Bengaluru, India — Deepali Saini, who is the incumbent CEO of Think Design, has been appointed as global chief experience design officer for Havas CX, where she will join the Global CX Leadership Board and lead the network’s Experience Design (XD) practice worldwide.
Based at the Havas integrated village in Bengaluru, Saini will continue to report to Rana Barua, Havas India’s Group CEO of South East Asia & North Asia, and to David Shulman, Global CEO, Havas CX, for her expanded responsibilities.
Her new mandate includes unifying and elevating the network’s XD practice globally, with a focus on design excellence, building capabilities, and driving business growth, as well as bringing together global XD teams by expanding service offerings, establishing shared working methods, promoting ethical AI, and embedding design more deeply into client work. Her role also involves building the XD practice in Southeast Asia, with Singapore as a regional hub.
Deepali shared insights on her new role, stating, “My vision is to create a unified Global XD practice at the heart of the Havas CX Network, one that not only builds on our collective strengths, but also pushes boundaries and shapes entirely new possibilities for our clients and teams. As a designer from India, I’ve witnessed firsthand how the depth, adaptability, and imagination of our talent is increasingly influencing outcomes on the global stage”
On the other hand, Rana Barua, Havas India Group CEO of South East Asia & North Asia, stated, “Deepali’s vision and determination have been central to Think Design’s success – pioneering a bold business model, expanding to Singapore, and setting a benchmark as the first Havas India agency in the region. Her leadership is a testament to the exceptional calibre of Indian talent making its mark globally. With her deep understanding of user behaviour and proven ability to drive creative and commercial growth, I’m confident she will unlock our next chapter of success. I wish her all the very best.”
David Shulman, Global CEO of Havas CX, added, “Deepali’s promotion reflects the incredible impact she is making across our agency. Customer Experience is key to delivering on the promises brands make through their advertising. Deepali’s ability to connect design thinking to business outcomes is shaping how Havas applies CX to help our clients win. Deepali’s expanded role will amplify her ability to bring people together, spark new ideas, and deliver exceptional work across our global network.”
