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.
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
