Pankaj Nayak rejoins Havas Media Network as CEO in Singapore and President – SEA, Havas Media

Effective immediately, Pankaj Nayak has been announced as the new CEO of Havas Media Network Singapore and President – SEA, Havas Media. Nayak will report directly to Rana Barua, Group CEO, India, SEA & North Asia.

Nayak (pictured left) brings 25 years of experience across various Asian markets, including 17 years in Singapore, where he has worked with clients such as the National Heritage Board (NHB), the National Council for Problem Gambling (NCPG), and other Whole of Government (WOG) businesses. No stranger to the Havas network, having previously been with the agency during its Euro RSCG days, Nayak returns to lead the agency’s growth strategy, foster innovation, and drive impactful client solutions, working 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 network undergoes transformational growth to foster local and global integration. Havas’ recently announced Converged strategy fuses talent, capabilities, platforms and expertise to supercharge integration. Nayak will play a pivotal role in advancing the Converged strategy across SEA, growing Havas Media Network’s new core capabilities in activation (Havas Play), commerce (Havas Market) and data & tech (CSA) to enhance growth, innovation, and client impact. Additionally, he will focus on building expertise through strategic alliances and acquisitions to further strengthen 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 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.”