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Havas CX India appoints Amandeep Singh Kochar as EVP –experience strategy & martech head
Havas CX India has strengthened its leadership bench, appointing Amandeep Singh Kochar as executive vice president, experience strategy and martech head, as the group doubles down on customer experience as the core of brand growth.
Based in Gurugram, Kochar will report to Manas Lahiri, chief growth officer of Havas India, who also oversees the Havas CX India operations. He will work closely with leadership teams across the network to position Havas CX India at the centre of client conversations.
In his new role, Kochar will focus on building future-ready customer experience and marketing technology capabilities, spanning martech, CRM and data analytics. His mandate includes strengthening the network’s go-to-market strategy and driving deeper integration across Havas India agencies.
David Shulman, global ceo of Havas CX, said, “I’m thrilled to welcome Amandeep to the Havas CX team. In today’s landscape, brands are increasingly recognizing the importance of uniting communications and experience. Amandeep’s leadership will empower our clients to gain deeper insights into customer needs and develop experiences that deliver on the promises brands communicate.”
Lahiri said customer experience now sits at the heart of brand relationships and long-term value creation. “Across markets, CX is emerging as the core driver of brand relationships, loyalty and long-term value, and today sits at the centre of every client conversation. As brands navigate an increasingly complex marketplace, CX has become the lens through which strategy, creativity, data and technology must converge. Amandeep brings a rare blend of strategic depth, martech expertise and regional leadership experience. His ability to build CX capabilities and drive growth will be critical as we scale our CX strategy and go-to-market practice.”
Kochar said Havas CX India was at a pivotal moment. “Havas India has emerged as one of the most progressive integrated networks today, with a powerful blend of creativity, data and media. Havas CX India is at an exciting inflection point where these capabilities are coming together with technology to deliver real business outcomes. There is no better place to build the future of CX, and I’m looking forward to partnering with Manas and the wider Havas teams to create scalable CX and martech solutions that deliver seamless, impactful consumer journeys.”
Kochar brings 15 years of experience across India and South-east Asia, working with enterprise brands on aligning brand strategy, customer experience and marketing technology. His expertise spans first-party data programmes, personalisation at scale, CRM, martech orchestration and marketing effectiveness. He most recently worked at VML, helping build CX and commerce capabilities across India and South-east Asia, and has also pursued an entrepreneurial consulting stint focused on Bharat-first brands. His client portfolio includes Ford, Colgate, Mahindra, Hindustan Unilever, PepsiCo and BAT.
A frequent contributor to industry thought leadership, Kochar has authored reports for WARC and publishes a biweekly newsletter, Marketing Mediator.
With experience, data and technology now inseparable, Havas is making its bet clear. The future of brand growth, it believes, will be won where experience, martech and meaning meet.
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Havas Life Mumbai & Shobiz team up to offer experiential healthcare solutions in India
Alliance blends science-led strategy with immersive experiences for pharma brands
MUMBAI: In a move aimed at reshaping how healthcare brands connect with their audiences, Havas Life Mumbai and Shobiz have joined forces to deliver integrated experiential solutions for India’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sector.
The partnership brings together two distinct strengths under Havas India. On one side is Havas Life Mumbai’s deep grounding in medical and scientific communications, and on the other, Shobiz’s expertise in large-scale experiential design and execution. The aim is simple but ambitious: to bridge the long-standing gap between science-heavy strategy and high-impact on-ground experiences.
As healthcare communication grows more complex, the industry is shifting away from traditional messaging towards engagement that is immersive, measurable and compliant. This collaboration seeks to meet that demand by offering end-to-end solutions that connect with healthcare professionals, patients and caregivers in more meaningful ways.
The joint offering will tap into emerging technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality and AI-led interactive platforms. These tools are expected to help simplify complex medical information while making engagement more dynamic and outcome-focused.
Havas Health global chief client officer and CEO Apac-Latam Charles Houdoux said, “By bringing together scientific depth and experience design, we are creating a new model of engagement where knowledge and emotion work hand in hand. This is about improving understanding, building trust and ultimately driving better patient outcomes.”
Havas India group CEO Rana Barua added, “This partnership allows us to move beyond conventional formats and create experiences that are more relevant and impactful for the health and wellness space. It reflects where the future of healthcare engagement is headed.”
Havas Life Mumbai managing director Dorelle Kulkarni noted that brands today need more than just communication. “They need experiences that make complex science easier to understand and inspire action. This collaboration enables us to deliver exactly that, with measurable impact.”
Echoing the sentiment, Shobiz CEO Sameer Tobaccowala said, “The future lies in combining credibility with creativity. Together, we can offer integrated platforms that not only engage but also deliver real business outcomes.”
With this alliance, the Havas network is betting big on experience-led healthcare communication. If executed well, the partnership could set a new benchmark for how medical science is not just communicated, but truly experienced across India.
