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Tag: Havas

  • John Thangaraj joins Dentsu India as CSO for creative and media

    John Thangaraj joins Dentsu India as CSO for creative and media

    MUMBAI: Dentsu India has snapped up one of the industry’s sharpest minds. John Thangaraj, the veteran planner and brand whisperer, has been appointed as chief strategy officer – creative & media, marking a bold move in the agency’s push for tighter integration across its verticals.

    The appointment, effective May 2025, sees Thangaraj bring two decades of battle-tested experience across advertising, media, consumer research and brand building to the Japanese holding group’s India operations. He moves from Havas India, where he served as CSO for a year.

    Dentsu’s gain is no small scalp. Prior to Havas, Thangaraj was the group CSO at FCB group India, steering strategy across multiple marquee clients, and also held senior roles at Mindshare, MullenLowe Lintas group, Rediffusion Y&R and adidas.

    Known for mixing consumer insight with street-smart cultural acumen, Thangaraj has worked on everything from fizzy drinks (Pepsi) to luxe kicks (adidas originals), search portals (Shine.com) to search-for-meaning campaigns (HT’s “It Is Time”). His career boasts a few Bronze Effies, a cult GSK ‘Innovation Lab,’ and even a side hustle decoding the super affluent Indian for LG.

    Now based in Gurugram, the strategy maven is expected to turbocharge Dentsu’s “one brand” promise with unified thinking that aligns creative sparks with media muscle.

    For an industry constantly torn between the mad men and the math men, Thangaraj’s appointment might just be the best of both worlds.

  • Havas kicks off Q1 2025 with a 2.1 per cent growth spurt

    Havas kicks off Q1 2025 with a 2.1 per cent growth spurt

    MUMBAI: Havas has announced a solid start to 2025, with organic net revenue growth of 2.1 per cent in the first quarter, aligning with its full-year projections. Reported growth surged to 5.2 per cent, driven by recent acquisitions and favourable currency effects.

    Havas CEO & chairman Yannick Bolloré, highlighted the agency’s performance, particularly in North and Latin America. He added: “We continue to focus on the group’s development, through the global roll-out of our “Converged” strategy and operating system – which is powered by the best data, tech and AI – the expansion of our capacity in high-growth sectors, and an unwavering commitment to creative excellence. We are therefore confirming our objectives for 2025, while keeping a close eye on the global geopolitical and economic situation, in order to respond quickly and effectively, supporting our clients and teams in this context. I’d like to thank our clients for their trust, and highlight the dedication of our talented teams worldwide, who are key to our success.”

    In Q1, Havas acquired CA Sports in Spain, Channel Bakers in the US, and Don in Argentina, strengthening its presence in sports, e-commerce, and creative sectors.

    Europe experienced a slight 0.2 per cent dip, while North America saw a 3.2 per cent increase, led by Havas Health. Latin America delivered a robust 16.6 per cent growth. APAC & Africa continued to post satisfactory organic growth, with net revenue up 1.9 per cent year on year, driven by Havas Media. 

    Despite economic uncertainties, Havas maintains its 2025 guidance: organic net revenue growth above two per cent, an adjusted EBIT margin between 12.5 and 13.5 per cent, and a dividend payout ratio of approximately 40 per cent. The agency also confirmed its 2028 medium-term financial targets.

    Havas agencies continue to receive industry recognition, with Uncommon New York named “Agency of the Year” by Campaign, and Havas Play topping the French agency list in the WARC Media 100 Ranking.

     

  • PivotRoots snags Bindu’s digital account, aiming to fizz up national expansion

    PivotRoots snags Bindu’s digital account, aiming to fizz up national expansion

    MUMBAI: Bindu, the South Indian jeera fizz sensation, has tapped PivotRoots, a Havas company, to handle its digital marketing, as it sets its sights on national domination. The company is aiming to turn Bindu into the “OG” of jeera beverages, and it is bringing in the big guns to make it happen.

    With India’s beverage market set to explode in 2025, Bindu is looking to ride the wave, and PivotRoots is tasked with crafting a multi-platform digital strategy to make it the go-to jeera drink. It is talking “culturally attuned, digital-first” approaches, which is marketing speak for “we’re going to get down with the kids.”

    Bindu Jeera Fizz  director of marketing Megha Shankar says: “Bindu has been a beloved name in South India for years, celebrated for its rich legacy and authentic taste. As a proud Make in India brand, we are now set to expand nationwide, introducing Jeera Fizz to a wider audience while staying true to our roots. Our focus is on bridging tradition with innovation to make the brand relevant for today’s Gen Z and millennial consumers. With this partnership, we aim to create engaging narratives that drive strong consumer connections and establish Bindu as the go-to choice for Jeera beverages across India.”

    PivotRoots co-founder & chief commercial officer Hetal Khalsa is equally enthusiastic: “We are excited to collaborate with Bindu and bring its legacy to a larger audience through strategic storytelling and digital innovation. Our goal is to reshape perceptions, deepen consumer engagement, and position Bindu not just as a beverage but as an essential part of everyday moments across India.”

    Bindu’s portfolio is more than just jeera fizz. The company has everything from ginger and lime sodas to fruit juices and even potato chips. It’s even dabbling in energy drinks, because why not? It’s a proper beverage bonanza.

    The agency aims to leverage content, emerging digital channels and product trials to get Bindu known and consumed across the nation. It’s a proper fizz-fest brewing.

  • Publicis and Havas in adland tug-of-war for Madison?

    Publicis and Havas in adland tug-of-war for Madison?

    MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe and Havas Network are in separate talks to snap up a majority stake in Madison World, India’s last large independent advertising group, if media reports are to be believed. 

    Founder Sam Balsara, who set up the agency in 1988, is looking for a deal that strengthens Madison’s future and aligns it with a global network.

    “Madison has always been open to a tie-up, but the terms must be right,” said chairman & managing director Balsara. He declined to reveal the valuation the agency is seeking. Publicis and Havas, meanwhile, stay tight-lipped.

    With an estimated Rs 5,000 crore in gross billings in fiscal 2024, Madison makes its money charging 15–20 per cent in fees. Its roster boasts over 500 clients across media, digital and outdoor, including Asian Paints, Saffola and Blue Star. But not all news is good—Madison recently lost the Godrej Consumer Products account.

    This isn’t the agency’s first dance with global suitors. A decade ago, talks with WPP and Dentsu over a 75 per cent stake sale fizzled out over valuation gaps. Now, with Omnicom snapping up Interpublic Group (IPG) to create an ad behemoth, other networks are scrambling to shore up their portfolios.

    Publicis, which leapfrogged WPP last year to become the world’s largest ad group, counts PepsiCo, Diageo and Skoda among its big clients in India. Havas, with brands such as Reckitt, Tata Motors and Swiggy, runs 25 agencies in India across creative, media and health.

    Madison isn’t new to parting ways with its ventures. In October 2022, the Balsara family fully exited MediaCom, a joint venture with WPP, selling its remaining 26 per cent stake.

    Now, the question is: will Madison go global, or will it like in the past stay fiercely independent and just let suitors court it?

  • Havas gets listed independently on Euronext Amsterdam

    Havas gets listed independently on Euronext Amsterdam

    MUMBAI: It’s got its independence at last. Advertising and marketing services giant Havas today announced the successful listing of its ordinary shares on the regulated market of Euronext in Amsterdam under the ticker HAVAS. This follows the completion of its spin-off from Vivendi and the distribution of Havas’s ordinary shares to Vivendi shareholders on a one-for-one basis, approved by them  at the combined general shareholders’ meeting  on 9 December 2024. 

    Havas chairman & CEO Yannick Bolloré said: “The successful completion of Havas’s spin-off and listing on Euronext Amsterdam marks a pivotal step towards the realisation of our long-term vision. 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. Our converged strategy, enhanced by exceptional talent, data-driven insights, cutting-edge technology, and targeted acquisitions, places us in the best possible position to be even more creative and strategic, and deliver robust financial performance, creating long-term value for our shareholders. I would like to thank our talented teams for all their hard work and commitment throughout this process, and all our clients for their trust.” 

    Through its converged strategy, has drawn up a three pronged way forward to drive growth, creativity and innovation by focusing on three key priorities: 

    1. Strategic acquisitions: Continue its disciplined approach to acquisitions, targeting high-growth markets and expanding its expertise in data analytics, digital transformation, and AI. 
    2. Investment in innovation: Prioritise the development of capabilities in data, technology, and AI to deliver cutting-edge solutions, ensuring it remains at the forefront of the industry. 
    3. Increased Collaboration: Implement a group-wide operating system to fuse all Havas’ global expertise, tools and capabilities and further integrate its networks and agencies worldwide. 

    As disclosed at the capital markets day held on 19 November  2024: 
    * Havas is aiming to achieve an Adjusted EBIT margin ranging between 14 per cent  and 15 per cent by no later than the financial year ending 31 December 2028. Havas is also aiming to generate contributions to net revenue from new acquisitions averaging between €40 million and €50 million per year over the medium term, driven by the execution of the group’s acquisition strategy. 

    * Havas believes it can achieve the following as of and for the year ending 31 December 2024: 
    o A change in net revenue on an organic basis ranging between a decrease of one per cent  and no change, compared to the year ended 31 December 2023; 
    o Adjusted EBIT in excess of €330 million, reflecting management of operating expenses (such as personnel and travel expenses); 
    o Net cash and cash equivalents (excluding lease liabilities and earn-out and buy-out obligations) of around €150 million.

    * For the year ending 31 December, 2025, Havas believes it can achieve the following: 
    o Net revenue on an organic basis growth in excess of two per cent, compared to the year ending 31 December 2024; 
    o Adjusted EBIT margin ranging between 12.5 per cent and 13.5 per cent 

    Regarding its dividend policy, Havas says it intends to provide a regular return on capital to its shareholders through an annual dividend payment. This payment is expected to represent around 40 per cent of the net income (group share) for the relevant financial year, starting in 2025 for the financial year ending 31 December 2024. 

  • Zee announces Agency Premier League T20 for media agencies to build connect with DP World ILT20

    Zee announces Agency Premier League T20 for media agencies to build connect with DP World ILT20

    MUMBAI: In a vibrant fusion of cricket and creativity, the inaugural Agency Premier League T20 is set to launch in Bengaluru, blending the excitement of the game with the star power of the media industry. The tournament will kick off on 16 December, featuring renowned Kannada actor Ramesh Aravind at the opening ceremony, promising a thrilling experience that unites media professionals in a celebration of sport and collaboration.

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) the official broadcaster of the DP World International League T20, is engaging prominent media agencies through this unique initiative, which will also take place in Delhi on 18 December and culminate in Mumbai on 20 December. With Ramesh Aravind, known for his iconic Kannada talk show Weekend with Ramesh on Zee5, headlining the Bengaluru leg, this innovative trade marketing initiative aims to promote the third edition of ILT20 among media professionals on an engaging platform.

    The Bengaluru leg will see spirited participation from prominent agencies, including Group M fielding two teams and Dentsu, Havas Media, Initiative and Madison each competing with one team. Following this, the Delhi edition will feature teams from OMD, Havas, IPG, Group M, Publicis and Dentsu. The Mumbai event will host an equally competitive lineup with Wavemaker, Starcom, Madison World, DBB Mudra Max, Essence Mediacom and Mindshare Fulcrum.

    Zeel’s chief growth officer of digital & broadcast revenue Ashish Sehgal said, “The Agency Premier League T20 reflects Zee’s commitment to fostering meaningful engagement and pursuits with our trade partners, including the media. Cricket unites India, and this league brings the excitement of ILT20 closer to the media fraternity while celebrating the unifying spirit of the game. Through this tournament, our aim is to create an innovative and immersive experience that resonates with cricket fans across the globe.”

    The month-long third edition of DP World ILT20 will begin on 11 January 2025, with the finals slated to take place on Sunday, 9 February 2025. Cricket fans can watch this action-packed tournament on Zee’s most widely distributed and viewed 15 linear TV channels: &Pictures SD, &Pictures HD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol Cinema 2, Zee Action, Zee Biskope, Zee Zest SD, Zee Cinemalu HD, Zee Telugu HD, Zee Thirai, Zee Tamil HD, Zee Kannada HD, Zee Zest HD, &Flix SD and &Flix HD. It’s also free to view on one of India’s leading OTT platforms – Zee5. The syndicate broadcast partners around the world will be announced in the coming days.

    As per the press release mentioned earlier this year, Zeel reported that the league’s second season reached 221 million viewers and to capture a viewership of 230 million for the upcoming season, Zee will expand its reach by including south Indian channels, offering a month-long cricket carnival experience.

    The channel’s extensive distribution strategy ensured widespread accessibility in India and across the globe. With a notable 46 per cent share of female viewership and 55 per cent share of youth viewership, the league’s broad appeal in India underscores its status.

  • Vivendi shareholders give goahead to spinoff Canal+, Havas and Louis Hachette group

    Vivendi shareholders give goahead to spinoff Canal+, Havas and Louis Hachette group

    MUMBAI: If you thought, the world of advertising is only going through fusion following  the acquisition and merger of Interpublic group by the Omnicom group, you would be better off thinking otherwise.

    In Europe, there’s fission taking place. The combined general shareholders of Vivendi yesterday gave the company the go-ahead to break into pieces. 97.5 per cent of the votes were in favour of the separation of Vivendi from Canal+, Havas, and the Louis Hachette group (the company bringing together the 66.53 per cent investment in Lagardère and 100 per cent of Prisma Media). 

    The first trading day for the shares of these three companies will therefore take place, as announced, on 16 December 2024, respectively on the London stock exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Growth Paris.  
    With a quorum of 71.96 per cent of shareholders present or represented, the two resolutions requiring approval by a two-thirds majority of votes, namely those regarding partial asset contributions subject to the French legal regime applicable to partial demergers (apport partiel d’actifs soumis au régime des scissions), were overwhelmingly adopted with 97.57 per cent of the votes for the Canal+ partial demerger and with 97.58 per cent  for the Louis Hachette group partial demerger.

    The resolution regarding the distribution in kind of Havas NV shares to the Vivendi shareholders, requiring the approval of a simple majority of votes, was adopted with 97.61 per cent of the votes. 

    Said  Havas chairman & CEO and chairman of the supervisory board Yannick Bolloré: “We are delighted with the very high adoption rate of our spin-off project. This undisputable result confirms the strong support of our shareholders for this transformative transaction. Over the past year, the teams have been working on this transformative project, which aims to better reflect the value of Canal+, Havas, Lagardère, and Prisma, which have been impacted by a conglomerate discount affecting the group for several years; to unlock their full potential in a global landscape filled with significant investment opportunities.This vote gives new momentum to Canal+ group, Havas, Lagardere and Prisma Media and marks a new era full of opportunities for Vivendi. The company will continue to play its role, particularly by pursuing the transformation of Gameloft and optimizing its portfolio of high-quality assets.”

  • Havas launches Conran Design Group network with release of Citizen Brands

    Havas launches Conran Design Group network with release of Citizen Brands

    Mumbai: Havas has announced the launch of the Conran Design Group network, a new global offering dedicated to brand and design, based on the long-standing expertise and talent at Conran Design Group, and W, Havas’ leading creative branding agency in France, which will be renamed W Conran Design.  

    With studios in London, Paris, Mumbai and New York, the network’s team of 250 strategists and creatives will use their expertise in brand strategy, brand design, experience design and communications and engagement to inspire progress for clients and empower brands to make a meaningful impact.  

    The network launch also marks the release of Conran Design Group’s new proprietary study, Citizen Brands, an evidence-based brand and design framework that identifies which brands are achieving balanced growth.

    The study finds that the top 20 ‘citizen brands’ – those able to meet the needs of both individual and society – earned £8bn more in revenues on average yearly than their lowest-performing counterparts. They also achieved equity price increases that are on average five times higher than those of the lowest performers.

    “Conran Design Group is uniquely equipped to lead this new network with more than 60 years of experience in strategic brand and design, a holistic approach, and the benefit of global scale with a local touch. W is the natural partner to support the success of this initiative in France with its 25-year track record of helping companies transform to remain at the heart of the conversation and make a positive contribution to society,” commented Havas chairman and CEO Yannick Bolloré.

    “We’ve entered the era of expectation inflation – and brands are under huge pressure to deliver growth and good,” said Conran Design Group global CEO Thom Newton. “This will only intensify amid ongoing uncertainty and heighted economic and environmental pressures. Brand leaders will be expected to take an even more active role in how their brands meet and balance these pressures. Our study shows that all companies across all sectors need to find a way to achieve balanced growth, critical in an increasingly unbalanced world. But rather than prioritising growth alone – growth at any cost – the focus should be on progress, progress that’s both balanced and sustainable. Our new global network, supported and informed by the Citizen Brands framework, will help brands achieve that.”

    “We are delighted and proud that W, which has just celebrated its 25th anniversary, will be leading Havas’ new brand and design network in France and rebranding as W Conran Design. The international reach this network provides will amplify the agency’s strategic and creative influence for our clients and expand opportunities for our teams. It is a testament to the central place of design in brand strategies at a time when progress depends on balancing meaning and business,” added W Conran Design president and co-founder Denis Gancel and W Conran Design creative director and co-founder Gilles Deleris.
     

  • ‘Everyone’s Talking Prime’, everywhere, all at once with PivotRoots’ hyperlocal campaign for Prime Video

    ‘Everyone’s Talking Prime’, everywhere, all at once with PivotRoots’ hyperlocal campaign for Prime Video

    Mumbai: Prime Video, India’s most popular video streaming service, and its long-term agency partner PivotRoots – a Havas company collaborated to shine a spotlight on the OTT platform’s impressive content gallery by creating more than 500 hyperlocal promos using Google’s Ads Creative Studio (previously, Director Mix) for contextual user experiences.

    [Director Mix Juhu]

    PivotRoots amplified the reach of the campaign through Google’s comprehensive advertising tool that was deployed to conceptualize and produce over 500 custom promos across YouTube and Meta. These hyperlocal promos were tailored to the user’s location by incorporating, among other parameters, references to famous local landmarks like Juhu, Bandstand and Carter Road in Mumbai, Jal Mahal in Jaipur, Taj Mahal in Agra, Japanese Garden and Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad and Sion City in Kolkata, to add a personalised touch. For instance, a user targeted in Mumbai’s Bandra would receive a creative referencing ‘Carter Road’ to make it contextually relevant to that user.

    The objective was to encourage users to indulge in the captivating world of movies and web shows that everyone is talking about. Elaborating on the relevance of hyperlocal campaigning in the current digital landscape, PivotRoots director – media Jinit Shah said, “Audiences are increasingly seeking personalised experiences. We delivered this with hyperlocal ads to every user who had seen the brand film, hence tying back to the theme of the campaign (Everyone’s Talking Prime), leaving users intrigued and with a sense of delight. “

    [Director Mix Bandstand]

    PivotRoots chief creative officer Hetal Khalsa emphasized the significance of maintaining a personal connection with the audience, stating, “Often with larger-than-life brand campaigns, the message tends to get lost as it trickles down to a wider audience, making the reach suffer. There was an innate need for a solution that delivered the brand message with utmost recall. The intent was to go as hyperlocal as we can with our custom brand messaging, targeting cities and towns across all 3 tiers and delivering it with a personal touch to elevate the impact.”

    [Director Mix Japanese Garden]

    Banner Ads

    To augment the campaign’s reach, dynamic banner ads were strategically placed across multiple sites. These ads were tailored to the time of day and adapted to the specific day of the week, ensuring a customised brand communication approach across various channels.

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    Prime Video’s ‘Everyone’s Talking Prime’ campaign marks a milestone in the streaming industry, setting new standards for engaging and hyperlocal brand communication. With its innovative use of technology and strategic partnerships with PivotRoots, Prime Video continues to solidify its position as the go-to platform for premium entertainment.

  • Havas announces new leadership appointments

    Havas announces new leadership appointments

    Mumbai: Havas has announced the elevations of two senior leaders. Rana Barua, based in Mumbai, will extend his remit to include Southeast and North Asia. Barua’s career spans nearly three decades, including the last five years spent overseeing Havas’ India operations, comprising over 2,000 people across Havas Creative Network and Havas Media Network. The expansion of Barua’s scope adds nine additional markets under his leadership in his new role as group CEO India, South East & North Asia.

    Speaking about his new role, Barua said, “I am extremely excited and thankful to the global leadership team for entrusting me with this additional responsibility. These nine distinct markets in South East & North Asia, provide multiple and diverse occasions for collaboration for both our global and local clients. I look forward to working closely with the regional teams and each country’s leadership to create more meaningful engagements and opportunities for our talent and clients.”

    In parallel, Alberto Canteli, based in Dubai, will continue as chairman and CEO Havas Nordics, Benelux, Central & Eastern Europe, and Middle East, while taking on new responsibilities driving special projects in coordination with Donna Murphy, Global CEO, Havas Creative Network and Havas Health & You. This new area of focus will include identifying growth levers and developing actionable strategies at the global level, including new client opportunities, services, expansion, and cross-selling. A long-time veteran of Havas, Canteli has been serving as a key pillar in the international expansion of Havas for more than twenty years.

    “During moments like these of continued disruption and transformation, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to combine my regional responsibilities in Europe and the Middle East with a new role that will facilitate a closer collaboration with our global leadership team. AI, Web 3.0 and Blockchain among other advancements, will have a strong impact on our industry and it will be a privilege to contribute to the transformation and turnaround of our business moving forward,” shared Alberto Canteli.

    “I would like to warmly congratulate Alberto and Rana on their new, expanded roles. Their proven leadership skills, vast expertise and innovative thinking will create new synergies and accelerate growth, allowing our teams to further build on Havas’ integrated approach and offer our clients the best possible outcomes,” commented Havas chairman and Global CEO Yannick Bolloré.