Hires & Promotions: Aegon Life, Havas Group
Aegon Life Appoints Akhil Almeida As Head Of Marketing
Aegon Life has appointed Akhil Almeida as Head of Marketing, where he will be responsible for heading the branding, communication, and digital marketing functions.
Speaking on his appointment, Akhil says “Aegon Life is now a 100% digitally focused company. We’re on a journey to radically enhance the insurance buying experience – combining innovative and relevant products, consumer-centric experiences at the right price. We’re leveraging data and consumer insights to support product development and sales efforts, increase awareness and market innovative products.”
Satishwar Balakrishnan, MD & CEO, Aegon Life shares, “Akhil is a highly skilled leader with experience in leading marketing initiatives for consumer-led brands in India. He has closely studied consumer preferences and evolving digital behaviours, which will help us develop strategies to reach our target audience, keeping the brand essence alive and agile. We look forward to the expertise he brings to the table, which will help us in enhancing Aegon Life’s positioning as India’s first and only fully digital Life Insurance Company.”
Akhil has more than 16 years of marketing experience across multiple sectors, including Media + OTT, E-commerce, Tech, FMCG, Auto, and BFSI. Before this, he led the Digital Practice at Kantar, helping clients understand the impact of the internet on consumer behaviour. He has also worked with the Mahindra Group where he was a core member of corporate branding and transformation team that developed the Group’s brand promise (Rise). During this time, he was co-Chair of the Digital Council, leading strategic digital initiatives - including the Group’s first forays into mobile, social, and influencer marketing.
Havas Media Group India Names Sanchita Roy As Head of Strategy
In keeping with the global Mx philosophy and clear emphasis on Product, People, Pitches and Passion factors in 2021, Havas Media Group India is reorganising and strengthening its team with Sanchita Roy taking over as Head of Strategy. Sanchita, who joined the group as Head of West to manage the overall Mumbai operations last year, is armed with over 19 years of experience in media planning and strategy.
In her new role, she will be responsible for driving the growth strategy for Havas Media Group India and leading strategic investments for its clients. Sanchita will continue to report to Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Group, India.
Sanchita comes with a vast experience in FMCG, Telecom, Tourism & Auto having worked across key global businesses such as Unilever, J&J, Beiersdorf, SC Johnson, Reckitt, AB InBev, Nissan, Tourism Australia and Vodafone and domestic businesses such as Parle Agro and Berger Paints to name a few. In her previous role, she was heading the strategy function for Omnicom India across both agency brands, OMD & PHD. She was also responsible for rolling out PHD’s strategic planning process, Source, in India and has several thought-leadership articles to her name. Her previous stints also include Wavemaker and Mindshare. Sanchita has been a recipient of coveted industry awards namely, Media Abbys, CMO Asia, Emvies and Campaign Asia Account Person of the Year.
Commenting on the re-organisation, Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Group India, said, “Havas Media Group India has won many new clients last year despite the slowdown and continues to keep the momentum this year too with many prestigious clients such as Dominos, CG Foods, Micromax and more. Our India offering is now a key contributor to the overall global pie and hence this is an important step towards strengthening our product portfolio. Sanchita’s vast experience as a strategist makes her a perfect fit for this role and further bolsters our leadership team.”
Commenting on her new role, Sanchita Roy, Head of Strategy, Havas Media Group India added, “The last one year has been one of constant change across the world, especially so in the way consumers are interacting and engaging with brands. In my new role, the endeavour would be to understand these shifts and deliver Meaningful Media for our clients, using data, technology and content. I am excited about this opportunity and look forward to adding value and partnering Havas Media Group India in its new growth journey.”
