Havas Group India appoints Shivaji Dasgupta as Chief Strategy Officer

In line with its aggressive growth strategy, Havas Group India has appointed Shivaji Dasgupta as Chief Strategy Officer, effective immediately. In his new role, Dasgupta will lead strategy across all disciplines including creative, media, health and digital and will report to Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India.

His appointment is in line with Havas Group India‘s overall strategy of accelerating growth by breaking silos across creative and media functions. In his new role, Dasgupta’s mandate will be to accelerate Havas Group India’s journey of transformation along with the core leadership team.

Dasgupta comes with over two decades of rich experience across brands from diverse categories. These include ITC, Pepsi, Airtel, Tata Steel, Mondelez, Piramal Realty, Edelweiss Financial Services, Domino’s Pizza, Tata Motors and Renault Motors.

Prior to joining Havas Group India, Dasgupta was an independent strategy consultant where he provided strategic guidance and brand solutions to regional and global brands. He has also worked with Contract Advertising, Delhi, as Executive Vice President and Head, as well as held senior management positions in Rediffusion and JWT India, spearheading many successful client assignments.

Dasgupta is also a frequent speaker at industry forums and a guest lecturer at various management institutes, as well as a regular contributor of articles to leading publications on thought leadership.

Commenting on the appointment, Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India, said, “The appointment is a critical step forward for the Group in India towards the evolution of its ‘Together’ strategy that brings together all the verticals under one roof known as Havas Village. Shivaji will further strengthen our integrated product offering and help further strengthen the collaboration between Havas and Vivendi companies in India.”

Commenting on the appointment, Bobby Pawar, Group Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, Havas Group India said, “Shivaji’s vast experience and planning expertise will help clients in building an integrated approach which will aim to create a unique and valuable brand experience. His appointment is a step forward in our endeavor to provide clients with a more agile and holistic approach to deliver a seamless experience cemented by a deep strategic understanding of brands that will further elevate our creative offering.”

“What truly excited me about Havas Village is the future-ready blend of the Consulting and Communication worlds - in terms of culture, structure and ambition clearly the Brand Solutions network of the future. Additionally, Havas Group’s unique access to Vivendi’s premium content and community of talent offers a more impactful and attractive way to connect with their audiences. I sense a great opportunity for building a culture of relentless customer-centricity - in a genuinely collaborative environment,” added Dasgupta on his new role.