet, Mirinda, 7Up, Monkey Shoulder, Lay’s, Kurkure, Doritos, Cadbury, 5-Star, Horlicks, Eno, Happydent, Mentos, Adobe, MG Motor, to name a few. He has also won prestigious awards for his work, including Cannes Lions, Effies and ABBYs.

    Neharika has joined Havas Worldwide India following an eight-year stint in Dentsu. Before Dentsu, she worked at Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy and DDB Mudra. Through the course of her career, she has worked with leading brands including Honda Cars, OLX, Biba, Chaayos, Tasva, Canon and Dominos, to name a few, and has prominent awards including Effies and ABBYs to her name.

    Ajitesh has worked with erstwhile Wunderman Thompson, BBDO India, McCann Worldwide and Leo Burnett before joining Havas Worldwide India. Some of his most accomplished work has been on brands from diverse sectors including Meta, The Times of India, Flipkart, PhonePe, Swiggy, Mountain Dew Global, Pepsi Foods, ITC, Britannia, Nestlé and GSK.

    Through his career, Monish has managed a wide portfolio of brands, including some of the biggest names in auto, consumer electronics, lifestyle, fashion, and hospitality including Maruti Suzuki, Honda Bikes, Citroën, LG, Samsung Phones, Myntra, and Burger King, among others. Monish who joins Havas Worldwide India from Leo Burnett has also worked at Dentsu, Lowe Lintas, erstwhile J Walter Thompson and Cheil.

  • Karnataka Bank launches ‘Bharat Ka Karnataka Bank’ campaign

    Karnataka Bank launches ‘Bharat Ka Karnataka Bank’ campaign

    Mumbai: Karnataka Bank, one of India’s oldest and most respected Private Sector Bank, has launched its centenary campaign, ‘Bharat Ka Karnataka Bank’. This milestone campaign marks a hundred years of trust, excellence, resilience, and commitment to serving the nation.

    In commemorating a century of banking legacy, Karnataka Bank has embraced the theme of adaptability and evolution. The campaign encapsulates the idea that true legacy lies in understanding the need to evolve with the times. Karnataka Bank has not only created a legacy unique to itself but has also transcended its roots in Karnataka to become a Bank that resonates with every corner of the nation.

    Jointly executed by Havas Media India and Havas Worldwide India, the campaign underscores Karnataka Bank’s ability to adapt to the changing times while staying true to its core values. It aims to strengthen Karnataka Bank’s brand awareness, fostering a deeper connection with customers while also inviting new patrons to be a part of its storied legacy.

    Karnataka Bank has not merely stayed true to its values but has also paid homage to the culture and ethos of every state it has been a part of. It is today ‘Bharat Ka Karnataka Bank’.

    Talking about the association, Karnataka Bank MD & CEO Srikrishnan H said, “Karnataka Bank’s centenary is much more than just a celebration of a century of accomplishments; it is a bold assertion of our vision for the next hundred years. This astounding milestone exemplifies our unwavering commitment to advancing India’s agenda of national financial inclusion. We’re happy to have Havas India as our trusted strategic partner as we continue to work towards this ambition.”

    Talking about the campaign, Karnataka Bank executive director Sekhar Rao said, “For a century, we’ve been more than just a bank; we’ve been a trusted partner in millions of people’s journeys. By remaining true to our core beliefs and embracing innovation, we have remained a steadfast partner to generations of families. We’re excited to launch our new brand campaign, celebrating Karnataka Bank’s 100-year legacy while looking ahead as a Bank, not just Karnataka, but for Bharat – Namma Karnataka Bank, Delhi walo ka Karnataka Bank, Mumbai walo ka Karnataka Bank – Bharat ka Karnataka Bank… This campaign marks our journey towards a tech-driven future, blending tradition with cutting-edge solutions for customers and communities nationwide”.

    Havas India, South East Asia & North Asia (Japan & South Korea), group CEO Rana Barua said, “I would like to congratulate Karnataka Bank as it marks a century of excellence. Amidst global financial challenges, Banks in India have displayed remarkable resilience, surpassing global counterparts in growth and profitability. Hence it is the perfect time to forge a profound partnership with one of India’s premier financial institutions. We thank Karnataka Bank for placing their trust in us.”

    Havas Media India managing director Uday Mohan said, “Creating a symphony that echoes the remarkable journey of Karnataka Bank, we have meaningfully positioned the bank’s narrative via this campaign across multiple media channels.  This milestone campaign not only reflects our dedication to precision, apt messaging and targeting but also ensures that every story shared resonates deeply with audiences, cementing Karnataka Bank’s legacy for generations to come. We are immensely proud to be part of this centennial celebration and wish many more years of success for this iconic brand.

    Havas Worldwide India chief creative officer Anupama Ramaswamy said, “It is easier to count the number of days in a hundred years than to count the relationships we’ve built over that time. This thought is at the heart of our campaign. A thought driven by a steadfast commitment to customer satisfaction. A thought that is also captured by showcasing real stories of real people, who have been our bedrock for close to a century now.”

    The campaign will be live on television, digital channels, social media platforms, out-of-home displays, and print media.