After being associated with Commsgurus for more than a year as Business Consultant wherein he spearheaded the media consultancy which catered to Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) businesses specifically, Anand Kumar has now joined Havas Media Network India, part of Havas India, as its President- South.
In his new role wherein Kumar has been tasked with spearheading the media agency’s operations in the southern markets, he will be based out of Bengaluru and will report to Uday Mohan, Managing Director, Havas Media India, whilst working closely with the core leadership team.
Over the past several years, Havas Media India’s southern operation has garnered substantial growth, marked by impressive client growth and retention such as Swiggy, and the acquisition of marquee brands including PUMA, Ola, Quikr, Joyalukkas, V-Guard, among others.
This expansion has established the South as a vibrant centre, solidifying Havas Media’s standing as the preferred partner for emerging brands and unicorns in India.
This is his second stint with Havas, as he was earlier associated with MPG between February 2009 and November 2012.
That being said, prior to joining Commsgurus in January 2023, he was associated with various GroupM agencies including Essence (now EssenceMediacom), MEC, Maxus and Mediacom for more than a decade.
He had joined Essence in January 2018 as Client Leader and was elevated to the role of AVP in October 2018. He called it a day at the agency in August 2022.
Before that, Kumar served the role of Client Leader in MEC for close to two-and-a-half years starting September 2015, after calling it a day at Maxus wherein he served the same role for close to three years, starting November 2012.
From February 2009 to November 2012, he was the Executive Business Director at MPG; Business Group Head at Mediacom from February 2007 to January 2009 and Media Manager at Lintas Media Group from July 2006 to January 2007.
In the past, he also served as Business Manager at Mudra Communications for a period of two years starting May 2004 and as Planner at Lodestar Universal for a year, starting April 2003.
Having started his journey in the media agency world, he has worked across multiple categories and specialised media domains including FMCG (Dabur, Wrigley’s, Amway), Automobile (Hero MotoCorp, Suzuki, Yamaha, Hyundai), Lifestyle (Antonio Puig, Clarks, ITC Apparel, Flipkart Fashion, Myntra), Telecom & Durables (Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, MTS) D2C and Tech (Flipkart, PhonePe, Vedantu, Wakefit, Rapido).
Talking about his new role, Kumar, President- South, Havas Media India, said, “It is an exciting opportunity to be a part of a resurgent Havas. The remarkable growth trajectory witnessed by Havas Media Network India in recent years is truly commendable. I am particularly impressed by the agency’s refusal to get complacent. Its visionary approach towards expansion, transformation, and the distinct proposition of Meaningful Brands is truly inspiring. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with a dedicated team that has earned the trust of some of the most esteemed brands in the nation and partner with some great marketing minds.”
Welcoming Kumar onboard, Mohan, Managing Director, Havas Media India, said, “We are now poised to embark on our next phase of growth, as we stay committed to making a meaningful difference in the industry. Our robust operations in the South offer immense potential for marketers and as we continue to grow our business, Anand’s rich expertise will prove to be a huge leverage for us in the region. His addition to the team aligns perfectly with our commitment to staying at the forefront of media innovation.”
To this, Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Network India, added, “At Havas Media Network India, our team has grown to over 1000 members, reflecting our expanding presence both in terms of capabilities, talent pool and client base nationwide. Our operations in Bengaluru serve as a hub for numerous key and successful client relationships in the region. We are deeply ingrained in the southern market, leveraging our diverse competences via teams at PivotRoots, Havas Media India, and Centre of Excellence. As our network expands rapidly, we prioritize leaders who possess a profound understanding of the industry landscape. Anand’s appointment reflects our commitment to enhancing omnichannel planning capabilities and ensuring seamless workflows from client briefs to tangible business outcomes, particularly within the pivotal South market.”
