Mumbai: Havas India, one of the country’s fastest-growing integrated communications networks, has announced the appointment of Manas Lahiri as its Chief Growth Officer. In this newly created role, Manas will be responsible for driving strategic growth initiatives, enhancing client partnerships, and spearheading innovative business opportunities across Havas India’s ecosystem of 25 agencies nationwide. Based in Mumbai, Manas will report directly to Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, SEA, and North Asia (Japan & South Korea).
This appointment marks Manas’ return to Havas India, where he previously served in multiple roles between 2018 and 2023, including as Managing Director of Havas Creative India. Most recently, he held the position of Executive Growth Partner at VML India, where he played a key role in expanding the agency’s footprint and acquiring high-profile accounts.
Rana Barua, Group CEO, 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 & creative networks.”
On his appointment, Manas Lahiri, Chief Growth Officer, Havas India, expressed, “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.”
A seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in advertising, brand marketing, and business leadership, Manas holds an MBA from Bangalore University. He has worked with leading agencies such as VML India, Ogilvy, McCann, and Contract India, managing marquee brands like Samsung, Lenovo, Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Reckitt. His career began on the client side, where he worked with Motorola and Samsung in sales and marketing, providing him with a unique perspective on both agency and client operations.
During his previous tenure as Managing Director at Havas Creative India, Manas was instrumental in reshaping the agency, driving significant business wins, and strengthening client relationships. His expertise in growth strategies, team building, and delivering integrated solutions will be crucial in propelling Havas India’s next phase of evolution.
