Brands
DP World signs Abhishek Sharma as new face
DUBAI: Cricket has scored another global partnership as DP World steps up to the crease with rising Indian star Abhishek Sharma. The logistics major announced the young batting sensation as its newest brand ambassador, placing him alongside Sachin Tendulkar and golf ace Tommy Fleetwood in its growing sports line-up.
It caps a landmark year for Sharma, who lit up the 2025 DP World Asia Cup by smashing a record 314 runs in seven innings, the most ever scored in a single T20I edition of the tournament. His consistency carried him to the top of the ICC Men’s T20I Batter Rankings, where he achieved the highest rating recorded in the format.
Through this long-term partnership, Sharma will feature in brand campaigns, media engagements and digital stories that spotlight shared values of excellence, innovation and ambition.
DP World CEO and managing director for the Middle East, North Africa and India Subcontinent Rizwan Soomar, said the company is delighted to welcome a player who reflects its ambition to change what is possible. He praised Sharma’s fearless style and infectious joy at the crease, saying his performances continue to redefine boundaries ahead of an action-packed ICC season.
Sharma said he was thrilled to represent a company committed to growing cricket worldwide. He added that the sport had shaped his life and that he looked forward to helping DP World support more players and communities around the globe.
His first appearance for the brand took place during the Diwali with the stars celebration at the inaugural DP World India Championship. The announcement was accompanied by a special video featuring Sharma receiving a personalised shirt with help from Tendulkar and Fleetwood.
The signing strengthens DP World’s expanding cricket footprint, which includes partnerships with the International Cricket Council, the DP World Asia Cup, DP World ILT20, SA20 and the Delhi Capitals men’s and women’s teams.
Since 2023, the company has pushed to make cricket more accessible through its Beyond Boundaries Initiative and a kits-for-runs programme that donates ten cricket kits for every 100 runs scored in ICC tournaments. So far, twelve refurbished shipping containers have been delivered to grassroots clubs worldwide along with 3,000 kits, with more on the way.
Brands
Havas reports solid Q1 2026 with 2.5 per cent organic net revenue growth
Advertising group maintains positive momentum and confirms full-year guidance.
MUMBAI: Havas has started 2026 on a strong note proving that even in uncertain times, its converged model continues to deliver. The global advertising and communications group reported net revenue of €638 million for the first quarter of 2026, representing organic growth of +2.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. This performance was driven particularly by a robust +7.4 per cent organic growth in the United States.
Total revenue for the quarter reached €667 million, with organic growth of +2.8 per cent. Recent acquisitions contributed a positive scope impact of +1.7 per cent, while foreign exchange movements had a negative impact of -5.8 per cent, mainly due to the US dollar and British pound.
Europe, which accounts for 50 per cent of net revenue, delivered +1.1 per cent organic growth, supported by a good performance in France. North America (36 per cent of net revenue) led the way with +7.4 per cent growth, thanks to strong contributions from both Havas Creative and Havas Media. APAC & Africa (8 per cent) saw a decline of -6.2 per cent, while Latin America (6 per cent) remained nearly stable at -0.6 per cent.
Havas chairman and CEO Yannick Bolloré said, “Havas has started 2026 on a solid footing, continuing its momentum and delivering organic growth in net revenue of +2.5 per cent. This performance, in line with our full-year 2026 guidance, was driven in particular by continued strength in the US.”
The group also continued its bolt-on acquisition strategy, acquiring majority stakes in four agencies during the quarter: Acento Public Affairs (Spain), Ctrl Digital (Sweden), Styleheads (Germany), and Eyesight (France).
Havas maintained its strong creative reputation, ranking as a top holding company in the WARC Creative 100 for the sixth consecutive year, with three agencies BETC, Havas Paris, and Havas India placing in the Top 50.
Looking ahead, Havas confirmed its 2026 guidance: organic net revenue growth between +2.0 per cent and +3.0 per cent, adjusted EBIT margin between 13.2 per cent and 13.5 per cent, and a dividend payout ratio of around 40 per cent. The group also reiterated its medium-term targets for 2028.
Despite ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, Havas enters the rest of the year with solid fundamentals and confidence in its ability to deliver sustainable, profitable growth.
In a challenging environment, Havas is proving that its integrated, client-centric model remains resilient delivering steady growth while continuing to invest in creativity and innovation. The first quarter results suggest the group is well-positioned to navigate the year ahead with confidence.
