Dentsu has appointed Rohit Potphode as managing partner – sports, gaming, esports and live experiences, to scale its sports and entertainment practice in India.

Reporting to Yosuke Murai, head of India, dentsu Sports & Entertainment, Potphode will lead strategies that connect brands with audiences and deliver measurable business outcomes.

Furthermore, he will be responsible for sports consulting, sponsorship investments, IP development, content creation, and fan-first experiences, helping brands move beyond traditional sponsorships to achieve deeper cultural relevance and measurable results.

Potphode moves from Global e-Cricket Premier League, where he was CEO and league commissioner.

This appointment comes on the heels of dentsu’s launch of its Sports & Entertainment Network in India, aimed at creating integrated, culture-driven solutions for brands across sports, esports, music, festivals, and live experiences.

Harsha Razdan, CEO, South Asia, dentsu, said, “Sports and entertainment unite people and shape culture. In India, the passion is electric. Stadiums roar, gamers compete like warriors, and fans live every moment intensely. Rohit’s expertise will turn this energy into experiences that play bigger, think bolder, and make every partnership count.”

Murai added, “India is a market where culture and commerce collide at unprecedented scale. With Rohit joining our team, we are positioned to harness this energy across sports, gaming, and live experiences. By blending Japan’s decades of expertise with India’s unique cultural landscape, we can create partnerships and experiences that don’t just reach audiences - they shape how they engage, connect, and consume content.”

Potphode said, “Joining dentsu at this moment of expansion is truly exciting. India’s diverse culture and vibrant audiences provide the perfect canvas to innovate at the intersection of sports, gaming and live entertainment. I am excited to create experiences that engage deeply, inspire action and generate meaningful value for brands and partners, blending dentsu’s global scale with India’s cultural richness.”

In a career spanning over two decades, he has also worked with JetSynthesys, A + E Networks and Viacom, among others.