Mumbai: Havas Media Network India has announced the appointment of Tabassum Modi as Chief Content Officer and Head of Havas Play India, the network’s entertainment, content, sports and social arm. Bringing over two decades of leadership experience across media, entertainment and content, Modi will lead the next phase of growth and innovation for the division.
Based in Mumbai, Modi will report to Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Network India. In her new role, she will oversee the four key verticals under Havas Play India—Content, Entertainment, Sports and Social—and work closely with the leadership team across Havas Media Network India. Meanwhile, Uday Mohan will continue to lead the core business as Chief Operating Officer of Havas Media India.
Launched in India in 2023 as Havas’ global sports, entertainment and culture network, Havas Play integrates content, fandom, influencer, experiential and partnership capabilities under a unified offering. The division has rapidly established itself as a culture-first agency, leveraging media, entertainment, sports, creators and commerce to build impactful brand experiences. Its growth has been strengthened through strategic partnerships with Lens Vault Studios (LVS), Gameplan Sports and SG Sports, Media & Entertainment, while also earning multiple industry accolades for branded content, partnerships, influencer marketing and experiential campaigns.
As part of the new leadership structure, Modi will lead the overall vision and operations of Havas Play India. Prachi Narayan, Managing Partner, Havas Play, will continue to head the Content & Entertainment vertical, while Uditvanu Das, AVP, will oversee Sports. Kapil Nair, Senior Vice President – Head of Social, Digital Content & Strategy at Pivotroots (A Havas Company), will lead the Social practice. Shruti Rajkumar, AVP – Partnerships, will head Growth, while Debojit Banerjee, Business Manager, Sales, will lead the Sales function supported by an expanding regional team.
Commenting on the appointment, Mohit Joshi, Chief Executive Officer, Havas Media Network India, said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Tabassum to the Havas Media Network India family. Havas Play is at a particularly exciting inflection point as we continue to expand our footprint across sports, entertainment, culture, and content through new partnerships, capabilities, and experiences. Guided by our new business vision – ‘Growth, Powered by Desire’, Tabassum’s unparalleled experience in content strategy and P&L management will be instrumental in strengthening our expertise further. Her proven ability to scale businesses across the entertainment and digital ecosystem will accelerate our ambition to craft desirability for brands through culture-led, high-impact experiences. With the introduction of this new, future-ready leadership structure, we’re building a strong, integrated team that positions Havas Play for its next phase of accelerated growth and innovation. Tabassum’s vision aligns perfectly with where Havas Play is headed and the kind of standout solutions we aim to deliver for our clients. I thank Uday for laying a strong, growth-ready foundation during the interim period that has set Havas Play up for this next chapter of growth.”
Sharing her thoughts on joining the network, Tabassum Modi said, “I’m thrilled to join Havas Play India and contribute to a team known for its creative prowess, innovative IPs, and strategic depth. Havas Play’s position at the intersection of sport, entertainment, content, community and culture offers exactly the kind of platform needed to push the boundaries of truly engaging brand experiences. For me, what is particularly exciting is the integrated Havas Village model that brings together all expertise seamlessly to foster collaboration and create integrated business solutions with real impact. The opportunity to harness this collective ambition to drive growth is incredibly exciting, and I look forward to working with the talented team at Havas Play India, to create work that is both effective and enduring for our clients.”
Modi joins Havas Media Network India from Omnicom Media Group, where she played a key role in driving content-led business growth. Over her career, she has built and scaled businesses across media, entertainment, education and digital platforms, with expertise in managing multi-crore P&Ls, developing IP-led revenue models and forging strategic brand partnerships.
Her professional journey includes launching global OTT platforms, founding and successfully exiting an award-winning entertainment venture, and cultivating partnerships with Fortune 500 brands. Known for transforming content and audience engagement into sustained commercial growth, Modi has also led market expansion initiatives and optimized diversified portfolios to drive profitability.
