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 with Sir Martin Sorrell, executive chairperson, S4Capital/Monks:

What two things stand out for you regarding the Indian market?

Growth and optimism. In the 50 or so years I’ve been visiting India, I have never seen it so vibrant and energetic. The combination of great people, a spectacular culture, an entrepreneurial spirit, rapidly evolving technology and a fast-growing economy makes this one of the most exciting markets in the world today. Already the fifth-largest economy (bigger than the UK!), it will be one of the big three in short order.

What are the two focus areas for Monks this year?

Creative and technology. At Monks, we believe the future of marketing is where imagination meets intelligent technology. This year, we’re concentrating on pushing the boundaries of creative excellence, while deeply embedding AI throughout our strategic and operational model — not as a gimmick, but as a core capability that amplifies human insight, accelerates workflows and unlocks new forms of cultural and business impact. Our proprietary AI-powered platform and agentic workflows enable smarter, faster, and more personalized solutions at scale, helping clients navigate an era where creativity and tech converge to shape not just compelling storytelling, but measurable business outcomes.

Also read:

'India is a hub for product innovation, multi-market delivery, and creative excellence'