Earlier this year, on the sidelines of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Yannick Bolloré, chairperson and CEO, Havas, announced Converged, a strategic plan to prepare for the future.

Converged is Havas’ AI-powered solution that aims to provide transparent, cross-platform audience planning.

Speaking with Manifest, Bolloré explained why India is the perfect environment for Converged.

“India’s burgeoning economy and appetite for cutting-edge expertise provide the perfect environment for Converged. Integration at this scale not only streamlines operations but enhances our ability to drive innovation, positioning us as a leader in the region’s competitive landscape,” he said.

The CEO of the Group added that Havas is ‘stronger than ever’ and looking ahead to 2025 keenly.

“We are aware of the unprecedented pace of change in our industry. Advancements in technology are helping us amplify our effectiveness, productivity and creativity. Havas is stronger than ever and is uniquely positioned to embrace this moment and accelerate our business to deliver on our promise of meaningfulness and ensure the strongest business outcomes for our clients,” he said.

Indian operations

Bolloré had a special word of mention for India’s growth and how the village has expanded from three to 24 in less than six years under the leadership of Rana Barua, group CEO, India, South East and North Asia. Barua got the South East and North Asia remit earlier this year.

“Havas India’s impressive growth aligns with the rapid evolution of the Indian market and demonstrates the strength of our Converged global strategy, allowing all our entities to operate as a unified team to deliver a seamless, client-centric experience. Today, we’re in partnership with over 300 clients and have increased our talent pool to more than 2,500. We are well positioned to meet the increasing demand for advanced capabilities and take advantage of vast opportunities as India is poised to become the third largest economy in the world,” he said.

India’s growth has placed it among the top 10 global markets with Bolloré stating it’s witnessing one of the most rapid rates of expansion.

“Achievements like the Great Place to Work certification and initiatives such as our commitment to DE&I and participation in the UN Unstereotype Alliance further emphasise the progressive culture within Havas India that is helping to fuel our workforce expansion,” he said.

Bolloré stated that this growth allows the company to continue making significant investments in the country.

“I remain committed to supporting this growth through ongoing investments in India, confident that our Converged approach will continue to strengthen our leadership while fostering a unified culture that reflects both Havas’ values and India’s forward-looking economy,” he concluded.

This story was part of a 'Special Feature' - an eight page supplement with the October issue of Manifest. Read the full chat in the October issue of Manifest. Get your copy here. For subscription options click here.