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Meenakshi C V joins Havas India as vice president, strategy and planning
Experienced brand strategist takes on key planning role at Havas India
MUMBAI: Meenakshi C V has been appointed vice president, strategy and planning at Havas India, marking a fresh chapter in a career built on brand thinking, marketing leadership and insight-led transformation.
Based in Bengaluru, Meenakshi steps into the role after nearly two decades of experience across agencies, consulting and in-house marketing teams. Her career has moved fluidly between boardroom strategy and ground-level consumer insight, giving her a reputation for turning research into real-world brand moves.
Most recently, she worked as an independent consultant, advising companies on brand strategy and qualitative research. Before that, she held senior marketing roles at Blumen Biovitals Healthkare, Spring Bio Solution and WiStride, where she led brand building, digital strategy and go-to-market planning.
Her agency experience includes stints at Ogilvy and J. Walter Thompson, where she handled major brands across categories. Along the way, she also contributed to the industry as an adjunct faculty member at Whistling Woods International, teaching advertising, account planning and integrated marketing communication.
With this appointment, Havas India adds a strategist known for mixing sharp consumer insight with practical brand storytelling. As the network continues to sharpen its strategic edge, Meenakshi’s arrival signals a clear focus on thinking that is both grounded in research and alive to culture.
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.
