Brands
Microsoft to go aggressive on digital
MUMBAI: After acquiring Nokia, Microsoft has lost no time in launching the Nokia Lumia 630 in India in the affordable segment. Single SIM and dual SIM variants of the smart phone are available for Rs 10,500 and Rs 11,500, respectively.
An Economic Times report earlier this month said that Microsoft was targeting the $50-billion affordable handset market globally, with special focus on emerging markets, including India, where 80 per cent of the market leans towards smart phones priced below Rs 10,000. With the launch of the Nokia Lumia 630, Microsoft is certainly prepping to give other handset makers a run for their money.
Nokia Lumia 630 is the first device in India with the latest Windows Phone 8.1 OS. This is significant as various media reports have said that Windows Phone is the fastest growing ecosystem in the smart phone market and research firm IDC has even said it was the third biggest OS in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Not surprisingly, expectations from the Nokia Lumia 630 are much higher as compared to the price at which it is positioned. To attract consumers, the brand has rolled out special offers which include 3G data for 2 months (1GB limit) from Vodafone, a 2 month subscription for Box TV and eBooks worth Rs 2,000 from Flipkart.
Nokia India Director-Sales Raghuvesh Sarup mentioned that the brand will soon roll out a television and print campaign to market this product. Apart from this, Sarup said that the brand is expected to push around 50 per cent of its communication via digital. Interestingly, the blogger community will be involved frequently in the coming days.
Brands
Havas reports solid Q1 2026 with 2.5 per cent organic net revenue growth
Advertising group maintains positive momentum and confirms full-year guidance.
MUMBAI: Havas has started 2026 on a strong note proving that even in uncertain times, its converged model continues to deliver. The global advertising and communications group reported net revenue of €638 million for the first quarter of 2026, representing organic growth of +2.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. This performance was driven particularly by a robust +7.4 per cent organic growth in the United States.
Total revenue for the quarter reached €667 million, with organic growth of +2.8 per cent. Recent acquisitions contributed a positive scope impact of +1.7 per cent, while foreign exchange movements had a negative impact of -5.8 per cent, mainly due to the US dollar and British pound.
Europe, which accounts for 50 per cent of net revenue, delivered +1.1 per cent organic growth, supported by a good performance in France. North America (36 per cent of net revenue) led the way with +7.4 per cent growth, thanks to strong contributions from both Havas Creative and Havas Media. APAC & Africa (8 per cent) saw a decline of -6.2 per cent, while Latin America (6 per cent) remained nearly stable at -0.6 per cent.
Havas chairman and CEO Yannick Bolloré said, “Havas has started 2026 on a solid footing, continuing its momentum and delivering organic growth in net revenue of +2.5 per cent. This performance, in line with our full-year 2026 guidance, was driven in particular by continued strength in the US.”
The group also continued its bolt-on acquisition strategy, acquiring majority stakes in four agencies during the quarter: Acento Public Affairs (Spain), Ctrl Digital (Sweden), Styleheads (Germany), and Eyesight (France).
Havas maintained its strong creative reputation, ranking as a top holding company in the WARC Creative 100 for the sixth consecutive year, with three agencies BETC, Havas Paris, and Havas India placing in the Top 50.
Looking ahead, Havas confirmed its 2026 guidance: organic net revenue growth between +2.0 per cent and +3.0 per cent, adjusted EBIT margin between 13.2 per cent and 13.5 per cent, and a dividend payout ratio of around 40 per cent. The group also reiterated its medium-term targets for 2028.
Despite ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, Havas enters the rest of the year with solid fundamentals and confidence in its ability to deliver sustainable, profitable growth.
In a challenging environment, Havas is proving that its integrated, client-centric model remains resilient delivering steady growth while continuing to invest in creativity and innovation. The first quarter results suggest the group is well-positioned to navigate the year ahead with confidence.
