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Tag: Pankaj Nayak

  • Havas’ Prose on Pixels lands Joris Knetsch to lead APAC charge

    Havas’ Prose on Pixels lands Joris Knetsch to lead APAC charge

    MUMBAI: Havas’ AI-fuelled content-at-scale agency Prose on Pixels is ready to switch on the afterburners in Asia Pacific, appointing Joris Knetsch as executive vice-president for the region, effective May 2025.

    Based in Singapore, Joris brings over a decade of experience in creative production and digital scaling—including an eight-year stint building Media Monks’ footprint in APAC. His hiring signals a sharp push by Havas to deepen its converged strategy, which unites media, creativity and content under one turbocharged roof.

    “With close to a decade of experience in the APAC region, Joris brings invaluable market knowledge and established relationships that will help us accelerate our growth.  His deep expertise in technology-driven production makes him the ideal person to lead Prose on Pixels in Asia Pacific,” said Prose on Pixels global CEO Steve Netzley. 

    The agency—relaunched globally in June 2023—is stitching together Havas’ production capabilities into a single AI-powered powerhouse, already making waves with tech-led hiring and global expansion. Joris will now spearhead the Asian playbook alongside regional leaders including Rowena Bhagchandani, CEO, BLKJ Havas and Pankaj Nayak, CEO, Havas Media Network Singapore.

    “Bringing Joris on board helps our business in two ways”, said Havas India group CEO Havas India, south east & north Asia Rana Barua. “First, to officially launch and scale Prose on Pixels in Asia with the right leadership in place. Second, it reinforces our Converged strategy across the region – anchored in media, creative and production – by fostering collaboration and empowering our teams to elevate the value we deliver to our clients.”

    “I’m thrilled to be joining Prose on Pixels at such an exciting time,” said Joris Knetsch.  “It was immediately clear that the global Prose on Pixels team sees things the same way I do—great content production isn’t just a support act, it’s central to bringing bold creativity and smart media to life in today’s marketing landscape. While many claim to be integrated, with Prose on Pixels launching in Asia, Havas is actually doing it: activating its converged strategy and bringing creative, media, and production together to truly work as one across the region. Asia Pacific is an incredibly dynamic region, and I look forward to helping brands transform how they create and distribute content with speed, efficiency, and impact.”

    With its creative-meets-code model, Havas is betting big on Asia—and Joris Knetsch is now in the pilot’s seat.

  • Havas Media Network ropes in Pankaj Nayak from Dentsu

    Havas Media Network ropes in Pankaj Nayak from Dentsu

    MUMBAI: Havas Media Network has appointed Pankaj Nayak as CEO – Singapore & president – southeast Asia, effective immediately. With over two decades of experience in marketing and media across Asia, Nayak is set to drive the network’s strategic growth and innovation in the region.

    Nayak’s career encompasses leadership roles at prominent agencies. He served as managing director of the media group at Dentsu Singapore, where he enhanced product offerings in insights, commerce, experience, and analytics. Prior to Dentsu, Nayak held positions including OMD APAC chief marketing officer and Omnicom Media Group Asia Pacific, director of business development.

    An alumnus of the University of Mumbai, Nayak holds a Master of management studies in marketing and a Bachelor of Science in statistics from St. Xavier’s College.

    In his new role, Nayak will oversee Havas Media Network’s operations in Singapore and Southeast Asia, focusing on delivering integrated media solutions and fostering client partnerships.

    Havas Media Network’s leadership expressed confidence in Nayak’s appointment, citing his extensive experience and strategic vision as pivotal for the network’s expansion in the dynamic Southeast Asian market.

  • OMD appoints Pankaj Nayak, Rochelle Chhaya into key leadership team for APAC

    OMD appoints Pankaj Nayak, Rochelle Chhaya into key leadership team for APAC

    MUMBAI: OMD has announced the appointment of two new members into its Asia Pacific team. While Rochelle Chhaya has been appointed as chief operating officer (COO), Pankaj Nayak will be joining as the chief marketing officer (CMO), effective immediately. The decision has been taken to harness the network’s growing momentum and drive further growth across the region.

    Formerly the chief digital officer for Omnicom Media Group APAC, Chhaya brings unrivalled visibility on the client-agency-partner ecosystem. Her comprehensive knowledge and experience will allow her to tackle the operational challenges and opportunities that arise when developing an agency model for the future.

    As COO, she will be responsible towards mapping out what the future client-centric, digitally powered and data-led agency model looks like for OMD.

    Nayak brings over 20 years of industry knowledge and experience to this role, having previously served in a client leadership capacity with the network and most recently, as Omnicom Media Group APAC’s business development director.

    As CMO, Nayak will be tasked with continuously enhancing the network’s approach in engaging both new clients and existing ones. This will involve developing a strategy for the seamless manifestation of the network’s new brand promise of Better Decisions, Faster throughout the client relationship, ensuring a consistent telling of the OMD story across clients and markets.

    Commenting on the appointments, OMD APAC CEO Stephen Li said, “As we return to the top of the charts and scale even greater heights, both globally and in APAC, it is imperative that we have the right leadership in place to ensure our agencies and clients continue to maximise their potential.”

    “Given her impressive track-record in delivering market-leading digital solutions, Rochelle has earned the trust and respect of our clients and partners over the years. She has also become a well-respected voice in the industry. There is no one with as strong a 360 overview of our business as her, which will be extremely valuable in developing OMD’s agency model for the future,” Li continues.

    “Throughout his tenure with both the network and the Group, Pankaj has come to know the organisation inside and out, developed significant relationships internally and externally, and has touched on the development and growth of every single market in the region. He is perfectly suited for the CMO role and I have every confidence that OMD will continue to elevate its new business momentum under his leadership.”