MAM
Havas Worldwide India announces senior appointments: Govind Agarwal named VP – account management
Mumbai: Havas Worldwide India, the creative arm of Havas Group India, has strengthened its strategy and account planning teams across Mumbai and Delhi offices with three key appointments. Govind Agarwal has joined Havas Worldwide Mumbai as vice president, account management. Sulagna Chanda has been appointed as associate vice president – Strategic Planning, and Neha Gupta has joined as associate vice president – Client Servicing.
Both Chanda and Gupta will work out of Havas Worldwide Delhi. These appointments will help strengthen the agency’s strategy and business teams and further drive the specialist services for which Havas Worldwide India is now known, stated the agency.
Havas Worldwide India managing director Manas Lahiri said, “Over the last two years, we have garnered exponential growth through valuable partnerships and added several marquee brands to our ever-expanding portfolio of traditional as well as new-age clients.”
“In our constant endeavour and commitment to make a meaningful difference, we continue to invest in strengthening our teams. With Govind, Sulagna and Neha on board, I’m confident we will further scale up our strategic planning capabilities and client relationships,” he added.
With over 16 years of experience, Agarwal has managed some of the biggest brands across key sectors such as FMCG, banking, fashion, beauty, entertainment, and more. His strengths include business growth and lending his expertise to extend marketing campaign ideas across digital, social, direct and on-ground stages. Over the years, he has managed brands including Medimix, Inox, Kotak Life Insurance, Godrej, Danone, Skoda Auto, and Kellogg’s, among others.
Over her 12-year-long career, Chanda has built her core strengths in brand strategy, consumer insights and leading agencies to establish effective marketing solutions. Some key accounts that she has managed through her career include The Times of India, ITC Hotels, Unilever, GSK, Disney and more.
Gupta is a communication management specialist with over 13 years of experience in handling brands, including Sony, Chicco, Dabur, Chyawanprash, MasterCard, Reebok, Whirlpool, ESPN STAR Sports, ITC Hotels, and more.
Havas Worldwide India has been consolidating its senior leadership team in recent years. The agency’s business model has assisted the agency in building a strong client roster across its Mumbai and Delhi offices, resulting in a growth of more than 30 per cent across both offices, claimed the agency.
Brands
Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
