Havas Media Network Singapore has appointed Jean Lee as managing director and Zoheb Gafoor as general manager, digital Southeast Asia, to boost market leadership and accelerate digital transformation. Reporting to CEO Pankaj Nayak, both leaders bring deep regional expertise as Havas expands its Converged.AI-driven, integrated media capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region.
Havas Media Network Singapore’s latest leadership appointments signal a renewed push to cement its influence in Southeast Asia’s fast-evolving media landscape. With Jean Lee stepping in as managing director and Zoheb Gafoor taking on the role of general manager, digital for SEA, the agency is reinforcing its ambition to deliver stronger market leadership, deeper client partnerships and a sharper digital transformation mandate across the region. These moves arrive at a time when competition is intensifying and the pressure on agencies to deliver measurable, intelligent and culturally connected solutions has never been greater. For Havas, the infusion of new leadership represents both continuity and transformation — continuity in its strategic direction and transformation in the calibre of its execution.
Jean Lee’s appointment is a significant moment for Havas Media Singapore. With more than 20 years of experience at dentsu X, Carat and OMD, she brings a blend of operational discipline, strategic intelligence and a client-centric focus that has shaped her career. Known for her ability to integrate teams and deliver cohesive marketing solutions for major brands including IKEA, StarHub, Standard Chartered, Resorts World Sentosa, Uniqlo and Asia Pacific Breweries, Lee arrives with a leadership profile built on trust, consistency and an instinct for navigating business challenges. At Havas, her mandate will involve shaping the agency’s strategic and operational direction, ensuring that teams work seamlessly to deliver on the Converged.AI vision — Havas’ integrated approach to merging creativity, media, data and technology.
In her new role, Lee will closely collaborate with Havas Play, CSA and Havas Market, reinforcing the network’s push toward connected solutions. The market’s increasing complexity, driven by shifting consumer behaviours, new platform dynamics and the rise of AI-enabled performance, has created demand for leaders who can bring clarity and cohesion. Lee’s track record in team leadership and transformation positions her as a stabilising force capable of guiding Havas Singapore through its next phase of growth. Her “meaningful and measurable” philosophy, which she referenced upon her appointment, encapsulates the broader direction of Havas Media — work that not only delivers reach but real business outcomes.
Parallel to Lee’s arrival is the appointment of Zoheb Gafoor as general manager, digital for Southeast Asia — a role that underscores Havas’ commitment to accelerating digital transformation across the region. Gafoor’s background spans over 14 years of experience in performance, data and operations across APAC, with his most recent stint at Hearts & Science APAC equipping him with a strong understanding of regional digital maturity. As consumer journeys fragment and automation becomes central to campaign efficiency, Gafoor’s expertise in streamlining processes, building automation frameworks and strengthening technology partnerships will be essential to how Havas scales digital excellence. His remit places him at the core of the agency’s ambition to create intelligent, outcome-driven media solutions powered by data and advanced measurement.
For Pankaj Nayak, CEO of Havas Media Network Singapore and president for Southeast Asia, these appointments serve a dual purpose: strengthening the Singapore leadership bench and accelerating digital sophistication across regional markets. Nayak’s endorsement of both leaders is clear and emphatic. He highlights Lee’s strategic intelligence, relationship-first leadership style and experience in guiding clients through transformation as qualities vital to driving growth within Havas Singapore. In the same breath, he underscores Gafoor’s importance to the agency’s regional digital future, citing his deep expertise in performance and operations as essential to delivering meaningful experiences and measurable outcomes for clients. Both leaders bring distinct strengths, but together they reflect the agency’s broader shift toward convergence — of teams, technology, creativity and data.
Gafoor’s framing of Converged.AI as a platform to rethink how brands connect with people speaks to a larger industry shift. As brands look for pathways to precision, scale and relevance, agencies are increasingly moving away from siloed structures toward integrated systems that unify insights, media choices, creative execution and consumer engagement. Havas’ commitment to this integrated model suggests a future where digital and traditional strategies are no longer separate tracks but part of a single, constantly evolving ecosystem. Gafoor’s enthusiasm about building “future-proof” solutions hints at the challenges ahead — from navigating rising privacy expectations and shifting algorithms to optimising investments across multiple channels — and the opportunities that lie in intelligent, adaptive strategy.
The appointments come amid a wider leadership refresh across Havas’ Asia-Pacific markets. Last month, Havas Ortega in the Philippines named Raymond “Rai” Dizon as general manager – head of business growth and experience, strengthening its leadership as it sharpens its integrated “village” model. Dizon will focus on digital capabilities, technology platforms and connected client experiences, highlighting Havas’ broader drive toward cohesiveness across brand, data and creative offerings. His role is another example of the agency’s belief that success in today’s environment depends on integration rather than fragmentation — a philosophy echoed across its regional leadership decisions.
In Australia, Havas Media recently appointed Kate O’Ryan-Roeder as CEO after an extensive search to replace outgoing chief executive Virginia Hyland. O’Ryan-Roeder’s decade-long leadership at Mindshare, where she led Sydney operations and served as chief client officer, adds further weight to Havas’ intention to build a strong, future-ready leadership layer across APAC. Her appointment aligns with the network’s commitment to investing in talent capable of navigating a highly competitive media landscape, where differentiation is increasingly tied to innovation, culture-led strategies and measurable impact.
Taken together, these leadership changes reveal a pattern: an agency betting on specialists with deep expertise in integration, digital transformation and organisational agility. As the advertising and media industry undergoes rapid shifts — from the rise of AI-driven optimisation to the growing influence of omnichannel consumer journeys — the need for leaders who can orchestrate complex ecosystems becomes critical. Havas’ leadership restructuring across Singapore, Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Australia suggests a deliberate move toward future-proofing its network and nurturing teams that can operate with both precision and vision.
Jean Lee and Zoheb Gafoor step into their new roles at a pivotal time. Brands across Southeast Asia are demanding more connected experiences, more sophisticated measurement and more strategic clarity. Singapore, as a regional hub, remains one of the most dynamic test beds for innovation in the media and marketing world. Against this backdrop, the duo’s combined expertise offers Havas an opportunity to deepen client trust, expand digital capabilities and strengthen its Converged.AI-led positioning.
Their task is not merely to lead teams but to shape a system that can respond to market complexity with creativity, intelligence and speed. If the momentum of recent appointments across APAC is any indication, Havas Media Network is positioning itself for a future where integration is not just an advantage — it is the expectation. Through Lee and Gafoor, Havas signals its readiness to meet that future head-on, equipped with leaders who understand both the art and the science of modern media.
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