Havas Media Network has appointed Pankaj Nayak, the former Managing Director of Dentsu International’s Media group in Singapore, as CEO of its Singapore operations and President of Southeast Asia.

With 25 years of experience across various Asian markets, including 17 years in Singapore, Nayak has worked with clients such as the National Heritage Board (NHB), the National Council for Problem Gambling (NCPG), and other Whole of Government (WOG) organizations. Having previously been part of the Havas network during its Euro RSCG era, Nayak returns to lead the agency’s growth strategy, foster innovation, and deliver impactful client solutions, collaborating closely with Russell Lai, Chief Commercial Officer of Havas Media Network Singapore, and Kenny Yap, Chief Operating Officer of Havas Play.

Barua (pictured right) 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 joins Havas Media Network as the agency embarks on a period of transformational growth aimed at strengthening both local and global integration. Havas’ newly introduced Converged strategy combines talent, capabilities, platforms, and expertise to accelerate integration. In this role, Nayak will be instrumental in driving the Converged strategy across Southeast Asia, expanding Havas Media Network’s core capabilities in activation (Havas Play), commerce (Havas Market), and data & tech (CSA) to boost growth, innovation, and client impact. He will also focus on building expertise through strategic partnerships and acquisitions to further enhance the regional offerings.

Nayak said,  “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 Havas’ Converged strategy—alongside the growth potential in the regionwas 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”.