Singapore – Havas Media Network has appointed Pankaj Nayak as its new chief executive officer (CEO) in Singapore and president of Havas Media in Southeast Asia (SEA) as part of its growth efforts in the region, effective immediately.
Having worked with the agency in the past, Nayak returns to oversee its growth strategy while providing innovative and impactful client solutions. He is set to work closely with Russell Lai, chief commercial officer of Havas Media Network Singapore, and Kenny Yap, chief operating officer of Havas Play.
Nayak has 25 years of experience across different markets in Asia, 17 years of which have been spent in Singapore. He has worked with various clients, including National Heritage Board and National Council for Problem Gambling.
Having joined at a time of the agency’s transformation, Nayak’s role includes the SEA implementation of the Converged strategy, recently announced by Havas. The strategy focuses on combining talent, capabilities, and platforms for agency growth and client impact.
Additionally, Nayak will forge alliances and lead acquisitions as he focuses on enhancing expertise and offerings.
Rana Barua, group CEO in India, SEA, and North Asia, said, “Asia’s diverse and rapidly evolving markets demand a leader who understands the nuances of each market, and what it takes to drive growth. Pankaj brings to us deep regional experience, and his expertise in driving global and regional client businesses, developing product capabilities and verticals, and fostering high-performance teams is the ideal fit for this role.”
Nayak commented, “I’m thrilled to join the network during such an exciting phase of growth in the region. The opportunity to lead the media team in Singapore, while contributing to the broader SEA region, is incredibly exciting. My conversations with Rana have been incredibly fruitful, and with Havas’ Converged strategy—alongside the growth potential in the region—was a major factor in my decision to join Havas.
“I look forward to working with the team to drive growth by leveraging our collective regional strengths to deliver impactful, integrated solutions that meet our clients’ evolving needs,” Nayak added.
