Havas Media India, the media agency of Havas Media Network India, has announced the appointment of Sonal Jadhav as Managing Partner– West, Havas Media India, to lead the agency’s operations across the dynamic western markets.
Sonal will be based in Mumbai and will report to Uday Mohan, COO, Havas Media & Havas Play India, working closely with the network’s core leadership team.
Sonal brings with her nearly two decades of experience in the media industry, with deep expertise in business and communication planning, digital transformation, and strategic media solutions across both traditional and new-age platforms. She joins Havas Media India from Mindshare, GroupM, where she served as Principal Partner, Client Leadership, leading a high-value client cluster that included SBI Life, Byju’s, Schneider Electric, and Lauritz Knudsen, among others.
Previously, she has held leadership roles at Wavemaker, where she managed the ITC Personal Care portfolio, and at Mindshare Fulcrum, heading the Unilever skincare mandate. Her career also includes stints with Kellogg’s, ICICI, and Rio Tinto, giving her a sharp consumer-centric view across FMCG, retail, finance, and lifestyle categories.
Over the past several years, Havas Media India’s western operation has offered services to clients like Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, De Beers, Eurogrip Tyres, UTI Mutual Fund, Glenmark, CoinDCX and several emerging new-age brands. The agency said this growth has positioned Mumbai as an important hub, supporting integrated mandates across Havas Media, Havas Play, PivotRoots, and other specialist verticals.
Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Network India, said on the appointment, “At Havas Media Network India, we are in an exciting phase of transformation. The West market continues to be a strategic growth engine for us, not just in terms of business but also talent and innovation. Sonal’s deep domain expertise, operational sharpness, and digital-first thinking make her a perfect fit to lead the next phase of our journey in the region. Her appointment reflects our commitment to building agile, forward-looking leadership that truly understands the market pulse.”
Uday Mohan, COO, Havas Media & Havas Play India, added, “Sonal brings a unique blend of strategic vision, client empathy, and delivery excellence. Her experience in handling multiple brands, especially in managing complex, multi-platform campaigns, will help us further solidify our operations in the West. We are excited to partner with her as we chart new growth chapters.”
Talking about her new role, Sonal said, “I’m thrilled to join Havas Media India at a time when the network is driving meaningful change across the industry. Its integrated philosophy, entrepreneurial culture, and data-led approach resonate strongly with me. The West is a high-impact, high-velocity market, and I look forward to working with our teams and clients to unlock innovative media solutions that create real business outcomes.”
