Havas India has appointed Manas Lahiri as its Chief Growth Officer (CGO) in a newly created role aimed at accelerating the company’s strategic growth. With a focus on innovation, client partnerships, and expanding business opportunities, Manas will work alongside Havas India’s executive leadership team. He will report to Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, SEA, and North Asia, and will be based in Mumbai.
This marks Lahiri’s second innings with Havas India, having previously served in various roles from 2018 to 2023, including Managing Director of Havas Creative India. In his most recent role as Executive Growth Partner at VML India, he was instrumental in acquiring key accounts and expanding the agency’s footprint.
Manas Lahiri- A Strategic Leader Returns
Rana Barua highlighted the significance of Lahiri’s return, stating, “Manas’ return to Havas India comes at a crucial time as we continue our strong momentum as a proven integrated and future-facing network. His extensive industry experience and deep understanding of our network’s values make him the ideal choice to scale our growth ambitions further.”
Manas will play a pivotal role in advancing Havas India’s Converged Strategy, working closely with Sanchita Roy and John Thangaraj, the chief strategy officers of the media and creative networks, respectively.
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Manas Lahiri’s Vision for Growth
Expressing his enthusiasm, Manas said, “I am thrilled to rejoin Havas India at such an exciting juncture. The network’s 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.”
A Career Spanning Two Decades
With an MBA from Bangalore University, Lahiri brings over two decades of experience in advertising, brand marketing, and business leadership. His career includes senior roles at top agencies such as VML India, Ogilvy, McCann, and Contract India, managing brands like Samsung, Lenovo, Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Reckitt.
Lahiri’s diverse career began on the client side with roles at Motorola and Samsung in sales and marketing, providing him with a unique perspective on both the client and agency worlds. During his previous tenure at Havas Creative India, he reshaped the agency, leading significant business wins and strengthening client relationships.
Shaping Havas India’s Future
In his new role, Lahiri will focus on driving integrated growth strategies, fostering innovation, and building high-performing teams across Havas India’s ecosystem of 25 agencies nationwide. With a proven track record of delivering tangible results, Lahiri is set to lead Havas India into its next phase of growth.
