Havas CX has announced the elevation of Deepali Saini, co-founder and CEO of Think Design, to the role of Global Chief Experience Design Officer (XD). In her new position, Saini will be based at the Havas integrated village in Bengaluru and will report to Rana Barua, Group CEO of Havas India, SEA, and North Asia, and David Shulman, Global CEO of Havas CX.
Saini’s mandate includes unifying the agency’s global experience design (XD) practice, strengthening its capabilities, and driving design excellence at scale. She will oversee the integration of XD teams across regions, build synergies, and expand the practice across Southeast Asia, with Singapore emerging as a key hub. A strong advocate of design’s evolving role, Saini also aims to champion the ethical use of AI within experience design.
Her appointment has been welcomed by Havas leadership. Barua praised her vision and entrepreneurial success in expanding Think Design internationally, calling the move “a testament to the global impact of Indian design talent.” Shulman highlighted her ability to connect design thinking with business growth, stating that her expanded role would “bring fresh ideas and create measurable value for clients worldwide.”
In her new role, Saini expressed her vision of creating a unified global XD practice at the core of the Havas CX Network. “In an increasingly digital yet deeply human world, experience design has never been more vital,” she said.