India – Havas Media Network India has appointed Tabassum Modi as Chief Content Officer and Head of Havas Play India, where she will lead the division’s operations, set its strategic direction and oversee its next phase of growth.
With over two decades of experience across media, entertainment, education and digital platforms, Modi joins from Omnicom Media Group. She has held leadership roles spanning content-led businesses, with expertise in managing multi-crore P&Ls, building IP-driven revenue models, and developing strategic brand partnerships.
Her career includes scaling OTT and branded content ventures, launching global digital platforms, founding an award-winning entertainment business, and working with Fortune 500 brands across multiple markets. She has also focused on portfolio optimisation and market expansion, strengthening revenue performance across content-driven businesses.
Commenting on her appointment, 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.”
She continues, “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.”
The new team structure at Havas Play brings together an integrated leadership model across key verticals to drive scale and specialisation. At the helm, Modi will oversee 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. The Sales function will be headed by Debojit Banerjee, Business Manager, Sales, supported by an expanding regional team to accelerate growth across key markets.
Modi will report to Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Network India, and will be based in Mumbai. The four verticals under Havas Play India—Content, Entertainment, Sports and Social—will report into her. She will also collaborate closely with leaders across Havas Media Network India.
“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,” Mohit said.
“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,” he added.
Havas Media Network India said the structure is designed to strengthen its integrated, culture-first offering and accelerate delivery of end-to-end brand experiences. Uday Mohan will continue to lead the core business as Chief Operating Officer of Havas Media India.
“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,” Mohit concluded.
