MAM
Havas Media India appoints R Venkatasubramanian as national head of investments
MUMBAI: Havas Media India has announced the appointment of R Venkatasubramanian as national head of investments. Venkat joins the agency from Initiative Media where he was serving as senior vice president.
A former Havas employee, Venkat has over 22 years of experience in advertising specialising in media buying. He has worked with clients across sectors such as Maruti, Suzuki Motor cycle, DishTV, RB, MG Motor, Usha International and InfoEdge.
In his new role, Venkat will be based out of Gurgaon and will be responsible for driving media investments, partnerships, and strategic thinking for all Havas Media clients across markets.
Commenting on his appointment, Havas Media Group CEO – India and Southeast Asia Anita Nayyar said, “Venkat is an accomplished, seasoned professional, with his rich experience of over two decades, Venkat will ensure that the complex media environment is well navigated and negotiated for Havas Media clients. Collaboration is the cornerstone of our unified operating model, allowing us to deliver 100 per cent accountability and ideas that flourish without boundaries. Havas Media has the team, capabilities and is well positioned to be a data-cum-content driven media partner to brands across sectors driving their overall marketing and goal strategy. We wish Venkat a happy homecoming!”
“We are delighted to have Venkat back with us once again. Havas Media has been growing at a phenomenal rate over the years. We have always been keen to get great professionals who have made a mark in the industry. Venkat is one such person who has contributed phenomenally in building brands through the creation of innovative media associations. We are looking forward to using his experience and commitment to develop our brand partnerships further,” added Havas Media Group MD – India Mohit Joshi.
Venkat said, “I am motivated to come back to Havas Media as the company is open to innovative and creative ideas. My focus will be to drive new and dynamic properties across media with an added focus in the sports arena to ensure that our brands get the best ROI under the guidance of Havas’ senior management.”
MAM
Sunrise Spices hosts four day Bihu cultural showcase in Assam
56 groups perform across five tribal dance forms at April 14 to 17 event.
MUMBAI: Spice met spirit and the rhythm did the talking. Sunrise Spices brought more than flavour to the table this Rongali Bihu, wrapping culture, community and choreography into a four-day celebration that turned Assam’s festive mood into a living stage. Titled ‘Kristir Milan Setu – Bridge of Cultural Unity’, the event ran from April 14 to April 17, transforming the Bihu week into a showcase of the state’s diverse tribal heritage. Rather than a static celebration, the initiative leaned into performance spotlighting traditional dance forms and turning them into a participative, competitive experience.
Across the four days, 56 group performers from different communities took centre stage, representing five distinct dance traditions Assamese, Bodo, Karbi, Rabha and Mising. Each day unfolded like a cultural chapter, highlighting a different facet of Assam’s identity through rhythm, movement and storytelling.
The event culminated in a felicitation ceremony attended by Ravi Sarma, where winners were recognised across categories based on authenticity, coordination, expression and stage presence, an attempt to balance celebration with craft.
The finale dialled up the energy further with a Barabarani performance by the Tezpuriya Thespian Dance Group, closing the event on a high note that blended spectacle with tradition.
For Sunrise Spices, the play goes beyond cultural patronage. The brand, part of ITC Limited, has long positioned itself around regional authenticity whether through recipes or roots. With this initiative, it extends that narrative from the kitchen to the cultural arena, aligning food heritage with living traditions.
In a landscape where brand activations often chase visibility, this one leaned into identity using dance not just as performance, but as a reminder that culture, much like spice, is best experienced when it’s shared.
