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Havas India, one of the country’s fastest-growing integrated communications networks, has appointed Manas Lahiri as the new Chief Growth Officer. In this newly created role, Manas will work closely with Havas India’s executive leadership team, driving strategic growth initiatives, enhancing client partnerships, and spearheading innovative business opportunities across the company’s ecosystem of 25 agencies nationwide. He will be based in Mumbai and report to Rana Barua, Group CEO of Havas India, SEA, and North Asia (Japan & South Korea).
This marks Manas’ return to Havas India after serving in various key roles from 2018 to 2023, including as Managing Director of Havas Creative India (formerly Havas Worldwide India). Prior to his return, Manas served as Executive Growth Partner at VML India, where he played a key role in expanding the agency's footprint and securing numerous prominent accounts.
Rana Barua, Group CEO of Havas India, SEA, and North Asia, commented, “Manas’ return to Havas India comes at a crucial time as we continue our strong momentum as a proven integrated and future-facing network. With Havas India’s phenomenal transformation over the past few years, we needed a proven leader to scale our growth ambitions further. Manas’ strategic acumen, extensive industry experience, and deep understanding of our network’s values make him the ideal choice to take on this role. He will also be pivotal in advancing our Converged strategy, working closely with Sanchita Roy and John Thangaraj, our respective Chief Strategy Officers of the media and creative networks.”
Manas Lahiri expressed his excitement about his appointment, saying, “I am thrilled to rejoin Havas India at such an exciting juncture. Havas has always been close to my heart, and the network’s journey of transformation into a consolidated, client-centric ecosystem is truly inspiring. I look forward to contributing to this next phase of growth by driving meaningful partnerships, fostering innovation, and building on the strong foundation created by Rana and the team. I look forward to partnering all the fabulous leaders in this journey.”
An MBA graduate from Bangalore University, Manas brings over two decades of experience across advertising, brand marketing, and business leadership. He has held senior roles at agencies such as VML India, Ogilvy, McCann, and Contract India, and has worked with prominent brands like Samsung, Lenovo, Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Reckitt. Manas began his career on the client side with brands like Motorola and Samsung in sales and marketing, before transitioning to advertising. His deep understanding of both worlds has helped him shape growth strategies and foster high-performing teams throughout his career. During his previous tenure as Managing Director at Havas Creative India, Manas played a key role in reshaping the agency, driving key business wins, and strengthening client relationships.
