MAM
Havas Group India appoints Anjali Gupte as CFO
Mumbai: Havas Group India has appointed Anjali Gupte as chief financial officer, further bolstering its senior leadership team. Based out of Mumbai, Gupte will report to Havas Group India CEO Rana Barua and also Asia Pacific Group CFO Brice Pinoncely.
Gupte has over two decades of experience across industries spanning advertising, financial services, manufacturing and real estate. In her previous role as CFO at Grey Group, she oversaw financial operations of the agency’s creative, digital and activation businesses in South Asia and was responsible for driving profitable growth across India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Prior to Grey, she worked at Thomson Reuters for 17 years in the financial risk division. She is also an Independent director on the Board of Astec LifeSciences Limited, part of the Godrej group, where she also had a four-year stint.
Havas Group India CEO Rana Barua said, “Havas Group India is now totally integrated and has over 1000 people working across 10 specialist agencies in 3 Villages (Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai). We also have ambitious acquisition plans and multiple ongoing conversations for both media and creative groups. I welcome Anjali as Group CFO at this crucial juncture as we stabilise operations and action our growth plans. Anjali is a highly accomplished professional with leadership and people skills that have stood her in good stead as a business partner and strategist in her previous roles.”
On her new role, Anjali Gupte said, “I am delighted to join the Havas Group, which in a very short while has built a fantastic reputation and stature in the Indian advertising market. With an extremely progressive vision of growth, strong leadership, and a wide spectrum of specialist agencies ranging from creative, media, health, data, design and entertainment all under an integrated Village model, this will truly be an exciting opportunity for me. I am looking forward to my role at Havas Group at such a challenging time and am confident that we will make a meaningful difference as we go forth.”
MAM
Havas Life names João Camacho chief creative officer for India & Middle East
Global healthcare creative João Camacho to lead bold campaigns across two regions
MUMBAI: Havas Life has appointed João Camacho as chief creative officer for India and the Middle East, signalling the network’s drive for standout creativity in two of the world’s fastest-growing healthcare markets.
Based in Mumbai, João will report to Eric Weisberg, global chief creative officer at Havas Health, and Dorelle Kulkarni, managing director of Havas Life Mumbai.
João brings more than 20 years of global experience in healthcare communications, having worked across Africa, Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Middle East. He is known for turning complex science into human-centred, impactful campaigns.
Before joining Havas, João led creative work at Publicis in Dubai, partnering with pharmaceutical and health organisations to launch treatments, build disease-awareness platforms, and deliver patient-first communications that drive measurable results. His work has been recognised at FIAP, CCP, New York Festivals, and other top international award shows. He has also served as jury member at Cannes Lions Health, Clio Health, The One Show, and more.
“João is a truly global creative leader who understands how healthcare brands need to speak differently across cultures and markets,” said Eric Weisberg. “His curiosity, creativity, and experience make him a powerful addition as we grow in India and the Middle East.”
Havas Health global chief client officer and CEO Apac-Latam Charles Houdoux added, “João’s appointment reflects our ambition to build world-class creative leadership locally while staying connected to Havas Health’s global vision. He brings the cultural fluency and creative confidence these markets demand.”
Dorelle Kulkarni said, “We’re thrilled to welcome João. His mix of strategic thinking, empathy, and creativity is exactly what clients and patients need in today’s fast-changing healthcare landscape. He will help us strengthen Havas Life in India and deliver meaningful impact.”
João joins Havas Life at a time of global momentum, as the network invests in talent, innovation, and AI-powered creativity. At CES 2026, Havas unveiled Ava, a large language model portal designed to make AI more accessible across the network and accelerate creative collaboration through its Converged.AI platform.
“Joining Havas Health feels like stepping onto a stage made for bold ideas,” said João Camacho. “Leading creative across India and the Middle East, a region buzzing with energy and possibility, is thrilling and humbling. I can’t wait to bring my perspective and passion to shape campaigns that inspire, connect, and make a real difference.”
With João at the creative helm, Havas Life looks set to turn bold ideas into campaigns that resonate, inspire, and leave a lasting mark across India and the Middle East.
