In pursuit of its expansion strategy in Southeast Asia and North Asia, Havas has appointed Joji Jacob as the Regional Chief Creative Officer for the said regions. Jacob, an award-winning creative, will continue to serve as Creative Partner and Co-founder at BLKJ Havas Singapore alongside his new role.
As Regional Chief Creative Officer, Jacob will be tasked with overseeing the creative direction and ensuring seamless integration into client projects across the region. Holding the position of Chair of Havas’ APAC and being a member of the Global Creative Council, he will collaborate closely with council members to drive creative excellence across local offices, while exploring innovative storytelling approaches grounded in meaningful connections.
With over two decades of experience, Jacob has made significant contributions to agencies in both India and Singapore. Co-founding BLKJ in 2016 and joining the Havas family in 2021, BLKJ Havas has cultivated an impressive client base, including renowned brands such as Great Eastern, The Republic of Singapore Air Force, the Economic Development Board of Singapore, JLL, among others.
Prior to BLKJ Havas, Jacob served as the Group Executive Creative Director at DDB for nine years. Under his leadership, the agency earned numerous accolades, establishing itself as one of the most awarded at prestigious industry shows. Joji has been recognized with accolades such as Singapore’s Most Influential Creative Director by the Institute of Advertising Singapore and Southeast Asia’s Creative Person of the Year by Campaign, consecutively for two years.
“Joji with his extensive experience and creative strength across the region, will enhance our overall creative output, and play a universal role in fostering positive momentum for all markets, building towards the goal of One Asia, This appointment underscores Havas’ commitment to cultivating top-tier creative leadership, driving the creative mandate and signifies a significant stride toward achieving our growth objectives in these dynamic markets.” said Rana Barua, Group CEO, India, Southeast and North Asia.
Joji Jacob added, “I’ve spent 20 years as a creative, with the last ten years spent leading a creative business. So, I step into this role not just with experience but also with a beginner’s mindset. Rana and I have been discussing the many plans and ambitions and my job is to help create the conditions that enable our people make the best work of their lives for our clients, and I find myself at the right place and at the right time. Havas is a place where the entrepreneurial spirit thrives, meaning it’s not set in its ways. We can respond to a rapidly changing marketplace with agility which I find exciting. And Rana’s energy is infectious, that’s one bug I’m happy to catch.”
