MAM
Havas promotes Hagen to global tech czar, Seltzer steps up to helm media network
MUMBAI: Havas has announced a double-header of senior appointments, shuffling its data and tech deck to turbocharge its “converged” strategy. Dan Hagen has been promoted to global chief data and technology officer, while Jamie Seltzer steps up to take the reins at Havas Media Network. Think of it as a digital power play, a tech reshuffle.
Hagen, previously the media network’s tech guru, is now tasked with developing Havas’s AI-powered “converged” operating system. He’ll be wielding the digital baton, ensuring the agency’s 23,000 employees are working smarter, not harder. He also will be responsible for “strategic data and tech alignment,” which, in plain English, means making sure all the digital cogs are turning smoothly.
Havas’s CEO and chairman Yannick Bolloré, declared that “data and technology are the cornerstone of our converged global strategy.” He praised Hagen’s “award-winning audience planning platform,” suggesting he’s the man to lead Havas into the digital future.
Seltzer, meanwhile, steps into Hagen’s old shoes at Havas Media Network, charged with developing the “converged media product and roadmap.” She’ll also be overseeing CSA, Havas’s global tech, data, and analytics consultancy arm.
Havas Media Network global CEO Peter Mears said Seltzer has been “critical” in ensuring the agency is “data-led and outcome driven.”
Both Hagen and Seltzer bring a wealth of experience to their new roles, with over 20 years in the data and tech trenches. They’re tasked with ensuring Havas stays ahead of the curve in an increasingly digital world, where clients are demanding “future-forward” agency partners.
Brands
Ather Energy doubles service network to 500 centres nationwide
EV maker scales support alongside growth to keep riders on the road
MUMBAI: Ather Energy is quietly building more than just scooters. It is building the backbone to keep them running.
The electric two-wheeler maker has expanded its service network to 500 authorised centres across India, nearly doubling its footprint in a year from 277. The move mirrors its growing retail presence and signals a clear focus on one often overlooked part of EV ownership, what happens after the purchase.
From the outset, Ather has prioritised service support in every city it enters, aiming to make ownership as smooth as the ride itself. Its Gold Service Centres bring in upgraded customer lounges, modern equipment and processes designed to make servicing more transparent and reliable.
Speed, too, is part of the pitch. Through its ExpressCare initiative, riders can get periodic maintenance done in about an hour, now available across 82 centres, turning what used to be a chore into a quick pit stop.
Ather Energy chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela said, “Crossing 500 service centres is an important milestone as we scale across the country. Reliable after-sales support is central to the ownership experience, and our focus remains on consistent service quality and accessibility.”
The expansion comes as demand grows for models like the Ather 450 and the Rizta, which have helped the company reach a broader set of riders across metros and emerging cities alike.
Alongside servicing, Ather continues to power up infrastructure through the Ather Grid, now one of the largest fast-charging networks for two-wheelers, with over 4,300 charging points.
With plans to scale further and deepen its presence, Ather’s approach is clear. Selling the scooter may start the journey, but keeping it running smoothly is what sustains it.
