Rohan Chincholi has taken on a new leadership role at Havas Media Network India, becoming the organisation’s Chief Client and AI Officer on September 1, 2026.
Chincholi moves into the position after serving as Chief Digital Officer at Havas Media India. In his new role, he will bring together client leadership and AI innovation, marking another step in a career that has taken him from sales and media planning to digital advertising, innovation and senior agency leadership.
From Engineering To Advertising
Chincholi’s professional path did not begin in advertising. His academic background combines technology and business, with an Electrical Engineering degree from MIT, Manipal, followed by an MBA from Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai. He later added qualifications in cyber law and brand and customer management.
That combination became relevant as advertising moved increasingly towards digital platforms, data and technology.
His early professional experience included roles outside the advertising mainstream. Available professional records place him at Hi-Tech Iron Foundries and the Abu Dhabi Company for On-Shore Oil Operations before his move into media and advertising.
First Havas Stint And Detour
Chincholi joined Havas Media in 2010, beginning what would become a long association with the network. He spent five years there, progressing from Senior Manager, Media Planning & Acquisition to Associate Director, Digital Media by 2014-15.
He then stepped outside Havas, joining Blippar as Associate Director, Media Innovations & Partnerships before moving to Network Advertising as Vice President, Digital. These roles exposed him to emerging digital formats and the expanding technology layer of advertising.
In 2017, Chincholi returned to Havas, taking on a broader mandate around media and digital business across markets. His responsibilities subsequently expanded through senior positions in digital services and digital business.
Rise Through Havas Leadership
By 2021, Chincholi was heading digital services in India. He became Managing Partner, Digital in 2023 and then Chief Digital Officer, Havas Media India, in April 2024.
The role put him at the intersection of media, technology and digital transformation. His public engagements during this period also reflect that focus. In 2025, he appeared at India Internet Day in a session on reimagining e-commerce business models, while India Web Fest featured him in discussions around digital content and OTT.
His recent work has increasingly touched AI. His LinkedIn profile records an AI leadership programme at the Indian School of Business in 2025, followed by AI-focused certifications in 2026.
Havas Enters Stronger Phase
The appointment comes against a stronger recent performance for Havas Media Network India.
According to Havas Media Network India’s communication around RECMA’s Overall Activity Volume 2025, Havas Media climbed to fourth among India’s media agencies, moving up two positions from the previous year. The network also described itself as the fastest-growing agency among India’s top five, with 18% year-on-year growth.
That backdrop matters because an expanded client mandate puts Chincholi closer to the commercial side of that growth. AI is increasingly being evaluated not only for efficiency but for whether it can improve targeting, optimisation, measurement and ultimately business performance.
Havas Media Network India is led by Mohit Joshi, while Rana Barua serves as Group CEO of Havas India, Southeast Asia and North Asia.
AI Chapter Begins
The new position brings that progression into sharper focus. Chincholi announced the elevation himself, saying he was looking forward to shaping what comes next “for our clients and for AI in the industry.”
The timing also follows his active involvement in conversations around AI-driven advertising. On July 31, 2026, he participated in the Programmatic Asia Symposium in Mumbai, where the discussion covered programmatic pDOOH, AI-powered bidding and performance marketing.
Chincholi also publicly thanked Rana Barua for his continued mentorship and support and Mohit Joshi for the opportunity in his announcement, underscoring the leadership relationships behind his latest move.
His career now spans more than 16 years in digital marketing and media, according to India Web Fest. The new role brings together the two strands that have defined much of that journey: building digital capabilities and understanding how technology can reshape the way agencies serve clients.
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