Dentsu has announced the appointment of Rohit Potphode as Managing Partner – Sports, Gaming, Esports & Live Experiences, strengthening its Sports & Entertainment practice in India. Reporting to Yosuke Murai, Head of India, dentsu Sports & Entertainment, Potphode will drive strategies that connect brands with audiences through culture, creativity, and measurable business outcomes.
This announcement follows dentsu’s recent launch of its Sports & Entertainment Network in India, designed to create integrated, culture-driven solutions for brands across sports, esports, music, festivals, and live experiences. The network aims to harness dentsu’s global expertise and India’s diverse, experience-led audience landscape to deliver innovation, engagement, and tangible brand impact.
In his new role, Potphode will oversee sports consulting, sponsorship investments, IP development, content creation, and fan-first experiences, helping brands move beyond conventional sponsorships to achieve deeper cultural resonance and measurable results.
With more than two decades of experience, Potphode has played a pivotal role in building and managing some of India’s most iconic properties, including the Indian Premier League (IPL), Indian Super League (ISL), Coke Studio, Lakmé Fashion Week, International Premier Tennis League, and the Global e-Cricket Premier League. His extensive career spans leadership roles at IMG, Viacom, Disney’s A&E Network, Ten Sports, Nimbus Sport, Star, JetSynthesys, and Times Network.
Harsha Razdan, CEO, South Asia, dentsu, said, “Sports and entertainment unite people and shape culture. In India, the passion is electric. Stadiums roar, gamers compete like warriors, and fans live every moment intensely. Rohit’s expertise will turn this energy into experiences that play bigger, think bolder, and make every partnership count.”
Yosuke Murai, Head of India, dentsu Sports & Entertainment, added here, “India is a market where culture and commerce collide at unprecedented scale. With Rohit joining our team, we are positioned to harness this energy across sports, gaming, and live experiences. By blending Japan’s decades of expertise with India’s unique cultural landscape, we can create partnerships and experiences that don’t just reach audiences – they shape how they engage, connect, and consume content.”
On taking up the new role, Rohit Potphode commented, “Joining dentsu at this moment of expansion is truly exciting. India’s diverse culture and vibrant audiences provide the perfect canvas to innovate at the intersection of sports, gaming and live entertainment. I am excited to create experiences that engage deeply, inspire action and generate meaningful value for brands and partners, blending dentsu’s global scale with India’s cultural richness.”
