Havas Media Network India names Tabassum Modi as CTO & head of Havas Play India

MUMBAI: Havas is playing a new hand in the content game. In a move aimed at strengthening its fast-growing entertainment and culture business, Havas Media Network India has appointed Tabassum Modi as chief content officer and head of Havas Play India.

Based in Mumbai, Modi will report to Mohit Joshi and take charge of the network’s content, entertainment, sports and social verticals. She will also work closely with leadership teams across the wider Havas Media Network India business.

The appointment comes as Havas Play continues to expand its footprint in India’s sports, entertainment and creator economy ecosystem. Launched in 2023 as Havas’ global sports, entertainment and culture network, Havas Play has quickly built a presence through a culture-led approach that combines media, fandom, influencers, partnerships and experiential marketing.

The division’s growth has been supported by strategic alliances with Lens Vault Studios, Gameplan Sports and SG Sports, Media & Entertainment. It has also earned recognition across branded content, influencer marketing, partnerships and experiential campaigns.

As part of the new structure, Modi will oversee an integrated leadership team across all key business pillars. Prachi Narayan will continue to lead content and entertainment initiatives, while the sports vertical will be headed by Uditvanu Das. The social practice will remain under the leadership of Kapil Nair, with growth responsibilities handled by Shruti Rajkumar. Sales operations will be led by Debojit Banerjee and an expanding regional team.

Announcing the appointment, Havas Media Network India chief executive officer Mohit Joshi said Tabassum’s arrival comes at a pivotal moment for the company. “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.”

He added that her expertise in content strategy, business management and scaling media ventures would help accelerate the company’s ambition to create culture-led brand experiences. Joshi also acknowledged the contribution of Uday Mohan in building the foundation for Havas Play’s next phase of growth.

Speaking on the new role, Tabassum Modi said the opportunity aligns closely with her passion for creating meaningful audience engagement through content, culture and communities.

“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,” she said.

Modi joins from Omnicom Media Group and brings more than two decades of experience across media, entertainment, education and digital businesses. Over the years, she has built and scaled content-led ventures, launched OTT platforms, developed intellectual properties and forged partnerships with global brands. Her track record spans managing large profit centres, creating revenue-led content models and driving sustained commercial growth across multiple sectors.

With Modi now at the helm, Havas Play is betting that the next chapter of growth will be driven not just by content creation, but by deeper connections between brands, culture and communities. As competition intensifies in the entertainment and creator economy space, the network is positioning itself to turn audience passion into lasting business impact.