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Tag: AAAI

  • his is the highest honour to be given to an individual in India for her/his  outstanding contribution to the advertising industry

    Shashi Sinha conferred AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award 2023

    By Our Staff

     

    The Lifetime Achievement Awards event of the Advertising Agencies Association of India is always a must-attend event. For, not only does it get you to participate in the felicitation of industry seniors, it also gives you an opportunity to interact with folks you seldom meet in industry forums. And of course the families and close associates of the winners.

     

    On Friday, December 1, the AAAI conferred the award on advertising industry veteran Shashi Sinha. This is the highest honour to be given to an individual in India for her/his  outstanding contribution to the advertising industry.

     

    Ravi Kant, former Vice Chairman and former MD of Tata Motors, Jayen Mehta, MD, GCMMF (Amul), Hemant Malik, Divisional CEO – Foods, ITC Ltd and FCB group veteran Nitin Karkare spoke on Sinha’s contribution to the industry and their own relationship with him.

     

    With nearly four decades in the advertising industry, Shashi Sinha  dedicated the majority of his career to a single agency group. In a leadership span of 25 years, he progressed from being the head of ,edia at FCB Ulka to the CEO of all media units under IPG Media Brands in 2013.

     

    Known for his active presence and guidance in various industry bodies, including roles as the current Chairman of BARC, former President of the Ad Club and former Chairman of ABC and MRUC. His involvement in ASCI, and contributions to IRS editions and AAAI further reflect  his commitment to influencing the advertising landscape. He has also been Chairman of the Awards Governing Council at Goafest. Beyond his professional life, he contributes to social causes through advisory roles in organisations like Akhand Jyoti Charitable Trust and TRRAIN Foundation, focusing on healthcare for curable blindness and supporting the training and placement of people with disabilities in the retail sector.

     

    Some of the past winners of this award include Subhas Ghosal, Alyque Padamsee, Mike Khanna, R K Swamy, Piyush Pandey, Sam Balsara, Prem Mehta, Roda Mehta, Ram Sehgal, Madhukar Kamath, Arvind Sharma, Colvyn Harris and others.

     

  • Text of the acceptance speech by Shashi Sinha after receiving the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award on Friday, December 1, 2023

    I have seen and heard a lot, but rest assured it will remain a secret with me: Acceptance speech by Shashi Sinha

    Text of the acceptance speech by Shashi Sinha after receiving the Advertising Agencies Association of India Lifetime Achievement Award on Friday, December 1, 2023

     

    Many thanks to PK, Anupriya, Sundar and the jury and to all at AAAI, also special thanks to Nitin, Jayen bhai, Hemant and Mr Ravikant.

     

    It is amazing that I am standing here before you on this occasion, I couldn’t have imagined this 37 years back when I started as an account planner at Ulka. I had been hired by my boss at UB – DD Saxena who had moved to Ulka and had sold me the job saying working in advertising was a short cut to brand management as till then I had worked only in sales. It is a different matter that 10 days into the job he shifted to Bangalore and left me reporting to Bal Mundkur the founder and CMD of the agency. Bal’s idea of account planning was being an odd job man, handling financial advertising clients one day or selling sponsored programmes the next.

     

    However, luck smiled on me a few months later as on one rainy day in July, Dr Verghese Kurien of GCMMF (popularly known as Amul) walked into our office unannounced and there was panic in the ranks as all seniors were out either holidaying in London or attending client meetings, so I was paraded in front of him. That started a truly remarkable partnership which has lasted more than 37 years. It takes a great man to leave a legacy of client-agency partnership, a tradition continues with Jayen Mehta.

     

    In September 1988, Bal decided to step down from the day-to-day running of the agency and in came Anil Kapoor. Anil had a reputation as a marketing legend but if one didn’t know him well, one could easily conclude that not only was he aggressive but also abrasive and bulldog-like. Within a few days of his joining, five to six of us decided to leave as this was not our cup of tea.

     

    Anil quickly figured out that I was the unstated leader of the pack and took me out for a lunch which started at noon and ended at 7pm. Post which I decided it was easier to say yes to him then to  argue with him. He could wear you down with logic. That started a long partnership with Boss where every meeting would run into hours every presentation was recrafted many times and every headline rewritten to perfection. It was amazing to see his passion for the business and above all care and concern for his people. He taught us to be confident and try and treat every client relationship as equal.  He ensured that Ambi, Arvind Niteen, Nagesh and me made a great team inspite of being diverse personalities.

     

    In a long journey such as mine, there were many highs and lows. Normally one tends to talk only of the success, but I do want to talk about a failure. We had worked on the launch plan of a major biscuit brand for ITC. Hemant Malik, the then CMO, gave our teams a free hand agreeing to many a whimsical idea we presented. However, when the launch didn’t succeed, he absorbed all the pressure. It is a testimony to Hemant’s leadership that not only did we continue handling the biscuit category, but the remit has expanded considerably.

     

    In 2004, I made the transition to a full-time role in media. This was timed with disbanding of the Tata AOR. Consequent to this, Tata Motors, Tata Indicom/ Docomo and TCS along with Tata Corporate came to Lodestar which in a way created a strong foundation for our media offering. Mr Ravikant has not only been a client from his LML to Tata days but also a role model and a mentor. I marvel at his ability to look at the tiniest of detail in one breath and look at the big picture in the next. I will remain truly grateful to him for everything he has done for me.

     

    No story of Ulka/ Mediabrands will be complete without mentioning our oldest client Zodiac and the wonderful Noorani family who have treated me as their own. I must also mention Mahindra and Nerolac paints who have been our clients for more than 35 years.  Rajesh Jejurikar and Anuj Jain have been big supporters of ours.

     

    I have always believed that if our industry prospers, we all will also gain, consequently I have devoted a lot of my time in the last decade to industry work. it may sound easy now, but it was tough initially and I must thank Bhaskarda and Ramesh for showing the way. From running the Goafest Abby awards to BARC, I have seen and heard a lot, but rest assured it will remain a secret with me.

     

    Finally, I do want to thank all my colleagues who have made this journey enjoyable, Apurva, Arpita and Nandini for helping create Lodestar from scratch. Nandini was part of the long journey till recently.

     

    My MB leadership team of Anamika, Amar, Vaishali, Hema, Aditi, Manoj, Savita, Shantanu and Sanjeev,

     

    I must separately call out Nitin Karkare – we started together in 1986 and are still together.

    One cannot end without thanking the family, Riti, Dhruv, Karan and Ena.

     

  • The date of the awards event has not been announced

    Shashi Sinha to be conferred with AAAI Lifetime Award 2023

    By Our Staff

     

    The Advertising Agencies Association of India has announced that the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023 will be conferred on IPG Mediabrands CEO and senior advertising industry executive Shashi Sinha. Notes a communique: “This is the highest honour to be given to an individual in India for her/ his outstanding contribution to the advertising industry. With nearly four decades in the advertising industry, Shashi Sinha is seasoned professional and has dedicated the majority of his career to a single agency group. In a leadership span of 25 years, he progressed from being the head of Media at FCB Ulka to the CEO of all media units under IPG Medianrands in 2013. As CEO, he orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, transforming a little known media group into the most respectable entity among all IPG business units in India. This success elevated the global standing of IPG Media Brands. Simultaneously, his enduring stewardship of Amul for over 37 years attests to the high regard in which he is held. Beyond corporate achievements, he played a pivotal role in the sevenfold growth of Interactive Avenues, a digital agency acquired during his tenure. His emphasis on human resources ensured the retention of original founders within the leadership team at MB agencies. Notably, MB agencies, apart from GroupM, are the only media agencies to have received Agency of the Year Awards at prestigious local shows like Emvies and Goafest Abbies. Renowned for his active presence and guidance in various industry bodies, including roles as the current Chairman of BARC, former President of the Ad Club and former Chairman of ABC and MRUC. His involvement in ASCI, and contributions to IRS editions and AAAI further exemplify his commitment to influencing the advertising landscape. He has also been Chairman of the Awards Governing Council at Goafest. Beyond his professional life, he contributes to social causes through advisory roles in organisations like Akhand Jyoti Charitable Trust and TRRAIN Foundation, focusing on healthcare for curable blindness and supporting the training and placement of people with disabilities in the retail sector.”

     

    Making the announcement, Prasanth Kumar, President, AAAI, said, “Shashi Sinha’s journey in advertising is an inspiring narrative of leadership, innovation, and resilience. As the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Awardee for 2023, he exemplifies decades of transformative impact, steering media entities to unparalleled success. His tenure as CEO at IPG Media Brands marked a turnaround that elevated industry standards, making it the most profitable entity under IPG in India. Beyond corporate milestones, Shashi’s commitment to industry bodies and social causes is laudable. His achievements reflect not just professional excellence but a deep-seated passion for shaping the advertising landscape and contributing meaningfully to societal progress. Shashi Sinha is truly deserving of this honour.”

     

    Added Anupriya Acharya, Chairperson of the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award Selection Committee: “No one deserves this prestigious honour more than Shashi. While his success in advertising is remarkable, his contributions to the industry at large are nothing short of exemplary. It is no surprise therefore, that the entire committee unanimously agreed to bestow this award upon Shashi, recognising his outstanding achievements and significant impact on the advertising landscape.”

     

    Some of the past winners of this award include Subhas Ghosal, Alyque Padamsee, Mike Khanna, R K Swamy, Piyush Pandey, Sam Balsara, Prem Mehta, Roda Mehta, Ram Sehgal, Madhukar Kamath, Arvind Sharma, Colvyn Harris and others. The date of the awards event has not been announced, though it’s likely to be post-Diwali (that’s around November 12-14, 2023).

     

  • Sam Balsara to lead the Indian delegation to AdAsia ’23 Seoul

    By Our Staff

     

    Sam Balsara, head of the Indian-owned Madison World will be the Leader of the Indian Delegation to the AdAsia’23 at Seoul. The AdAsia, a property of the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) is scheduled from October 24th. to 26th. 2023.

    Sam Balsara is a veteran of many AdAsia’s.

     

    He has been honored by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) with its Lifetime Achievement Award, and has been inducted into the International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter Hall of Fame as well as the Kolkata AdClub Hall of Fame.

     

    Said Balsara: “The AdAsia is the biggest event in Asia for the communications industry. There is considerable interest now since the last AdAsia that Indians could go for, was six years ago in Bali. The AdAsia’23 is an unmissable event for marketers, media and advertising professionals. I am confident that we will have a sizable delegation from India.”

     

    Adds Srinivasan K Swamy, Chairman of R K SWAMY HANSA Group, “I understand that the Korean Advertising industry and the AdAsia 2023 Seoul Organising Committee have taken special efforts to get speakers from several leading organisations across the world, in addition to leading companies in Korea like Samsung, Hyundai etc. Of course, we will also in for a treat to Korean culture and entertainment when we will get to see and hear more about K-Pop music, dance, and TV series.”

     

  • Registrations are now open

    Goafest 2023 Governing Council and theme Unveiled

    By Our Staff

     

    As Goafest gets set for its 16th edition in late May 2023, the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and The Advertising Club have announce the Governing Council and Committee Members for Goafest 2023.

     

    Following is the Governing Council for Goafest 2023:

         • Prasanth Kumar, President, Advertising Agencies Association of India and CEO, South Asia, GroupM

         • Partha Sinha, President, Times of India Group and President of The Advertising Club

         • Jaideep Gandhi, Chairman, Goafest 2023; Founder, Another Idea

         • Mohit Joshi, Co-chair, Goafest 2023; CEO, Havas Media

         • Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India & Chairman, The ABBYs Award Governing Council

         • Ajay Kakar, Managing Committee Member, The Advertising Club & Co-chair, The ABBYs Award Governing Council

         • Anupriya Acharya, CEO South Asia, Publicis Groupe

         • Sam Balsara, Chairman, Madison

         • Rohit Ohri, Group Chairman & CEO, FCB Group India

         • Shashi Sinha, CEO-India, IPG Mediabrands

         • Ajay Chandwani, Managing Committee Member, The Advertising Club

         • Malcolm Raphael, Senior Vice-President, The Times of India Group

     

    The sub-committee members for Goafest 2023 from Advertising Agencies Association of India are:

         • Content Committee Chairman: Vikram Sakhuja, Group CEO, Media & OOH, Madison Communications

         • Delegates Committee Chairman: Sam Balsara, Chairman,  Madison

         • Creative Committee Chairman: Rohit Ohri, Group Chairman & CEO, FCB Group India

     

    Creative Committee Joint Chairman: Anusha Shetty, Chairman & Group CEO, Grey Worldwide India

         • Client Associations Chairman: Shashi Sinha, CEO, IPG Media Brands

         • Client Associations Joint Chairman: Prasanth Kumar, CEO South Asia, Group M

         • Advertising Associations Committee Chairman: Srinivasan K Swamy, Chairman & Managing Director, R K Swamy

         • Events Committee Chairman: Ashish Bhasin, Co-Founder & Chairman, RD&X Network

     

    Prasanth Kumar
    Prasanth Kumar

    Said Prasanth Kumar:  “We are blessed to have great leadership working together to make Goafest ’23 a remarkable event. This year sees greater support and collaboration across the industry coming together. As always, Goafest is a passion centre and while we discuss greater opportunities across the industry and celebrate our great work am sure will push the boundaries as a collective team and achieve greater progress.”

     

    Sam BalsaraOn opening up delegate registrations for Goafest 2023, Sam Balsara added: “Goafest has earned its position as a destination that celebrates creative excellence in most disciplines in Communication in South Asia. We look forward to welcoming teams from across India, South Asia and indeed the  globe to come and participate in Goafest as  we exchange thoughts and discuss the future of communication and increasing its role and accountability to the marketer, further making way for growth of the Industry.”

     

    Partha Sinha
    Partha Sinha

    Added Partha Sinha: “With each edition of Goafest, India’s position in the global creative industry is only strengthened. Given the format and scale of Goafest, the festival has firmly positioned itself as the most sought-after creative festival in South Asia. With day-long sessions and masterclasses led by the brightest minds in the industry to evenings that honour and celebrate work that has set new benchmarks and trends, Goafest is the only festival of its kind in India and Asia that drives value, encourages creative excellence and discusses pertinent topics, aiding our industry’s growth. We look forward to hosting our industry colleagues and partners once again at Goafest.”

     

    The theme Goafest this year is: ‘The Future of Creativity is Here’. With advancements in technology, including machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing, the boundaries of creativity are being pushed further than ever before. There is a rise in innovative tools and technologies that enable new forms of creativity; for example, virtual and augmented reality (VR & AR) technologies are already opening up new avenues for artistic expression, allowing creators to build immersive, interactive experiences that blur the line between the physical and digital worlds.

     

    Rohit Ohri
    Rohit Ohri

    Unveiling the theme, Rohit Ohri said: “Generative AI is pushing the boundaries of what is possible and opening new doors to creativity and innovation. This technology will allow our industry to explore newer ideas at a much faster pace and is likely to play a significant role in shaping the future of creativity. Inspired by this game-changing development, we have used Generative AI in the design process of our three-day festival. With sessions and masterclasses that deep-dive into the creative technology landscape, we are sure to re-envision how we collaborate with machines to bring transformative ideas to life.”

     

    Changemaking technologies and the changemakers behind them are reshaping the world while creating a positive real-world impact on communities, societies, and countries. While some may worry that AI will replace human creativity, it is certain that it will instead be used to enhance and augment human creativity, leading to even more groundbreaking and innovative creations.

     

  • Also scheduled is the 54th edition of the Abby awards

    So what’s the hottest thing set to happen in Indian media? Goafest 2023, May 24-26.

    By Our Staff

     

    The images you see here give us the weather on May 24, 2023 in Goa and also what it has been in the past. Thirty-odd degrees is nothing. What we see in Mumbai and Delhi is worse. But look at the humidity: 74%. Numbers may not give a good indicator of things, but the fact is that Goa in May can be horribly hot. Or let’s be positive and say: fantastically hot. Except if there is an early onset of the rains, which is also not unlikely (note to Ramu kaka: please remind us to carry chhaata).

     

     

    All of it builds the excitement around the region’s biggest (and hottest) advertising festival: Goafest. Co-hosted by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and the Advertising Club, Goafest 2023 is scheduled to take place on May 24, 25 and 26 in Goa. At the Grand Hyatt in Bambolim. Also scheduled is the 54th edition of the Abby awards. In addition to the awards, there will be presentations and sessions by leading industry experts, plus 10 knowledge-sharing masterclasses.

     

    Announcing Goafest 2023, Prasanth Kumar, CEO, South Asia GroupM and President, Advertising Agencies Association of India: “Goafest has cemented its position as the most admirable creative festival in South Asia that truly brings together the best of creative and marketing professionals. Our goal is to offer our industry colleagues three power-packed days of learning, engagement, interactivity and curiosity. We are confident that this year’s edition will be the biggest and best yet, leaving each attendee with valuable learnings and benefiting the industry as a whole.”

     

    Added Jaideep Gandhi, Chairperson Goafest 2023: “Year after year, Goafest has evolved and innovated, making it the most relevant advertising festival in India. From knowledge-sharing sessions to exclusive speakers, we are certain of having guests from across the globe that will benefit the industry, especially younger professionals, this year as well. For the first time, various committees involving senior industry leaders have been formed thus making the event all-inclusive and broad-based for the entire advertising industry. We look forward to curating a festival that drives participation and empowers the fraternity thus positioning India as a sharper contender in the global advertising landscape.”

     

    Said Partha Sinha, President, The Times of India group and President of The Advertising Club: “We believe it is imperative that we celebrate the industry and Goafest enables us to do exactly this. The festival empowers the industry to push creative boundaries and think beyond existing possibilities. We look forward to another year of firsts at Goafest 2023 and encourage India’s creative economy to participate actively.”

     

    So, are we headed to Goa? Of course, we are. As always.

     

  • Prof Akshaya Vijaylakshmi, Associate Professor, Marketing, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), who has been onboarded as the Knowledge Partner for the initiative

    Second edition of ‘I Lead’ survey alunched

    By Our Staff

     

    We have our views on the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry but must say that its PR & Digital Marketing National Council, one of the 150-plus Councils the association has, is superactive. The Council has launched the second edition of the ‘I Lead’ Women Leadership Survey. The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) have joined hands with WICCI to support this survey, notes a communique

     

    Prof Akshaya Vijaylakshmi, Associate Professor, Marketing, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), has been onboarded as Knowledge Partner for the initiative. Said Prof Vijaylakshmi: “We talk about how it takes a village to raise a child but what we also need is an organization to come together to help a mother not just stay at work but also succeed and grow in the firm. This is just one example. The ‘I Lead’ Women Leadership Survey by WICCI aims to get a wholesome understanding of what organizations are doing to help women thrive. This survey is the much needed roadmap that we need for the future.”

     

    Announcing the launch of the survey, Kavita Lakhani, National President of WICCI PR & Digital Marketing Council said, “It is a known fact that gender equality is key to unlocking greater chances for women to prosper at leadership positions. Through the ‘I Lead’ Women Leadership Survey, we will attempt to understand from CXOs of communications firms firstly on how much they believe in providing equal opportunities, equal respect and equal empowerment.  Secondly what is their formula for an equal future – specific programmes, partnerships and policies within their organization – all designed to support women and to break down any barriers to recruitment, retention, development and leadership.” The  survey can be taken on mobile.  The survey link www.enswype.com.

     

  • South Asia of GroupM, was elected President of the AAAI

    Prasanth Kumar is President of AAAI

    By Our Staff

     

    Prasanth Kumar
    Prasanth Kumar

    Prasanth Kumar, CEO – South Asia of GroupM, was elected President of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) for the year 2022-23. Rana Barua, Group CEO of Havas Group India, was unanimously elected Vice President of the Association.

     

    Other elected members of the Board in alphabetical order are:

     

    :: Vishandas Hardasani: Matrix Publicities and Media India Pvt Ltd

    :: Kunal Lalani: Crayons Advertising Pvt Ltd

    :: Rohan Mehta: Kinnect Pvt Ltd

    :: Chandramouli Muthu: Maitri Advertising Works Pvt Ltd, Kochi

    :: Sridhar Ramasubramanian: Beehive Communications Pvt Ltd

    :: Shashidhar Sinha: Initiative Media India Pvt Ltd

    :: K Srinivas: Sloka Advertising Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad

    :: Vivek Srivastava: Innocean Worldwide Communications Pvt Ltd

     

    Immediate Past President, Anupriya Acharya will be ex-officio member of the AAAI Board for 2022-23.

     

    On this occasion, Kumar said: “I’m extremely honoured to be elected President of this prestigious association. Advertising is, in my opinion, a dynamic and idea-driven industry. Collaboration with industry organizations will allow us to shape the industry in a progressive way that benefits everybody. I look forward to building synergies with like-minded people and organisations and I believe that we will be able to achieve our goals if we work together. As always, I expect lots of support from my peers and colleagues within AAAI as well as from the broader ecosystem as well.”

     

    PK, as he is popularly called, is a GroupM veteran with over 25 years of experience having worked across the industry. He has worked at Pepsi, The Hindu, The Media Edge and McCann Erickson before joining GroupM. He has also been Vice President of AAAI from 2020-22.

     

    Added outgoing President Anupriya Acharya: “It has been a privilege to hold the office of President and take on the responsibilities that come with it for the last two years. We transitioned AAAI from a Society to a Section 8 Company, returned with our key events as the nation moved out of covid restrictions, relaunched the iconic Goafest and Abbys in partnership with The One Show, refreshed the AAAI logo in step with the times. But most importantly, we furthered our agenda on inclusion as we partnered with UN Women backed Unstereotype Alliance and brought more digital agencies into the fold and continued strong partnerships with other industry bodies. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow Board members for giving their energy, expertise, and time when most needed. I would also like to congratulate Prasanth Kumar on his election as President. He has been a key member of the Indian media and advertising industry for a long time. I’m sure he will take the Association from strength to strength.”

     

  • For his long and successful career in the industry spanning over 40 years

    Colvyn Harris to be conferred with AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award

    By Our Staff

     

    Colvyn Harris
    Colvyn Harris

    The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) announced that the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022 will be conferred on senior advertising professional Colvyn Harris. This is the highest honour to be given to an individual in India for his/ her outstanding contribution to the advertising industry.

     

    Anupriya Acharya
    Anupriya Acharya

    Making the announcement, Anupriya Acharya, President, AAAI, said: “Colvyn Harris is in every sense a true pioneer and visionary. Apart from singlehandedly making JWT a top agency, he has also contributed significantly to the industry in various capacities, including as President of AAAI. He’s been a key driver and pivotal force in establishing Goafest as the largest advertising festival in India.  I am pleased to say that the entire committee was unanimous in selecting Colvyn as this year’s AAAI’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner. He is truly deserving of this honour.”

     

    Some of the past winners of this award include Subhas Ghosal, Alyque Padamsee, Mike Khanna, R K Swamy, Piyush Pandey, Sam Balsara, Prem Mehta, Roda Mehta, Ram Sehgal, Madhukar Kamath, and Arvind Sharma amongst others.

     

  • In the past, industry leaders like Rajan Anandan, Uday Shankar, Ronnie Screwvalla have delivered keynotes

    Aroon Purie to deliver AAAI Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture on Oct 7

    By Our Staff

     

    The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and the Subhas Ghosal Foundation (SGF) are have announced that the Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture will return this year with Aroon Purie, Chairman and Editor-In-Chief, India Today Group, as speaker. The event will be held on Friday, October 7 in Mumbai. While talking about his personal and professional experiences, Purie will share many valuable insights which he has gained during his lifetime.

     

    With the support of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), the SFT has been hosting its ‘AAAI Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture’ series, for several years, where industry leaders like Rajan Anandan, Uday Shankar, Ronnie Screwvalla have delivered keynotes.

     

    Said Sam Balsara on behalf of SGF: “We live in an age where media and advertising are shaping and also rapidly changing society. It will be interesting to hear Aroon speak about his journey, how he built a media empire, as well as his views on life today and how the media has changed over the years. I believe this lecture will be helpful and enlightening for both immigrants and natives of the advertising and media”.

     

    Ahead of the lecture, Anupriya Acharya, President, AAAI added: “Aroon Purie has been at the forefront of change and innovation in the news business as it transitioned from print to electronic media and then to digital and social media. A recipient of the Padma Bhushan award, his contribution to Indian journalism is exemplary. I am sure that Aroon’s life experiences will be fascinating for the audiences and we look forward to his perspectives at the Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture.”

     

  • The Leo Burnett Group was Creative Agency, Famous Innovations was runner-up

    Goafest 2022 ends with some partying, a new Creative Agency winner & some stars in the house

     

     

    By Our Staff

     

    Saturday, May 7 saw curtains drawn on the 15th edition of Goafest. The three-day fest saw several marketing and glamour stars, master classes and parties and of course awards on each of the evening. Around 1500 delegates are reported to have been in attendance.

     

    Day 3 began with Mithali Raj – Indian women’s cricket captain in conversation with Sharlene Lobo, Anchor, Mirror Now.  This was followed by a digital conclave an introductory address by Gowthaman ‘Gman’ Ragothaman, CEO, Aqilliz & Co-Founder, Web3 Marketing Association. And then there was Sandeep Bhushan, Director and Head of India GMS for Meta.

     

    Later, there was a fireside chat on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion with Rathi Gangappa, CEO, Starcom India, Dheeraj Sinha, CEO & Chief Strategy Officer, South Asia, Leo Burnett, Rohit Ohri, Chairman & CEO FCB Ulka and Suhela Khan, Country Program Manager, We Empower Asia, UN Women on the panel. Post the lunch break, actor and comedian, Aiyyo Shraddha regaled the house with her stand-up act.

     

    Later then was a session on influencers with Ranveer Allahbadia, Niharika NM, Raj Shamani, and Madan Gowri moderated by Viraj Sheth, Co-Founder & CEO of Monk Entertainment.

     

    There was also Rujuta Diwekar, Nutrition Expert and Author in conversation with Anupriya Acharya, CEO-Publicis Groupe, South Asia.

     

    The highlight A&M session of the day was by Kash Sree – Executive Creative Director / Writer who was later engaged in a Q&A by Rana Barua.

     

    The last session for the day had actor Madhuri Dixit in conversation with actor Tisca Chopra.

     

    The mastercasses through the day were conducted by Keigan Pinto, Chief Creative Officer, FCB Ulka, Amaresh Godbole, CEO, Digital Technology Business, Publicis Groupe India, Ram Cobain Creative Shop, Meta, Prakash Jha, Indian film Producer, Actor, Director, and Screenwriter in conversation with Mayank Shekhar, journalist and film critic. The last of the masterclasses on YouTube Shorts by Google.

     

    At the Creative Abby, a total of 32 Video Craft ABBYs, 2 Radio Craft ABBYs, 29 Branded Content ABBYs, 13 Brand Activation & Promotion ABBYs, 4 Diversity ABBYs, 17 OOH ABBYs including 1 Grand Prix, 19 Still Print and Still Craft ABBYs, 4 Still Digital ABBYs, 20 Audio Visual TV/Cinema ABBYs, 41 Audio Visual Digital ABBYs, 1 Young ABBY, 2 Red ABBYs, 11 Integrated ABBYs and 3 Green awards ABBYs were handed out to deserving winners.

     

    Speaking about Goafest 2022, Anupriya Acharya, President – Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) said, “Goafest 2022 had an electrifying start by celebrating the superpower within. It has grown to become the magnum opus event for the industry. With meaningful sessions and evenings filled with entertainment and fun, the last 3 days of the festival and the ABBYs, truly celebrated excellence and creativity, making Goafest a unique and enthralling experience. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed towards making Goafest 2022 a huge success with their encouragement and moral support. I’d also like to congratulate all the participants and winners in making the ABBYs’ an eventful evening at all three days.”

     

    On awarding the ABBYs at Goafest 2022, Partha Sinha, President – The Advertising Club said, “Goafest has once again proven itself to be an extravaganza that brings together the entire media and creative fraternity. Reinvigorating Goafest after a break of two years was a challenge that we successfully sailed through. After months of dedication and relentless work by the AAAI and The Advertising Club teams, bringing international jury and the enthusiasm witnessed from all has resulted into yet another marvellous festival this year. Our collaboration with The One Show this year proved to be a game changing proposition, making the ABBYs’ even more aspirational. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and also thank the jury for their meticulous and fair evaluation that makes Abby Awards more globally recognised.”

     

    Added Jaideep Gandhi, Chairman, Goafest 2022 Organising Committee: “After two difficult years, Goafest 2022 came together to celebrate the true essence of happiness and cheer amongst the industry. Over the last three days, not only did we witness some of the best speakers deliver insightful and encouraging talks, we also witnessed stories of empowerment and futuristic innovation. We also saw some of the brilliant creative minds engage and interact with each other, reiterating the true spirit of the festival. I’d like to congratulate each and every one for their incredible win.”

     

    Said Rana Barua, Chairman, Abby Awards Governing Council 2022 & Vice President of The Ad Club: “As we come to the conclusion of Day 3 and of Goafest 2022, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the speakers and delegates for taking out time in to make the conference and the awards a great success. This year, we have witnessed an overwhelming response in terms of participation but what is heartening to note is that agencies are making their presence felt, showcasing some brilliant work.”

     

  • Day 1 saw the Media & Publisher Abby. Mindshare bagged the Media Agency of the Year title

    It’s Goafest time again…

     

     

    By Our Staff

     

    Goafest 2022 started on high energy. Singer Sukhbir electrified the auditiorium to kick off the 15th edition which happened after a two-year Covid pandemic-led hiatus. The festival started with the lighting of the lamp and the unveiling of AAAI’s new logo. The underlying theme being of celebrating The SuperPower Within.

     

    AAAI’s new logo has been created created by Tempest Advertising’s art director, Lohidasu. The agency’s design was chosen amidst 200 entries. The logo effectively brought the past, the present and the future of both AAAI and advertising in unison. The official unveiling of the redesigned logo at the Goafest, was done by Rohit Ohri, Chairman and CEO of FCB Ulka and film star, Yami Gautam.

     

    Further, the Industry Conclave presented by ABP Group marked the beginning of the festival with the first session of the day, witnessing actress Yami Gautam in a one-on-one conversation with Rana Barua, Chairman, Abby Awards Governing Council 2022 and Vice President of The Ad This was followed by a keynote by Vineeta Singh, Co-founder and CEO, SUGAR Cosmetics & Shark, Shark Tank India, who highlighted the importance of building a brand with quality products and content before focusing on advertising. She also emphasized the power of empowering a team, which mirrors the ethos of Sugar, passionately stating, “Empower them and let them go rule the world!”

     

    The next session saw Ankush Sachdeva, Co-Founder & CEO, Sharechat & Moj, in conversation with Vikram Sakhuja, Group CEO Madison Media & OOH at Madison World.  Following this was a session in partnership with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), where Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary (CA), Ministry of Consumer Affairs & Food Distribution spoke with Piyush Pandey, Chairman of Global Creative Ogilvy Worldwide & Executive Chairman, Ogilvy India discussing the importance of consumer protection and its responsibility that we have as professionals. The session was moderated by Subhash Kamath, Chairman, ASCI & CEO, BBH, India. Singh ended the session on an impotant note: “If we don’t look after the interest of the consumer, who will?”

     

    After that Kiran Bedi, Former Lt Governor Puducherry and one of India’s best known retired IPS offices, highlighted the importance of leadership, emphasising: “Leadership is internal – you start with yourself; if you can’t lead yourself, you can’t lead people.”

     

    This year, for the first time ever,  after over 50 years of being solo, the Advertising Club collaborated with The One Show.

     

    Speaking about Goafest 2022, Anupriya Acharya, President, Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) said, “It’s been a tough two years, and it’s great to be back on-ground not only in terms of organising the festival but also where achievements are concerned. We are thrilled to  have everyone back, bonding and celebrating this festival.”

     

    Added Jaideep Gandhi, Chairman, Goafest 2022 Organising Committee: “Goafest has undoubtedly grown into one of the most prestigious conventions in South Asia, bringing together some of the most talented and brightest creative geniuses from all walks of life to celebrate the ad-land spirit. We are looking to keep the overall exuberance of this year’s festival about enjoyment, about people coming together to celebrate and connect. As a result, we will be able to understand the true essence of organizing a festival after experiencing two major setbacks in the past. The Goafest festival gives young talent the chance to interact and learn from some of the industry’s stalwarts. These people have played a crucial role in paving the way for them, making the event worthwhile. In addition to these benefits, it serves as a place where young people can engage and network cohesively with the entire media and advertising fraternity.”

     

    Discussing the ABBY Awards at Goafest 2022, Partha Sinha, President, The Advertising Club said, “2022 is definitely a landmark year because of the collaboration of the Abby  Awards with The One Show, and this is a game-changing proposition. It gives a platform to a plethora of agencies, enabling it to become more global. We owe it to the industry to bring something of global standing especially when we are one large world.”

     

    Speaking about the Abbys Awards, Rana Barua, Chairman, Abby Awards Governing Council 2022 & Vice President of The Ad Club said, “A staggering number of participants has been witnessed, surpassing all previous records. In addition to agencies that have participated since our inception, we have also seen those returning every year. Overall, the numbers are higher this month since we had to package everything together in one month. This year and henceforth, Goafest will be considerably bigger and more extravagant.”