MAM
Havas Worldwide India ropes in Nikhil Guha & Neeraj Toor as group creative directors
Mumbai: Havas Worldwide India, the creative arm of Havas Group India, has further strengthened its creative team with the appointment of Nikhil Guha and Neeraj Toor as group creative directors.
The agency recently announced the appointment of Anupama Ramaswamy as its chief creative officer. The two new appointments demonstrate Havas Worldwide India’s commitment to consistently strengthening its team to make a more meaningful difference to its clients, said the agency in a statement.
Both Nikhil and Neeraj will report to Anupama, who will join the agency in October 2022.
Speaking about the appointments, Havas Group India chairman and chief creative officer Bobby Pawar said, “Nikhil and Neeraj embody the kind of creatives who are perfect for what we’re building—a brand-thinking-led, digital-first creative company. Both are strong idea people who are very comfortable with the craft and nuances of traditional and non-traditional media. Also, it doesn’t hurt that they are fun to hang out with. I’m sure they, along with their teams, will help Anupama achieve her goal of putting out great work.”
With over 14 years of experience, Nikhil joins Havas Worldwide India from McCann Worldgroup. This is Nikhil’s second stint with the agency; he has also worked with Publicis India and Contract Advertising in the past. Over the course of his career, he has worked on well-known brands such as Nescafe, Zomato, Maggi, SpiceJet, MakeMyTrip, and Nokia, to name a few. His work has also received a plethora of global and local awards, including a Bronze Lion at Cannes Lions, a Gold and Grand Prix at the APAC Effies, as well as numerous Effies and Abbys. In fact, his campaign “No Child Bride” for Child Survival India won Havas Worldwide India a Bronze metal at Cannes Lions in 2014.
Neeraj, who has over 13 years of experience, is a digital specialist and has worked in agencies including Dentsu Webchutney and Cheil India in the past. He has worked on leading brands including Samsung, Adidas, Canon, PVR, Adani, and Maruti Suzuki, among others. He was responsible for launching pharmacy brand Zeno Health in Mumbai and Pune with a campaign called Rahat ki Goli. He has won numerous awards for his work, including DMA Asia Echo Awards and the Abbys. He joins Havas Worldwide from Dentsu Impact.
MAM
BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
