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Tag: AAAI

  • The announcement was made at the AAAI Annual General Body Meeting

    Ashish Bhasin re-elected President of AAAI

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ashish Bhasin

    Ashish Bhasin, CEO – Greater South, Dentsu Aegis Network and Chairman & CEO India, has been re-elected as President of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) for the year 2019-20. The announcement was made at the AAAI Annual General Body Meeting held last week.  Anupriya Acharya, CEO, Publicis Media India, has been re-elected as Vice-President of the Association.

     

    Other elected members of the Executive Committee include: Anand Bhadkamkar, Dentsu Aegis Network; Kalyan Sarkar, Standard Publicity; Kunal Lalani, Crayons Advertising, Prasanth Kumar, Group M Media India, Srinivasan K Swamy; RK Swamy BBDO; Vivek Srivastava, Innocean Worldwide Communication. Immediate Past President, Nakul Chopra will be the ex-officio member of the new AAAI Executive Committee.

     

    Said Bhasin: “I thank the members of the AAAI for reposing their faith in me by electing me for another term as the president of this illustrious organisation.  Along with my colleagues in the Executive Committee, I had set out on a mission to make the association more inclusive, diverse and future-ready. While we have made significant progress in some areas, there are many areas which require more work to be done.  I am honoured to be selected for the second term, which will allow the Executive Committee and me to complete the unfinished tasks. The tremendous support and unity that the members of AAAI have shown, makes me proud of our association!”

     

     

  • It was yet another year of rationalisation and tweaking of Abby Award categories

    Viacom18, and not a creative agency, tops Creative Abby 2019

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    Goafest 2019 came to an end on Saturday evening with broadcaster Viacom18 bagging the Creative Company of the Year at Abby 2019.

     

    Commenting on the winners, Shashi Sinha, Chair of the Awards Governing Council, Abby Awards, said: “It has been another great year of the Abby Awards We’re happy that the big winners are in Audio Visual. We have taken certain steps to encourage entries in those specific categories. We’ve opened up, bifurcated and streamlined certain categories to enable that. A lot of the work that has been entered here is very good work.”

     

    On the rise of digital that was evident in the list of Abby winners, Vikram Sakhuja, President, The Advertising Club, added: “This has been the best year for digital ever. People are realising now what the true power of the platform is. Earlier digital was an add on, now with the advancement of the platforms the syntax has to change. In the shortlists there was almost 50-50 between digital and broadcast.”

     

    Adding on to the evolution of digital, Ashish Bhasin President of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) said: “In a few years we won’t differentiate between a digital agency and a non-digital agency, because down the line if an agency cannot do digital, I don’t think it can retain business. This is the democratisation that I was talking about, the market has opened up so that not only the big names, but even smaller and boutique companies are coming in with good work.”

     

    Said Nakul Chopra, Chairman – Goafest 2019 on the tweaking and rationalisation of award categories: “There is a proactive effort we have made to be fair to all constituencies, through our various categories. At present we see more affinity towards some categories while maybe some years down the line merging of a couple of categories will make sense. While the market and field evolves, we as custodians of the market standards will simultaneously evolve to reflect those changes.”

     

    There were a total of 2700 entries across the various creative and media categories.

     

  • The number of metals awarded this year in the media awards leapfrogged to 62 from the 38 last year

    Mindshare maxes Media Abby on Day 1 of Goafest

    Viacom18 Group CEO Sudhanshu Vats with the victorious Mindshare team

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    GroupM agency Mindshare bagged the Media Agency of the Year title on Day 1 of Goafest 2019. Mindshare bagged four golds of the 19 golds presented. There were a total of 62 metals awarded this year as against 38 presented last year.

     

    Madison Media was ranked second followed by IPG Mediabrand agencies Initiative Media and Lodestar UM at No 3 and No 4 respectively. Carat, a division of Dentsu Agency Network, was placed fifth. Also presented on the first day of the three-day annual celebration of advertising and media was the Publisher Abby.

    Nakul Chopra, Vikram Tanna, Vikram Sakhuja, Sudhanshu Vats, Ashish Bhasin, Jaideep Gandhi and Shashi Sinha at the inauguration ceremony of Goafest2019 | Dainik Jagran wins Best marketing of a printed newspaper edition in Publisher Abby awards at Goafest2019

     

     

    The first half of the day began with singer Shaan performing live and reminiscing some of his advertising jingle days. This was followed by the Industry Conclave and later the Abby awards presentation.

     

    Speaking about Goafest 2019, Ashish Bhasin, President of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) said: “Over the last few years, we have seen the growth in participation with lines blurring between the media and creative disciplines. At Goafest 2019, on the back of an exclusive list of speakers and artists, we have seen a sustained registration of about 2000 delegates, while Abby Awards have seen 2700 entries this year.”

     

    Said Shashi Sinha, Chair of the Awards Governing Council, on participation in this year’s Abby awards: “Abby Awards continues to be the gold standard in creative and media awards. In today’s scenario, creativity is no longer limited to creative agencies only. We are also increasingly seeing it coming from other industries such as digital, PR, analytics, etc. This trend is evident in the diversity of participants and winners witnessed in the Abby Awards.”

     

    Said Nakul Chopra, Chairman – Goafest 2019: “Democratisation is a trend sweeping through the industry and we are proud of Goafest 2019 being an integral part of this change. It has been our endeavour to drive inclusivity irrespective of size and without the limitation of cost and opportunity.”

     

    According to Vikram Sakhuja, President, The Advertising Club, there has been an attempt to rationalise categories and getting an eminent jury. “This has led to a higher participation with around 15% more agencies entering their work this year,” he said.

     

    Goafest 2019 has Viacom18 as Presenting Sponsor and is powered by MX Player. The Industry Conclave was sponsored by Discovery Channel.

     

    Day 1 Press Release_2019

  • Presented by Viacom18, the apex industry awards is set to convene at Goafest 2019 from 11th  – 13th April

    Awards Governing Council for ABBY Awards 2019 announced

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Advertising Club and Advertising Agencies Association of India have announced the Awards Governing Council for the Abby Awards. The fourteenth edition of Goafest 2019 is being held from April 11 to 13 this year.

     

    The  committee includes: Shashi Sinha: Chairman of the Awards Governing Council, ABBY Awards 2019, Secretary – The Advertising Club and CEO, IPG Mediabrands India; Vikram Sakhuja: President, The Advertising Club & Group CEO – Madison Media & OOH – ‎Madison World; Ajay Kakar: Chief Marketing Officer, Aditya Birla Capital; Ajay Chandwani: Director, Percept Ltd; Aditya Swamy: Head – Agency Partnerships , Google and Sapangeet Rajawat: Head – Marketing, Hindi Mass Entertainment.

     

    The Awards Governing Council  on behalf of AAAI comprises Nakul Chopra; Chairman – Goafest 2019; Ashish Bhasin: Chairman & CEO South Asia Dentsu Aegis Network – ‎Aegis Group plc; Anupriya Acharya: CEO, Publicis Media India; Rohit Ohri: Group Chairman and CEO, FCB India and Jaydeep Gandhi: Chairman & Director, Jaya Advertising.

     

    Speaking on the focus of the AGC  for the upcoming edition, Sinha, said: The newly appointed Awards Governing Council is committed to ensuring that the awards are inclusive and have multi sectoral  representation. The combined experience  and the expertise of the council is sure to ensure that  all aspects of the awards from jury selection  to jury deliberation and review and  winner announcement thereafter is conducted with the highest standards of due diligence.”

     

    Added Bhasin: “Abby Awards have always been  the highlight of the festival and a key plaform for  the young minds from the industry to showcase the pioneering work done by them through the year . The awards governing council council formed to conduct this marquee awards includes industry thought leaders and media mavens who will come together to deliver another inclusive, highly represented  and  successful  year of the Abby.”

     

    Speaking about the AGC appointment, Sakhuja said: “Winning an Abby has always been a careed defining moment  for and the awards have year on year ensured that only the best in class campaigns that have showcased effectiveness and creativity are lauded. The newly appointed Awards Governing Counicl will ensure that the Abby continue to live up to its repute of being the ultimate industry awards that celebrate meritorious campaigns.”

     

    Said Nakul Chopra, Chairman – Goafest 2019: “Every year, Abbys have  not just recognized the best in best work done by the industry but also encouraged individuals from the industry to innovate and push boundaries to deliver the best creative campaigns.  We are sure that this year too will see  a lot of innovative work entered that will be judged by a renowned  jury panel curated by the eminent Awards Governing Council.”

     

     

  • The communication shows ads being made from wasted food, urging for ideas to put an end to food wastage

    Did your agency waste food this year? Adfest Young Lotus Contest call for ideas…

    By A Correspondent

     

    FCB Interface has conceptualised the theme for Adfest 2019 Young Lotus contest, inviting ideas to end food wastage. The thought was to take up issues within the industry and further narrowing it down, to issues within our own agency. The communication shows ads being made from wasted food, urging for ideas to put an end to food wastage.

     

    The ads have been completely made by the food wasted in leading advertising agencies where there is a huge kitchen space. FCB Interface collected all the food waste and then designed posters on a life size canvas. The production house McTolan Films collaborated with FCB to execute these posters.

     

    Lending perspective, Robby Mathew, CCO, FCB Interface said: “The idea was simple – make a ‘food-wastage’ poster using the food wasted by advertising people, every day. The difficult part was rummaging through the waste bins of all the leading advertising agencies, carting away the food in mini trucks, then creating the 14 feet by 19 feet layouts with putrefying food, hanging from a crane to shoot the artwork, all the while shooing away the crows and dogs that were hell bent on eating the poster!”

     

    Speaking about the campaign, Rohit Ohri, Group Chairman & CEO, FCB India and Chairman, Young Lotus Selection Team at AAAI added: “This piece of work was not just a call for entries it was a call for behaviour change. The ‘personalisation’ of our communication helped shatter the ‘we don’t waste food’ illusion. Making the need to address this issue urgent and immediate.”

     

     

  • Nakul Chopra, elected Chairman, Goafest 2019 to lead the apex industry event

    Nakul Chopra to chair Goafest 2019, Shashi Sinha will helm Awards Governing Council

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Advertising Agencies Association of India and The Advertising Club have started getting set for the 2019 edition of Goafest. The three-day event will be held in Goa in the summer of 2019.

     

    For starters, both organisations have announced the leaders for the coveted posts of Goafest Organising Committee and the Awards Governing Council. Nakul Chopra, Chairman Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) India, and Immediate Past President of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) who has been elected as the Chairman of Goafest 2019 organizing Committee. Shashi Sinha, CEO – IPG Mediabrands and Secretary, The Advertising Club has been elected Chairman of the Awards Governing Council for Abby 2019.

     

    Speaking about the 14th edition of the Goafeset, Ashish Bhasin, President of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) said: “Goafest has continuously been championing the category’s growth agenda. Our continued endeavour through the festival is to facilitate an enriched festival experience that is immersive, transformational and allows us to contribute to the learning enrichment of the Advertising, Media and Entertainment industry,” adding: “Nakul is an industry veteran and we are sure that his past experience with Goafest and his vision for the industry is sure to translate into an engaging and inclusive festival experience for all.”

     

    On being elected Chairman for the festival, Chopra said: “Goafest is a premiere representation of the Indian Advertising and Media industry. Year on year we have focused on increasing scale, driving inclusivity and ensuring that the festival emerges as a leading knowledge platform.  This year too our focus at Goafest will be to curate a great panel of thought leaders and provide a world view of the evolving Adverting and Media industry trends.”

     

    Speaking about the focus of the 2019 edition of Vikram Sakhuja, President, The Advertising Club said: “Goafest is an idea exchange forum that over the years has emerged into an opportunity where the entire media and advertising fraternity comes together to engage, innovate and share their best work. We are already geared up to bring another immersive edition of this landmark event, promising to up the ante even higher,” adding: “Abby has always been recognised as a gold standard in creative awards and we are sure that Shashi with his deep understanding of the industry and global view will ensure that the awards follow highest standards of due diligence and hold a place of eminence in the advertising, media and entertainment industry.”

     

    Speaking on being elected as Chairman of the AGC, Sinha said “Receiving an Abby has always been a career milestone and held a pace of pride in the life of every advertising and media professional. We will continue to ensure that Abby, that stands for creative excellence, continues to inspire game changing brand campaigns, scale in eminence and emerge as a beacon of inspiration for the new generation of marketers of and brand custodians.”

     

     

  • The advertising and marketing services veteran will take charge as IAA Global Chairman & World President today

    Ati Sundar! Srinivasan Swamy to be IAA Big Boss

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    It appears to be an Indian summer in Europe this year. In June, creative gurus Piyush and Prasoon Pandey were awarded the highest honour at the Cannes International Festiveal of Creativity, and now Srinivasan Swamy, Chairman of the R K Swamy Hansa Group will take over as the Chairman and World President of the illustrious International Advertising Association (IAA), the first Indian ever to do so.

     

    Sundar, as he is called by his friends, will lead a team of 25 Executive Committee members from a host of countries including USA, UK, Austria, Italy, Poland, Ghana, UAE, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Netherlands, Kuwait, Iran, Nepal and India. He takes over from senior advertising professional Felix Tataru from Romania today (October 4, 2018) at an event to be held in Bucharest.

     

    The International Advertising Association is an 80-year old institution and considered the most prestigious advertising body of its kind in the world. The IAA is acknowledged as the world’s most influential network of marketing and communication leaders, aimed at representing the common interests of all the disciplines across the full spectrum of marketing communications – from advertisers to media companies to agencies to direct marketing firms, as well as individual practitioners. Its activities involve professional development of marketing communication practitioners, protecting freedom of commercial speech, advertising self-regulation, protecting consumer interest, training and education.

     

    In 2016, Swamy was accorded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Advertising Agencies Association of India.

     

    As Chairman of R K Swamy Hansa, his professional interests currently include Creative & Media Advertising, Interactive & Digital Advertising, Health Care Communications, Social & Rural Sector, Communication, Human Resources Communication, Marketing Analytics, Market Research, Events & Activation, Retail Identity, Public Relations, Continuing Medical Education, Global Language work etc.

     

    Swamy has been active in various industry bodies working towards the growth and development of the Advertising industry. He was President of AAAI for three consecutive terms (2004 – 2007) and continues to take active interest in the activities of AAAI. He has been Chairman of Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), and a Board Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations. Swamy was also President of All India Management Association during 2008-09.  He was the President of The Madras Chamber of Commerce & Industry (2008-10), Madras Management Association (2001-02) and the Advertising Club, Madras (1988-89).

     

    He had a superactive tenure as President of the India Chapter of International Advertising Association and was also elected Senior Vice President of International Advertising Association, the global body. The list goes on and on.

     

    Swamy is actively involved with socially relevant institutions such as a 220-bed, multi-discipline tertiary care, Hindu Mission Hospital at Chennai catering to the urban poor and the surrounding rural areas; Chairman of Valluvar Gurukulam School Society which runs  a school for 2800 poor students, primarily girls and Vice President of National Boys and Girls Education Society, a premium education institution in Central Chennai which runs three reputed schools.  He is also Chairman of Vidyadhanam and Annadhanam Trust, a Vedic Padasala of Sri Ahobila Mutt and Trustee in the Consumers Association of India and Concert.

     

     

  • The leadership duo had their continuation endorsed by the current Board at the meeting held immediately post the 24th AGM

    Ashish Bhasin and Pratap Pawar continue to helm MRUC

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ashish Bhasin

    Ashish Bhasin, Chairman and CEO – South Asia, Dentsu Aegis Network and President of the AAAI and Pratap Pawar, Chairman, Sakal Media Group, will continue in their respective roles as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Media Research Users Council (MRUC), until the next AGM. This was decided last week after the AGM.

     

    Said Bhasin: “After the successful launch of IRS 2017, our aim is to release the IRS more frequently and strengthen the focus on MRUC’s core objective of offering Media Research that goes beyond the flagship study IRS.”

     

    Pratap Pawar

    Added Pawar: “We thank all our members for their continuous support to the MRUC in ensuring the success of IRS 2017. We will carry the momentum forward and ensure the users of IRS do not have to wait long for the next launch of IRS.”

     

     

  • The AAAI Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture 2018 will be delivered by Googel India head Rajan Anandan on September 20

    Rajan Anandan to deliver Subhas Ghosal Lecture

    By A Correspondent

     

    Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and Subhas Ghosal Foundation (SGF) have announced the Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture by Rajan Anandan, Vice President, Google India and South East Asia on Thursday, September 20, 2018 in Mumbai.

     

    Anandan will speak on what the new internet sser is like and what to expect in the digital world we now live in, a few years from now.

     

    Said Ashish Bhasin, President, AAAI: “In a world that is rapidly being disrupted by digital, it will be extremely interesting to and important for everyone to prepare themselves. We at AAAI look forward to Rajan Anandan’s perspectives at the Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture.”

     

    Added Sam Balsara, on behalf of SGF: “Both Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants will find the lecture useful and enlightening.”

     

    All members of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Digital community are welcome to attend the event sponsored by ABP Live. However, RSVP to Sudesh Kapoor at aaai@aaai.inis a must. If you need an invitation, please send an email from your official email id to Mr. Sudesh Kapoor.

     

     

  • Anupriya Acharya, CEO, Publicis Media India, was elected Vice-President of the Association

    Ashish Bhasin elected President of AAAI

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ashish Bhasin, Chairman and CEO South Asia, Dentsu Aegis Network Media India Pvt Ltd has been elected as the President of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) for the year 2018-2019 at its Annual General Body Meeting held yesterday.

     

    Anupriya Acharya, CEO, Publicis Media India, was elected Vice-President of the Association.

     

    Other members of the Executive Committee are CVL Srinivas, Group M; Kalyan Sarkar, Standard Publicity Pvt Ltd; Kunal Lalani, Crayons Advertising Ltd; Pranav Premnarayen, Prem Associates Advertising & Marketing. Immediate Past President, Nakul Chopra will be the ex-officio member of the new AAAI Executive Committee.

     

    Said Bhasin: “It is an honour and privilege for me to be elected as the President of AAAI, a position that has been occupied in the past by some of the biggest stalwarts of our industry. I will endeavour to promote the interests of the advertising industry to the best of my abilities and make AAAI a stronger Association. We will also endeavour to ensure that the Association continues to successfully represent the interest of Advertising Agencies in this era of rapidly changing times. I take this opportunity to thank Nakul Chopra, from whom I have learnt a lot. He maintained such high standards as President that it will be a tough act to follow.”

     

    Added outgoing President Nakul Chopra: “I have been privileged to lead AAAI for two years – my sincere thanks to all my fellow members for their support. Hearty congratulations to Ashish on his election as President. He is not only a key influencer in our industry but also a AAAI veteran. I am sure that AAAI will only grow from strength to strength under his tutelage.”

     

     

  • This is the highest honour to be given to an individual in India

    Ram Sehgal to be conferred with AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award 2018

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Advertising Agencies Association of India has announced that this year’s AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award will be awarded to veteran advertising professional Ram Sehgal. This is the highest honour to be given to an individual in India for his/her outstanding contribution to the advertising industry.

     

    Making the announcement, Nakul Chopra, President, AAAI, said: “Mr Ram Sehgal has been a role model for generations in our industry – he is a legend in his own right. The manner in which he led Contract to becoming one of India’s finest and most respected agencies became an inspiration for the entire industry to try and emulate. He richly deserves this honour”

     

    Added Ashish Bhasin, Chairman of the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award Selection Committee: “Ram Sehgal embodies the pioneering spirit of Indian entrepreneurship while being part of a larger international agency network. The foundation he laid thirty years ago has grown to be a worthy jewel in the international group’s crown.”

     

    Other members of the selection committee for the award included Sam Balsara, Srinivasan K Swamy, Ambi Parameswaran, Nakul Chopra, and Jaideep Gandhi.

     

    Adds an AAAI communique on the announcement: “This award is being bestowed on Ram Sehgal in recognition of his outstanding leadership and contribution to the advertising industry; in literally establishing Delhi as a premier centre for advertising in India  it was this foundation that later led JWT Delhi to become the largest office in India and among the largest in the world; in moulding Contract Advertising into one of the finest agencies of the day in so much that it was fiercely independent and a worthy rival to its own parent HTA; in attracting and nurturing some of the finest talent to Contract Advertising across disciplines; in leading Contract to be recognised as a powerhouse for strategy and creative; in leading AAAI and establishing one of the finest training programs in the industry ever; in setting the highest standards of professionalism that became the standard for generations that followed; and not in the least for his immeasurable contribution to social causes.”

     

     

  • In keeping with the spirit of transparency, BARC India deemed it essential to highlight a few points to its stakeholder community

    BARC issues statement on inadequate claims made by subscribers

    By A Correspondent

     

    It is fashionable for the world to throw stones at measurement agencies. It happened for years with LV Krishnan’s TAM, it happened with MRUC for IRS and now the knives are being chucked at Broadcast Audience Research Council India (BARC India). BARC has received feedback from its subscribers regarding certain malicious, baseless and inaccurate statements made in public regarding its operations and organisation structure. And hence the joint industry body has highlighted a few points that all and sundry (or the other way round) need to take note of.

     

    Here goes:

    “Being an industry body promoted by IBF, ISA and AAAI, BARC India Is neither owned by any broadcaster/advertiser/agency, nor controlled by any single company. Therefore, the question of undue influence of any single entity on BARC India’s operations does not arise. It has a strict governance structure as laid down in its Articles of Association, which ensures its arm’s length relationship with all stakeholders.

     

    IBF President, Punit Goenka said, “We take pride in saying that BARC India works in an extremely transparent and neutral environment. Its data adds immense value to industry, and we would encourage and support it to remain focused on the great work its team does, and not get detracted by false statements and unattributed innuendos. BARC India has established a measurement system at par with international standards, which should be a matter of pride for the industry.”

     

    BARC India’s systems and processes have been accepted by industry, and also lauded in global forums. The robustness and credibility of BARC India’s data is further testified by regular audit of its processes by reputed international firms like Ernst & Young and CESP. With a sample size of 135,000 individuals across the nation, BARC India operates the largest TV sample/panel in the world – much larger than the US TV sample of 90,000.

     

    Sunil Kataria, Chairman of the Indian Society of Advertisers added, “BARC India has provided industry with something it has been seeking – a robust and state-of-the-art measurement system that reports all India TV viewership with a high degree of fidelity. BARC India data helps advertisers reach and understand consumers even in the most remote and unexplored areas. It enables the Rs. 25000 crore advertising industry to take informed decisions since the data is truly representative of ground reality.”

     

    President of Advertising Agencies Association India (AAAI), and BARC India Chairman Nakul Chopra said, “I am dismayed to see these incorrect and baseless remarks that have been made with no facts to support them at all. That too against the sanctity of a body set up jointly by the industry in the best interest of all stakeholders. BARC India should in fact be applauded as a shining example of how an entire eco system has come together to create a world class measurement system that is one of its kind. It should be applauded as in these positive and progressive times it provides essential and reliable data that is powering many industries make better decisions towards economic growth.”

     

    Hmmm. Guess BARC should’ve also added a statement from the Bad Losers Society of India. Or the Nutcases Association of New Delhi.