Havas Group acquires Sorento

Havas Group is acquiring Sorento, an India-based health-and-wellness communications agency. Sorento will integrate the Havas Health & You business unit and be rebranded Havas Life Sorento. This strategic acquisition will allow Havas to further develop its regional presence and add to its depth and breadth in India to deliver for global clients.Following the acquisition, the management team of Susan Josi (pictured left) and Sangeeta Barde (pictured right), Sorento’s co-founders and managing partners, will continue to head up the team of more than 70 health-and-wellness comms professionals. Josi and Barde will report to Charles Houdoux, CEO, Havas Health & You APAC. They will work closely with local Havas India management for day-to-day operations.According to the agency, Josi has more than 28 years of experience in the healthcare sector while Barde has more than 22 years of experience in pharma marketing and healthcare communications.Yannick Bolloré, CEO, Havas Group, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Sorento to our group. The team will partner with Havas Health & You India to create a broader health-and-wellness offering in the region for our existing global clients and provide a new infusion of energy that will allow us to expand our APAC capabilities.”“The Sorento culture of innovative, best-in-class client service makes it an ideal fit for the Havas Health & You family. Its integrated approach to brand stewardship has resulted in long-term relationships with clients, which also aligns with our client-first philosophy,” added Donna Murphy, CEO, Havas Health & You.