Havas Media Network India has announced the appointment of Tabassum Modi as the Chief Content Officer and Head of Havas Play India, its entertainment, content, sports and social arm. With over two decades of extensive leadership experience across media, entertainment, and content, Modi is poised to spearhead innovation and accelerate growth for the division.
Reporting to Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Network India, Modi will be based in Mumbai. The 4 verticals under Havas Play India – Content, Entertainment, Sports and Social will report into Tabassum. She will also collaborate and work closely with all the leaders of Havas Media Network India.
Uday Mohan will continue to lead the core business as the Chief Operating Officer of Havas Media India.
Launched in India in 2023 as Havas’ global sports, entertainment, and culture network, Havas Play brings together content, fandom, influencer, experiential, and partnership capabilities under one integrated offering. In a short span, it has emerged as one of India’s most dynamic agencies in the space through its culture-first approach, blending media, entertainment, sports, creators, and commerce to build high-impact brand experiences. Its growth has been accelerated through strategic partnerships with Lens Vault Studios (LVS) , Gameplan Sports and SG Sports, Media & Entertainment, expanding its footprint across major sporting and entertainment ecosystems. The division has also earned strong industry recognition and multiple awards for innovative branded content, partnerships, influencer marketing, and experiential campaigns.
The new Havas Play team structure brings together a strong, integrated leadership across key verticals to drive scale and specialization. At the helm, Modi will lead the overall vision and operations of the network. The Content & Entertainment pillar will continue to be anchored by Prachi Narayan, Managing Partner, Havas Play, driving content development and partnerships. The Sports vertical will be led by Uditvanu Das, AVP, supported by a team managing sponsorships and alliances. The Social practice will be driven by Kapil Nair, Sr. VP – Head of Social, Digital Content & Strategy at Pivotroots (A Havas Company). The Growth function will be led by Shruti Rajkumar, AVP – Partnerships, ensuring alignment with broader business expansion priorities. To complete the team, the Sales function will be headed by Debojit Banerjee, Business Manager, Sales, with an expanding regional team to accelerate growth across key markets. This cohesive, multi-disciplinary structure is designed to deliver end-to-end, culture-first solutions and accelerate Havas Play’s ambition to build meaningful, high-impact brand experiences.
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.”
Commenting on her appointment, 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.”
With over two decades of experience in building and scaling content-led businesses across media, entertainment, education, and digital platforms, Modi joins Havas Media Network India from Omnicom Media Group. Her strength lies in her expertise in owning multi-crore P&Ls, shaping IP-driven revenue models, and forging strategic brand partnerships. Over the years, she has consistently converted content and audiences into sustained commercial growth across OTT, branded content, and institutional products. Her dynamic career includes successfully founding and exiting an award-winning entertainment venture, launching global OTT platforms, and cultivating senior partnerships with Fortune 500 brands. Modi’s leadership extends to optimizing mixed-margin portfolios for high profitability and adeptly navigating market expansion and portfolio resets, making her a highly respected and recognized figure in the industry.