MAM
Havas launches its global e-commerce vertical Havas Market in India
Mumbai: Havas Media Group (HMG) India, the media agency conglomerate of Havas Group India has announced the launch of Havas Market, a full-service e-commerce offering that aims to empower consumers in their shopping journey, providing meaningful e-retail experiences and generating incremental business for brands. Globally, Havas Market was launched in October 2020.
To lead this division, HMG India has appointed Sharukh Lakhani as lead – Havas Market. With over 11 years of experience across various segments in the e-commerce space, Lakhani has expert knowledge of the brand, retailer and agency sides of the ecosystem. From start-ups like CouponDunia to established brands like Unilever & GNC, he has been instrumental in building successful e-commerce businesses on the back of strong partnerships with key platforms including Amazon, Flipkart, 1mg, and Healthkart, according to the agency. Lakhani joins from Wavemaker where he led the e-commerce media strategy for clients including Mondelez and Sun Pharma.
Lakhani will closely work with Provit Chemmani, who leads the e-commerce expansion globally for Havas Group, Havas Media Group India head of digital services Rohan Chincholi, and a team of specialists across research, insights, performance media, content & analytics, said the agency.
Commenting on the launch, Havas Group India Group CEO Rana Barua said, “With the launch of Havas Market, India is poised to become a leader in creating meaningful shopping experiences. The division will give clients access to real-time market intel to help them form better decisions on the back of data and technology. I’m excited about the Group’s ambitious plans, forging into new avenues, that not only strengthen our capabilities but also ensure upskilling of our people and processes, thereby providing a seamless and integrated experience to our clients.”
“The current e-retail landscape in India is very competitive and complicated for the consumer,” Havas Media Group India CEO Mohit Joshi said.
“From fashion, beauty, electronics and mobile, to food, healthcare and entertainment, each product category has witnessed significant growth in e-commerce spending. India already has close to 200 million+ online transacting users. Given Havas Media Group India’s diversified client portfolio, we identified a great opportunity to develop an in-house e-commerce practice. With Havas Market, we want to become the go-to-market entity in the industry, offering an end-to-end solution and optimising clients’ e-retail business. I’m confident with Havas’ existing capabilities and the stellar team of experts, we will be able to scale the vertical to even greater heights.”
Havas Market will provide a comprehensive understanding and analysis across all sales channels, including 50+ marketplaces, social commerce, direct to consumer, and digital to retail, using a unique methodology that goes beyond media. It will further include capabilities ranging from insights & research, retail & content management, paid media, sales analytics and more. With India experiencing tremendous e-commerce growth fuelled by pandemic-accelerated digital adoption and a rapid expansion in internet services, Havas Market provides a competitive edge from its ability to deliver one-stop e-commerce solutions to manage brands’ economies of scale.
“Consumers today are constantly on the lookout for ease and convenience in their purchase journey. Havas Market will help brands rethink the retail journey and, in turn, reach an engaged audience. The approach will be guided by Havas Media Group’s Converged data partnership & Mx process that uses connection, context and content to create the most meaningful experience for consumers,” Rohan Chincholi commented.
MAM
Sleepwell unveils nationwide sleep study on World Sleep Day
79 per cent use screens before bed, 36 per cent of 18–25-year-olds sleep ≤5 hours.
MUMBAI: Sleepwell just dropped the pillow truth bomb because when India’s sleeping less and scrolling more, even the mattress wants to stage an intervention. On World Sleep Day 2026, Sleepwell released its nationwide Sleep Study, painting a stark picture of India’s escalating sleep crisis. The findings show that 79% of Indians use screens right before bed, fuelling restless nights and drowsy days. Alarmingly, 36% of young adults aged 18–25 sleep five hours or less making them the country’s most sleep-deprived group.
The study also busts the myth of “catch-up sleep”, 65% of respondents actually sleep even later on weekends, pointing to increasingly irregular patterns that spill fatigue into the working week. Mattress discomfort emerged as a frequently overlooked culprit behind late-night wake-ups and constant leak-anxiety checks.
To drive the message home, Sleepwell’s CMO Puneet Gulati appeared on Zee Business, stressing that quality sleep isn’t a luxury, it’s foundational health. He highlighted how the right mattress can transform restless nights into restorative ones.
The brand doubled down with clever late-night activations, partnering with a quick-commerce platform to serve contextual ads between 11 pm and 3 am, gently nudging bleary-eyed scrollers to consider mattress discomfort as the reason they’re still awake and pointing them to the nearest Sleepwell store. Digital influencers and creators also shared relatable stories of how poor sleep fuels impulsive late-night behaviour.
In a nation that celebrates hustle but quietly pays for it in lost rest, Sleepwell isn’t just selling mattresses, it’s selling the radical idea that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is close your eyes and actually sleep well.
