MUMBAI, INDIA – Havas Group today announced its third acquisition in India in 2019 – Shobiz – the country’s first and most experienced experiential agency. Founded in 1982, Shobiz is regarded as a pioneer in the experiential space and has grown steadily and consistently to employ over 300 professionals across its five offices in India.
Headquartered in Mumbai, Shobiz is a multi-disciplinary experiential communications agency, offering an integrated service spectrum from concept to commissioning and final reporting. The agency’s strengths include strategic planning, communication & content design, creative, graphic and architectural design, audience acquisition, production and logistics. The Shobiz portfolio has over 142 recurring clients.
Shobiz will continue to be led by its Chief Executive Officer – Sameer Tobaccowala, who will report to Vishnu Mohan – Chairman & CEO, Havas Group India & South East Asia.
Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and CEO Havas Group, comments: “India has increasingly become a priority for Havas, and even more so over the past 12 months. With the acquisition of Shobiz we have delivered on our ambitious growth plan to triple our footprint in India. Shobiz’s talented teams are renowned for their solid track record and their excellence in the planning and flawless execution of complex events. After strengthening our local digital and service design capabilities with the acquisitions of Think Design and Langoor, we can now significantly boost our activation and experiential offer on the rapidly growing events market in India. Shobiz is a precious addition to Havas and I welcome them warmly.”
Vishnu Mohan, Chairman & CEO of Havas Group India & South East Asia, adds: “Experiential marketing is a critical component of an integrated approach to brand building as consumers are demanding personalized and meaningful interactions across all touchpoints. The acquisition of Shobiz will further strengthen the breadth of our multi-disciplinary Village model of working and bring on board a different kind of creative skills set. Shobiz’s transformation from a leading production house to be one of the country’s leading experiential communications agency is impressive and I am delighted to welcome Sameer and his entire team to the Havas family.”
“Crafting unforgettable brand experiences has the power to engage consumers in ways not seen before. Havas Group’s integrated approach to brand building coupled with their entrepreneurial spirit resonated with us. We are confident that this collaboration will unlock unprecedented growth opportunities for us and forge stronger consumer connections that foster trust, loyalty and business results. We are thrilled to be a part of Havas and look forward to a meaningful journey ahead, together,” said Sameer Tobaccowala, CEO, Shobiz.
