Big Moves: Havas India, Byju's

Havas Media Network India names Anand Kumar as president - south

Havas Media Network India has named Anand Kumar as president - south, Havas Media India to spearhead the operations in the southern markets.

Anand will be based out of Bengaluru and report to Uday Mohan, managing director, Havas Media India and will work closely with the core leadership team of the agency.

Anand comes with an invaluable experience of two decades spanning diverse markets and esteemed agencies. In his most recent role, he spearheaded a media consultancy, catering specifically to direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands. Before this, he held a decade-old stint with GroupM in various senior roles.

Welcoming Anand onboard, Uday Mohan, managing director, Havas Media India says, “We are now poised to embark on our next phase of growth, as we stay committed to making a meaningful difference in the industry. Our robust operations in the south, offer immense potential for marketers and as we continue to grow our business, Anand’s rich expertise will prove to be a huge leverage for us in the region. His addition to the team aligns perfectly with our commitment to staying at the forefront of media innovation.”

Talking about his new role, Anand comments, “It is an exciting opportunity to be a part of a resurgent Havas. The remarkable growth trajectory witnessed by Havas Media Network India in recent years is truly commendable. I am particularly impressed by the agency's refusal to get complacent. Its visionary approach towards expansion, transformation, and the distinct proposition of Meaningful Brands is truly inspiring. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with a dedicated team that has earned the trust of some of the most esteemed brands in the nation and partnering with some great marketing minds.”

Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Network India shares, "At Havas Media Network India, our team has grown to over 1000 members, reflecting our expanding presence both in terms of capabilities, talent pool and client base nationwide. Our operations in Bengaluru serve as a hub for numerous key and successful client relationships in the region. We are deeply ingrained in the southern market, leveraging our diverse competencies via teams at PivotRoots, Havas Media India, and Centre of Excellence. As our network expands rapidly, we prioritise leaders who possess a profound understanding of the industry landscape. Anand's appointment reflects our commitment to enhancing omnichannel planning capabilities and ensuring seamless workflows from client briefs to tangible business outcomes, particularly within the pivotal South market."

Arjun Mohan steps down as Byju's CEO, founder Raveendran to resume daily operations leadership

Byju's has streamlined its operations and positions the company where it will be consolidating its businesses into three focused divisions - the learning app, online classes and tuition centres, and test-prep. This new structure will enable each vertical to be nimbler, cost-efficient and better equipped to capitalise on market opportunities while leveraging the power of Byju's brand and ecosystem. Each of these units will have separate leaders who will independently run the businesses sustainably to ensure profitability.

The changes follow an extensive seven-month operational review and cost optimisation exercise led by outgoing Byju's India CEO Arjun Mohan. Mohan will now transition to an external advisory role, lending his deep EdTech expertise to the company and its founders during this transformation phase.

“This reorganisation marks the start of Byju's 3.0 - a leaner and more agile organisation ready to quickly adapt to evolving market dynamics, especially in the realm of hyper-personalised education. By focusing on our core strengths with three specialised business units, we will unlock new growth opportunities while continuing to focus on profitability,” said Byju Raveendran, founder and group CEO.

“Arjun has done an outstanding job steering Byju's through a challenging period,” he added. “We are grateful for his leadership and look forward to his continued contributions as a strategic advisor.”

This new phase will also see Byju Raveendran taking a more hands-on approach to spearheading the daily operations of the company. Over the past four years, he has focused primarily on strategic aspects such as raising capital and driving global expansion. However, recognising the need for strong leadership during this challenging hour, he will now be deeply involved in the company's day-to-day functioning, leveraging his expertise to steer Byju's towards its next phase of growth and innovation.

With this new organisational structure and with the return of Byju Raveendran as the operational leader, Byju's is now well-positioned to begin its next chapter of innovation-led growth by launching at scale its new suite of AI-first products.