Manifest turned two in April, and to celebrate this milestone we chatted with global network heads to share two things that stand out about the Indian market, and two focus areas for the holding company.

While an excerpt of this appeared on the cover page of the April issue (get your copy here), here's the full interview:

What are the two things that stand out for you about the Indian market today?

India is one of the world’s most dynamic growth engines. As the world’s fourth-largest economy, it brings together a rare combination of scale, youthful energy, cultural vibrancy, and rapid digital adoption, creating an ideal environment for future-facing brand building. Its young, ambitious workforce and fast-moving digital behaviours make trends evolve at remarkable speed.

At the same time, India’s value-seeking yet premium-aspiring consumer mindset offers a unique lens on modern brand desire. Combined with the country’s rapid advances in mobile commerce, digital payments, and creator-driven ecosystems, India continues to set the pace for innovation and reinvention.

What are Havas’ two focus areas this year in India and globally?

First, we are deepening the global rollout of Havas’ new market positioning, 'growth, powered by desire.' This positioning is built on a simple idea: desirable brands create desirable results. In India, where culture shifts quickly and trends emerge overnight this philosophy could not be more relevant. By combining cultural insight, a deep understanding of human behaviour, and creativity with our best-in-class technology through Converged.AI, we help clients turn desire into sharper strategies, stronger ideas, and more effective brand impact.

Second, we are strengthening our ability to deliver at scale, and India is central to this transformation. The country is a hub for product innovation, multi-market delivery, and creative excellence across our global network. At the same time, we are advancing our evolution into an AI-driven organisation fuelled by human ingenuity, ensuring our teams in India, and worldwide, have the tools and training they need to innovate faster, work smarter, and deliver integrated solutions that meet the speed, complexity, and cultural depth of this market.