Havas Media Network India Names Tabassum Modi the CCO and Head of Havas Play India

Why It Matters

The appointment underscores Havas Play’s push to scale integrated entertainment and sports marketing in India, leveraging Modi’s content‑driven revenue expertise. It strengthens Havas’s competitive position in a fast‑growing Indian media and advertising market.

Key Takeaways

• Tabassum Modi becomes CCO and head of Havas Play India
• Havas Play integrates content, sports, entertainment, and social under one roof
• Partnerships with Lens Vault Studios, Gameplan Sports, SG Sports expand reach
• Modi’s multi‑crore (≈ $1.2 M) P&L experience targets higher profitability
• New leadership structure aims to deliver culture‑first brand experiences

Pulse Analysis

Havas Play India, the entertainment, sports and culture arm of Havas Media Network, launched in 2023 to combine content, fandom, influencer and experiential capabilities under a single offering. In less than a year the unit has secured strategic alliances with Lens Vault Studios, Gameplan Sports and SG Sports, giving it access to major cricket, football and digital entertainment ecosystems. This rapid expansion reflects the broader surge in Indian advertising spend on sports and streaming, where brands are shifting budgets toward immersive, culture‑first campaigns that blend media buying with original content.

The appointment of Tabassum Modi as chief content officer brings more than two decades of cross‑platform experience to the role. At Omnicom Media Group she managed multi‑crore (roughly $1.2 million) profit‑and‑loss statements, built IP‑driven revenue models and forged Fortune‑500 brand partnerships across OTT, branded content and education. Her track record of launching global OTT platforms and exiting an award‑winning entertainment venture equips Havas Play to monetize audiences more effectively and to scale high‑margin, mixed‑margin portfolios. Modi’s expertise in P&L optimisation is expected to lift profitability across all four verticals.

By installing a dedicated CCO and restructuring the leadership team, Havas Media signals its intent to compete aggressively with other global agencies vying for India’s $12 billion media market. An integrated “Havas Village” model promises tighter collaboration between content creators, sports rights holders and social strategists, enabling brands to deliver seamless, high‑impact experiences. Analysts anticipate that the culture‑led approach will attract more spend from consumer goods and tech companies seeking authentic connections with younger audiences, positioning Havas Play as a go‑to partner for next‑generation advertising in the region.