Havas Lynx announces the appointment of Ayesha Walawalkar as Chief Strategy Officer, and Talin Apkarian as Havas Lynx Hudson Managing Director.

Walawalkar takes on the role to accelerate strategic innovation across global healthcare clients, and Apkarian will be responsible for the leadership, vision, and growth of the Havas Lynx Hudson team in New York as it looks to rapidly expand this year.

 

As Chief Strategy Officer, Walawalkar joins the agency’s executive leadership team and will lead the strategic vision for Havas Lynx UK and Hudson, while collaborating across the global Havas Health network.

Walawalkar brings over 30 years of experience in brand strategy, most recently serving as Chief Strategy Officer, International Brands at MullenLowe Global, part of IPG. Throughout her career, she has led strategies for major multinational clients including Unilever, Kimberly-Clark, and Bayer Consumer Health, overseeing integrated teams across markets to build globally resonant brands.

“I am delighted to be joining Havas Lynx UK and Hudson,” shared Walawalkar. “It’s super exciting to dive into a category that is growing and evolving so fast, and where the work just gets better every day. Havas Lynx is leading the charge globally, with bold thinking and a commitment to making work that matters. I can’t wait to help shape what’s next.”

A UK native, Walawalkar has spent over a decade working in Asia, including leadership roles in Hong Kong and Singapore. Her campaigns have been recognised by Cannes Lions, D&D, Clio, Effie, and the WARC Awards. She is also recognised for her thought leadership on representation and access, having led IPG’s “Invisible Powerhouse” initiative, which highlights the influence of midlife women.

In joining Havas Lynx UK, Walawalkar will be reuniting with former colleague and longtime creative partner Alex Okada, now Chief Creative Officer at the agency.  Together, they bring a proven track record of building transformative brand platforms across industries and regions.

“Ayesha brings a rare combination of global brand insight, strategic clarity and a deep understanding of how data drives effectiveness. Her appointment signals our intent to push further and faster, building strategy that’s not only creatively ambitious, but impactful at a human level and culturally powerful. Reuniting Ayesha with Alex Okada brings back a proven creative-strategic partnership, and personally, I couldn’t be more excited to see what they’ll unlock together and the new heights we can reach. It’s a brilliant moment for Havas Lynx,” said Claire Knapp, CEO, Havas Lynx.

 

As Managing Director, Apkarian will be responsible for the leadership, vision, and growth of the Havas Lynx Hudson agency team in New York as it looks to rapidly expand this year.

Apkarian brings over 19 years of healthcare marketing experience – including 17 years at FCB – specialising in practice-changing product launches and brand/franchise strategy development across various therapeutic categories, with a strong focus in oncology and dermatology. She has a proven track record of driving growth, fostering innovation, and building deep client partnerships across global agency networks.

During her most recent tenure at Humancare, an IPG Health Company, Apkarian successfully led the HCP and integrated business unit, ensuring sustainable growth year after year. Her deep experience and leadership in healthcare marketing, along with her belief in network integration underscores her commitment to delivering innovative solutions and strategic direction in the industry.

“It’s an exciting time in healthcare—an ever-evolving and demanding landscape that calls for adaptability, diplomacy, and innovation. And I’ve already seen how powerfully the network leverages advanced simulation to extract key insights from thousands of HCPs at the touch of a button,” said Talin Apkarian, Managing Director, Havas Lynx Hudson. “We’re moving beyond personas to let data tell a richer, more holistic story—one that enables meaningful connections and high-impact strategies. My experience has taught me to lead with an entrepreneurial mindset to manage and grow brands, build strong relationships, and deliver sustainable results.”

Apkarian’s appointment reinforces Havas Lynx’s commitment to setting the standard in healthcare communications through creativity, brand storytelling, digital innovation, medical education, patient engagement, and multichannel marketing.

“We’re over the moon to have Talin joining us to lead Havas Lynx Hudson as we continue to grow and thrive. Lynx Hudson is going through an extraordinary period, bringing expertise of HCP influence and award-winning creative effectiveness into the US market and we’re just warming up,” said Claire Knapp, CEO of Havas Lynx. “Bringing Talin onboard is a testament to our ambitions, and we are excited for her to continue unlocking beautiful work that truly makes an impact that matters.”

With Walawalkar and Apkarian’s appointments, the agency further strengthens its position as a creative and strategic leader in healthcare, continuing its mission to deliver ideas that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives worldwide.