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 division. With more than two decades of experience across media, entertainment, and content, Modi will lead the next phase of growth and innovation for the business.
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—while working closely with the broader leadership team across the network. Uday Mohan will continue to lead the core business as Chief Operating Officer of Havas Media India.
Launched in India in 2023, Havas Play serves as the network’s integrated sports, entertainment, and culture platform. The division combines content, influencer marketing, fandom, experiential, and partnership capabilities to create culture-led brand experiences. Over the past few years, Havas Play has expanded through partnerships with Lens Vault Studios, Gameplan Sports, and SG Sports, Media & Entertainment, while earning industry recognition for its work across branded content, influencer marketing, and experiential campaigns.
As part of its evolving structure, Modi will lead the overall vision and operations of Havas Play India. Prachi Narayan will continue to head Content & Entertainment, while Uditvanu Das will lead the Sports vertical. The Social practice will be overseen by Kapil Nair, and Shruti Rajkumar will head Partnerships and Growth. Debojit Banerjee will lead the Sales function, supported by a growing regional team
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.
Before joining Havas Media Network India, Modi was associated with Omnicom Media Group. Throughout her career, she has built and scaled content-led businesses across media, entertainment, education, and digital platforms. Her expertise includes managing large-scale P&Ls, developing IP-driven revenue models, creating strategic partnerships, and driving commercial growth through content and audience engagement.
With her appointment, Havas Media Network India aims to further strengthen Havas Play India’s position as a leading culture-first marketing and entertainment platform, delivering integrated and impactful solutions for brands across sports, entertainment, content, and social ecosystems.
