Manas Lahiri Rejoins Havas India as Chief Growth Officer

Havas India has appointed Manas Lahiri as its Chief Growth Officer, a newly created role designed to bolster strategic growth, enhance client relationships, and unlock innovative business opportunities. Based in Mumbai, Lahiri will work with Havas India’s executive leadership team and report to Rana Barua, Group CEO of Havas India, SEA, and North Asia (Japan & South Korea).

A Return to Havas India

This marks Lahiri’s second tenure with Havas India, where he previously served between 2018 and 2023. During that time, he held various roles, including Managing Director of Havas Creative India. His most recent role was as Executive Growth Partner at VML India, where he spearheaded growth initiatives and acquired key accounts, further establishing the agency’s presence in the market.

Leadership Vision from Rana Barua

Rana Barua, Group CEO, expressed his optimism, saying:

“Manas’ return comes at a pivotal moment as we advance our position as an integrated and forward-looking network. His strategic expertise, industry insight, and alignment with our network’s values make him the perfect leader to scale our ambitions. He will be instrumental in driving our Converged strategy alongside Sanchita Roy and John Thangaraj, our respective Chief Strategy Officers for media and creative networks.”

Lahiri’s Excitement for the New Role

Lahiri shared his enthusiasm:

“Rejoining Havas India is a thrilling opportunity at an exciting phase of transformation. The network’s journey towards becoming a consolidated, client-centric ecosystem is inspiring. I look forward to fostering meaningful partnerships, driving innovation, and building on the foundation established by Rana and the team.”

Extensive Industry Expertise

A graduate with an MBA from Bangalore University, Lahiri brings over two decades of experience in advertising, brand marketing, and business leadership. He has held senior roles at leading agencies such as VML India, Ogilvy, McCann, and Contract India, working with prominent brands like Samsung, Lenovo, Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Reckitt.

Lahiri started his career in sales and marketing with Motorola and Samsung, giving him a dual perspective of client and agency operations. During his previous stint at Havas, he was pivotal in securing business wins, fostering client relationships, and reshaping the agency’s strategy.