Rana Barua is a renowned transformational leader in the global advertising and marketing industry, celebrated for his progressive business approach. Throughout his nearly three-decade career, he has revitalized companies, fostered award-winning cultures, and built successful organizations across advertising, marketing, and media. He is also highly regarded for his contributions to corporate governance, sustainability, and policy formulation. A “Meaningful Leader making a Meaningful Difference,” Rana’s ethos is to leverage business as a force for good by balancing people, profit, and the planet.
In 2024, Rana Barua was elevated to Group CEO of Havas India, Southeast & North Asia (Japan & South Korea), extending his leadership to nine additional markets across Havas Creative Network and Havas Media Network. Since joining Havas India in 2018 as Group CEO, Rana has expanded the network from 3 to 24 companies and grown its workforce from 200 to over 2,500 employees in just six years.
In his expanded role, Rana oversees Havas’ Creative and Media businesses across 10 markets, including India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan.
With an illustrious career spanning nearly three decades, Rana has held leadership roles in prestigious organizations, including Contract India (a leading WPP creative agency) and RED FM (India’s leading radio network). He has also held senior leadership positions at Radio City (as Head of Marketing) and several WPP agencies (JWT, Ogilvy, and Rediffusion Y&R), where he spent much of his professional life.
Rana’s deep passion for policymaking and advancing the advertising industry has led him to take on prominent roles within industry bodies. In September 2024, he was re-elected as President of The Advertising Club (TAC) for a second term and also re-elected as Vice President of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) for another term. In 2022, he was elected as Chairman of The ABBYs Award Governing Council by TAC, where he played a pivotal role in the resurgence of the ABBY Awards and its partnership with The One Show. Rana has served on the Managing Committee of the International Advertising Association (IAA) – India Chapter since 2013. In 2024, he was invited to join the Board of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) and served on the governing council of the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) from 2022 to 2024. In 2023, he was inducted as a Charter Member of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE).
As Group CEO of Havas India, Rana initiated numerous progressive collaborations, including Havas India’s role as a founding member of the UN Women Unstereotype Alliance India Chapter, which he has spearheaded since 2021. This groundbreaking initiative promotes gender equality by challenging harmful stereotypes in advertising. Under his leadership, Havas India and its agencies achieved Great Place to Work® certification for two consecutive years, 2022–2023 and 2023–2024.
In 2021, Rana was named Trailblazer of the Year in the Indian advertising industry.
Rana is one of the global advertising industry’s strongest advocates, evident in his active participation in various industry initiatives and award shows, such as the New York Festivals, APAC Effies, Spikes Asia, Emvies, IMPACT’s 50 Most Influential Women List, United Nations Women’s 2022 WEPs India Awards, and many others.
Rana also serves on the boards of several prominent companies within the Havas network and frequently speaks at leading MBA institutions across the country.
An alumnus of the Wharton School, Rana is a fitness enthusiast, enjoys traveling to new destinations, is a wine connoisseur, and is an ardent fan of Manchester United and Dire Straits.
Biography
Rana Barua is a renowned transformational leader in the global advertising and marketing industry, celebrated for his progressive business approach.
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