Havas names Joris Knetsch APAC EVP to lead Prose on Pixels expansion

Havas has appointed Joris Knetsch as executive vice president (EVP) of Prose on Pixels in Asia Pacific, as it rolls out its AI-powered content production agency across the region.

Based in Singapore, Knetsch steps into the role this May with a remit to lead Prose on Pixels’ regional launch and expansion, marking a key milestone in advancing Havas’ converged strategy.

Knetsch brings over a decade of experience in digital production and creative operations, including eight years building and leading Media.Monks’ business in APAC as managing director. Prior to which he was a project manager and technical innovation lead at Amsterdam-based advertising agency Fitzroy.

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According to a statement seen by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, his deep understanding of regional markets and track record in scaling technology-driven creative models position him to grow Prose on Pixels’ capabilities and client impact at speed.

“Knetsch brings invaluable market knowledge and established relationships that will help us accelerate our growth. His deep expertise in technology-driven production makes him the ideal person to lead Prose on Pixels in Asia Pacific,” said Steve Netzley, global CEO of Prose on Pixels.

Knetsch joins as Havas accelerates the global transformation of Prose on Pixels into a borderless, AI-powered production business. Relaunched in June 2023, the agency has been consolidating production capabilities across the Havas network, bringing together expertise in technology, operations, innovation and creativity.

Rana Barua, group CEO of Havas India, Southeast and North Asia, said Knetsch’s appointment supports two major goals: “First, to officially launch and scale Prose on Pixels in Asia with the right leadership in place. Second, it reinforces our converged strategy across the region – anchored in media, creative and production – by fostering collaboration and empowering our teams to elevate the value we deliver to our clients.”

Knetsch will work closely with Rowena Bhagchandani, CEO of BLKJ Havas, and Pankaj Nayak, CEO of Havas Media Network Singapore, to tailor and roll out a region-specific converged model.

“It was immediately clear that the global Prose on Pixels team sees things the same way I do—great content production isn’t just a support act, it’s central to bringing bold creativity and smart media to life in today’s marketing landscape,” said Knetsch.

“While many claim to be integrated, with Prose on Pixels launching in Asia, Havas is actually doing it: activating its converged strategy and bringing creative, media, and production together to truly work as one across the region. Asia Pacific is an incredibly dynamic region, and I look forward to helping brands transform how they create and distribute content with speed, efficiency, and impact," he added. 

As Havas continues to strengthen its converged model across markets, the expansion of Prose on Pixels into Asia Pacific underscores the group’s focus on delivering faster, smarter and more integrated solutions to clients at scale.

This momentum is mirrored in Singapore, where Havas Media Network recently announced a series of senior leadershipchanges to accelerate growth and sharpen its market offerings.

Kenny Yap has been promoted to CEO of Havas Play Singapore, tasked with leading its strategic growth locally and across Southeast Asia. At the same time, Louise Koh and Deanson Lee step into managing director roles for Havas Media Singapore and digital, respectively, while Russell Lai departs after a decade with the agency.

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