Two Strategic Hires Signal Aggressive Tech Shift for Havas
New leadership arrives as Havas Singapore accelerates its US$425M Converged AI rollout.
Havas Media Network Singapore has appointed Jean Lee as Managing Director and Zoheb Gafoor as General Manager of Digital for Southeast Asia, in moves announced November 25 that aim to accelerate the agency's AI-driven transformation across the region.
The appointments come as Havas deploys its €400 million (~US$425 million) Converged.AI initiative, positioning the network as an AI-first agency through 2027. Both Lee and Gafoor report directly to CEO Pankaj Nayak.
Fresh Leadership to Drive Regional Growth
Lee brings over 20 years of media experience from Dentsu X, Carat, and OMD to her new role overseeing Havas Singapore's strategic direction. Her client portfolio has included IKEA, Uniqlo, and Standard Chartered, giving her deep expertise in the retail and financial services sectors critical to Singapore's market.
Gafoor, with 14 years focused on performance marketing and data operations across Asia Pacific, will lead digital transformation efforts for the entire Southeast Asian region. His mandate centers on automation and tech partnerships that align with Havas' Converged.AI strategy.
"Jean's track record in client transformation and team building makes her an outstanding addition to grow our Singapore operations," Nayak said in the announcement.
The leadership changes coincide with broader appointments across Havas' regional network, including Raymond Dizon as General Manager at Havas Ortega and Kate O'Ryan-Roeder as CEO of Havas Media Australia.
Leighton Cosseboom
AI Integration Targets Performance Gains
Havas' Converged.AI platform integrates directly with Meta, Google, and Amazon to deliver privacy-compliant audience targeting, a priority for Singapore marketers navigating stricter data regulations. The system includes tools like Persona Live for real-time audience conversations and Agentic Reporting for automated campaign insights.
The agency recently partnered with Horizon Media to merge its Blu platform with Converged.AI, creating BluConverged for global clients. Early results show 27% faster insights delivery for Southeast Asian campaigns.
Converged.AI's measurement capabilities address attribution gaps that have long plagued digital campaigns. For clients like Uniqlo, Havas Singapore uses AI calibration experiments to resolve tracking issues across multiple platforms, providing clearer performance data for retail marketers.
Leighton Cosseboom
Market Sees Wave of Digital Leadership Changes
The appointments reflect broader trends in Singapore's agency sector, where competitors are also strengthening digital and AI capabilities. Ebiquity named Deanson Lee, a former Havas digital lead, as General Manager for Southeast Asia earlier this year. BlueFocus appointed Vicky Xu as general manager for Singapore in September 2025.
The competitive pressure comes as brands demand more measurable outcomes from media investments. Gafoor's focus on automation and technology partnerships positions Havas to compete on both speed and accuracy of campaign optimization across Southeast Asian markets.
Lee aims to guide the Singapore team into its next growth phase while maintaining client relationships built over two decades in the region. With experience spanning multiple agency holding companies, she brings insight into different operational models and client service approaches.
The firm's significant AI investment through 2027 represents one of the largest technology commitments in the media agency sector, signaling Havas' bet that AI-driven planning and buying will become table stakes for major advertisers in Asia Pacific.
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