MAM
Havas India elevates Jaibeer Ahmad as chief transformation & growth officer
Mumbai: Havas India, part of Paris-headquartered advertising network Havas, has elevated Jaibeer Ahmad, formerly managing partner – North at Havas Worldwide India to the role of chief transformation & growth officer. In this newly created role in India, Jaibeer will set transformative strategies, driving business growth through integration and collaboration across all 18 Havas India agencies.
Based in Gurgaon, Jaibeer brings a wealth of experience and an impeccable track record, and will report to Havas India, Group CEO, South East Asia & North Asia (Japan & South Korea) Rana Barua.
Havas’ unique village model and unmatched integration offerings has been an industry differentiator around the globe and has seen sweeping success in markets including Paris, London, North America, Spain, Portugal, and the UAE. The network is deeply invested in building the same expertise in India which will be led by Jaibeer.
Jaibeer, a well-respected and seasoned industry professional, joined Havas Worldwide India in December 2022, leaving an indelible mark as Managing Partner – North. Under his leadership, the agency secured key accounts and welcomed renowned clients, reinforcing Havas India’s position in the market. Known for his business growth acumen, Jaibeer has been a driving force behind Havas Worldwide India’s new business growth in the North India market. He managed some of the biggest accounts of the agency including Reckitt, Suzuki 2 Wheelers, Dabur and IFB, and won some marquee clients including Mamaearth, IFB, Badshah, Blinkit, IQOO, amongst others, contributing significantly to brand strategy, creative development, and overall revenue expansion.
Havas India, Group CEO, South East Asia & North Asia (Japan & South Korea) Rana Barua said, “The last 5 years have been a period of exponential growth for Havas India, having grown steadily from 3 to 18 agencies, both organically and inorganically delivering nine differentiated services to our clients. While this momentum will continue, and we will be adding a few more expertise, it is now critical that we consolidate and leverage the strength of our offering to enlarge the services and accelerate business growth. Jaibeer has the nuanced understanding of the One Havas ethos, the strategic knowhow to turn opportunities into tangible outcomes, and strong, people-focused leadership, and I am confident that he will make Havas India one of the top growth markets within the Havas ecosystem through integration.”
Commenting on his elevation, Jaibeer Ahmad said, “At Havas India, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to collaborate across an array of functions, including, Media, CX, Experiential, PR, UI/UX, E-commerce, Programmatic, Brand Design, Health, and many more. The beauty and the strength of this model is that all these expertise are under one roof. This experience crystallized the vital need for an integrated ecosystem like our Havas Village, navigating today’s complex marketing landscape. In this new role, my mission is clear: foster convergence and collaboration among our 18 agencies and the growing ecosystem, and craft customised, integrated solutions for our clients.”
With over 23 years of experience in advertising and marketing brand-building, Jaibeer has held leadership positions for the past 12 years, during which time, he has significantly contributed to brand strategy, creative development, new business acquisition, overall revenue growth, and team mentoring. Jaibeer has extensive experience spearheading integrated marketing campaigns for prominent international, start-up, and domestic brands. His primary strength lies in driving business growth which also reflected in the growth of Havas Worldwide India in the north market.
Brands
Reserve Bank of India cancels Paytm Payments Bank licence
Central bank cites compliance failures; curbs tighten as wind-up looms
MUMBAI: India’s banking watchdog delivered its sharpest blow yet to Paytm Payments Bank, cancelling its licence and effectively ending its ability to operate as a bank under the law.
The Reserve Bank of India said the entity can no longer conduct banking business under the Banking Regulation Act, citing concerns that its affairs were not being run in the interest of depositors or the public and that it had failed to meet licence conditions.
The move escalates a crackdown that has been building for months. The bank had already been barred from onboarding new customers since March 11, 2022, and later faced restrictions on deposits, credit and wallet top-ups. In January 2024, the central bank ordered it to stop accepting fresh deposits, pointing to persistent non-compliance, including lapses in customer due diligence, use of funds and technology systems.
Operationally, the bank is now on a tight leash. It may process withdrawals of existing deposits and facilitate loan referrals through banking correspondents, but it cannot take fresh deposits.
The central bank said it would apply to the high court to wind up the bank.
Paytm sought to ringfence the fallout. In a regulatory filing, it said the licence cancellation applies to Paytm Payments Bank Limited, a separate entity, and should not be attributed to One 97 Communications. It added that there is no exposure or material business arrangement with the bank and that it operates independently, without Paytm’s board or management involvement.
“As informed earlier, Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited) and its services, which have been operating without interruption, will continue to operate uninterrupted. These include the Paytm app, Paytm UPI, Paytm Gold and all other services offered by its subsidiaries and associated companies,” the company said.
The distinction may reassure users of the app ecosystem, but the regulator’s verdict is unequivocal. After years of warnings, caps and curbs, the payments bank experiment at Paytm is being shut down—decisively, and with little room left to manoeuvre.
