Founder, Kommune, Rap Managing Director, VMLY&R Encompass President of EEMA
Biography & Career Highlights
Roshan Abbas is a celebrated media personality, entrepreneur, and creative industry leader whose work spans radio, television, advertising, events, cultural IPs, and digital storytelling. Formerly the Managing Director of VMLY&R Encompass and President of EEMA, he has been instrumental in shaping India’s experiential and live entertainment landscape.
As the co-founder of Kommune, creator of Spokenfest, and the driving force behind his production house RAP, Roshan is widely recognised as one of India’s most influential voices in creativity, culture, and youth engagement. He has also been an active mentor and angel investor, playing a pivotal role in the success of leading creative ventures such as The Glitch (acquired by WPP) and Chtrbox, one of India’s foremost influencer agencies.
Early Career & Media
Roshan Abbas began his journey as a radio and television host, becoming one of India’s most recognisable presenters. His radio shows, including Khanak and Film City Express, celebrated the stories behind songs and cinema and earned him multiple awards for storytelling and presentation. Alongside radio, he hosted several prominent TV shows, pursued theatre, wrote extensively, and became a leading live host—laying a strong artistic foundation built on narrative, performance, and audience connection.
Transition to Entrepreneurship
Drawing from his multidisciplinary media experience, Roshan Abbas moved into entrepreneurship with a focus on experiential marketing, cultural IP development, and storytelling-led creative ecosystems. Under his leadership, Encompass grew into one of India’s most respected experiential agencies. As an angel investor and mentor, Roshan supported and shaped ventures like The Glitch (a premier digital agency later acquired by WPP) and Chtrbox, helping them become category leaders in the evolving digital and creator economy. His entrepreneurial journey reflects a deep commitment to innovation, community-building, and new-age creative business thinking.
About the Companies
Roshan Abbas is the co-founder of Kommune, India’s largest storytelling collective that nurtures spoken word artists, performers, writers, and emerging creative voices. Under Kommune, he conceptualised Spokenfest, now regarded as Asia’s largest spoken word festival.
His production company, RAP (Roshan Abbas Projects), is currently producing its first scripted series for Prime Video, while also delivering high-quality branded content and experiential productions for clients such as Diageo, Tanishq, Asian Paints, and more.
He formerly led VMLY&R Encompass, where he oversaw one of India’s leading experiential marketing agencies.
Impact & Vision
Storytelling lies at Roshan’s core. He is globally recognised for his storytelling and communication workshops, conducted for businesses, creative teams, and C-suite leaders across the world. His vision centers on building creative communities, empowering young talent, and elevating India’s cultural and creative capital on the global stage.
Roshan Abbas champions storytelling as a transformative medium—whether through performance, voice, digital expression, or immersive experiences. He continues to push for a future where Indian creators and cultural IPs flourish globally, driven by authenticity, imagination, and purpose-led creativity.
