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Bobby Pawar hangs up his boots as chairman & CCO of Havas India
Mumbai: Havas India chairman and chief creative officer Bobby Pawar has decided to step down from his role. He joined the network in November 2018. A much-revered advertising legend, Pawar has been a part of the advertising industry for over three decades. Following this, Pawar has decided to move away from advertising. He will, however, be a part of Havas India officially till September and will continue to consult on Havas’ clients and projects as and when necessary.
“There are some who will think there is some hanky-panky to my stepping away. I understand the appeal of it. It certainly makes for more interesting gossip sessions. The truth is, sometimes life leads you to a crossroad. Or, in my case, it is death. Over the last year, I lost way too many people I love, way too early. All of them had their ‘one day I will do this or that’. This made me realise that I had to find what I would love to do that ‘one day’ and do it right now. Yeah, it is hard to walk away from what I have loved for thirty-one years. But I have always chosen to do the hard thing. Like, take on the challenges of changing the course of the agencies I have helmed. Now it’s time to do that with my own life. What is certain though, is that writing will be a huge part of whatever I dive into next. I am nothing if not a storyteller, a craftsman who chisels prose with a pen,” said Pawar.
Looking back at his time at Havas India, Pawar said, “The concept of Havas Village is what excited me the most. Moreover, both Rana and I were entrusted with the freedom to build and run Havas India from ground up, like entrepreneurs. Something I had not experienced before. It takes two to tango, and with a friend like Rana, who really is more of family than a friend, it was easy. And today, I can proudly say that we have built a brand-led, digital-first ecosystem, the results of which are here for all to see. Havas India has undergone an unprecedented transformation and has seen exponential growth over the last 5 years. We have made our place in the big league, and we are here to stay. I am grateful to Yannick Bollore for his faith in us, to our teams across all the companies of Havas India for giving their all to the mission, and Rana, you know how I feel about you.”
Speaking on Pawar’s departure, Havas India Group CEO Rana Barua said, “Ours is truly a Yin and Yang partnership. Especially when you know your creative half for nearly three decades, it becomes a seamless, productive, and truly memorable journey. Bobby helped me rebuild Havas’ presence in India, and with his creative prowess and reputation, he completely overhauled the Creative vertical of the network. With his trademark humor and quirks, Bobby made Havas India more than just a place to work. Some goodbyes are bittersweet because while I will not see him around at work, he will continue to be an inextricable part of my life. I wish him all the very best for this new chapter of his life.”
Barua further elaborates the structure of Havas Creative & Health Network India with immediate effect following Pawar’s exit. Havas Worldwide will be in the hands of Anupama (Anu) Ramaswamy who joined Havas Worldwide India as chief creative officer last year. Along with CEO Tarun Jha and chief strategy officer Anirban Mozumdar, they will oversee all the three Havas Worldwide India offices and client relationships.
“The other agencies in the Creative & Health network and their respective creative leads, namely – Havas Life Sorento (chief creative officer Sachin Talwalkar), Havas CX India (executive creative director Ashu Mhatre,), Havas People (managing director Arindam Sengupta), Conran Design Mumbai (Head of Design Mayuri Nikumbh), Shobiz (chief creative officer Subir Majumdar), Think Design (design director Arun Chauhan) along with their CEOs – will continue to work closely across the Village (and Havas Media Network India) and report into me”, said Barua.
In his own words, Pawar is allergic to math, but his numbers aren’t half bad. He is a two-time copywriter of the year, with over 400 local and international metals. He was IAA India’s Creative Agency Leader of the Year (2021), and Campaign Asia’s Creative Person of the Year (2011) for India and South Asia. Before his tenure at Havas India, Pawar spent five and a half years at Publicis, where he created some of the country’s most talked-about and effective campaigns. In his earlier role as the chief creative officer of JWT, he made a marked difference in the agency’s creative product. Pawar also spent four and a half years as the CCO of DDB Mudra Group where he raised the creative bar across many disciplines; digital, experiential and media. As a result, he transformed the group into one of the hottest agencies in the country. Moreover, Pawar was in the United States for seven years where he worked with Ogilvy, New York and BBDO, Chicago. One of his films ran on the Superbowl, got featured in the MoMA and nominated for an Emmy.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
