WPP Media has appointed Prachi Narayan as Head of Partnerships at Media Futures Group, the bespoke global media and advertising solution the network runs exclusively for Google.
Narayan joins from Havas Media Network India, where she was Managing Partner of Havas Play from July 2025 to August 2026, working on branded entertainment and content-led initiatives.
A content and IP background
The role draws on more than two decades of experience across broadcast, news, branded content and entertainment. Her expertise spans content strategy, production, intellectual property development and client partnerships.
Before Havas, Narayan was Associate Vice President, Creative Services at Prime Focus Technologies between August 2020 and March 2022. There she led the company’s largest OAP programme for Disney Southeast Asia and oversaw strategic operations for the group.
Earlier in her career, she was Deputy Executive Producer and Team Lead at Republic Media Network, where she managed branded content initiatives and end-to-end delivery. She began in television programming as Senior Producer, Special Programming at TV Today.
Why this hire matters
Media Futures Group is not a typical agency team. It is a dedicated WPP unit built for one advertiser: Google. Narayan’s remit as partnerships head sits at the intersection of content, production and client relationships, which suggests the account is being shaped for more than conventional media planning and buying.
The appointment is a useful signal for marketing leaders. When a large advertiser like Google brings in a senior specialist with a programming and branded-content background, content partnerships, entertainment formats and IP-led work stop being peripheral. They become part of the core media toolkit.
It also says something about how bespoke agency units are being staffed. Dedicated client teams used to be dominated by planners and buyers. Increasingly, they need people who understand formats, audiences and storytelling, because the work is moving towards creating content that earns attention rather than simply renting it.
What marketers should watch
- Watch for more content-led partnership programmes inside the WPP-Google relationship.
- Expect branded entertainment and IP formats to gain weight in large client-agency structures.
- Review whether your own agency team has production and content fluency, not just media buying depth.
For agencies, the move is a reminder that client leadership roles increasingly reward executives who can translate a brand idea into a piece of content, a partnership or a format, not just a media schedule.
Source: MediaNews4U
