Mahindra group has appointed Abanti Sankaranarayanan as Chief Group Public Affairs Officer. In this role, Sankaranarayanan will lead Group Public Affairs (India & international), Group Sustainability and the Group Risk and Economist functions. Sankaranarayanan will be a part of the Group Executive Board reporting to Anish Shah, Managing Director and CEO, Mahindra Group.
Speaking about the announcement, Shah said: “At the Mahindra Group, Public Policy and Sustainability are pivotal and we are committed to leading ESG globally. It is paramount that we engage with all our relevant stakeholders proactively and effectively. This is a diversified role, which needed a seasoned leader to manage multiple stakeholders. Abanti is an accomplished business leader with vast experience across corporate affairs, social impact, strategy and managing large businesses. I am confident that she will be able to build the functions and help us in achieving our goals. I would also like to thank Manoj Chugh for his exemplary services to the Mahindra Group. He has been an integral part of our growth journey, contributing significantly to the organisation in his various roles. I wish him all the best.”
Subhash Kamath, Chief Executive Officer at BBH & Publicis Worldwide, India, has been unanimously elected chairman of the Board of Governors of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). The vote was held at the Board meeting that followed the 34th Annual General Meeting on Thursday, September 10, afternoon.
NS Rajan, Managing Director, Ketchum Sampark was elected Vice-Chairman and Shashidhar Sinha, CEO, Mediabrands India P. Ltd was reappointed as honorary treasurer at the same meeting.
The Board of Governors includes: Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Co-Chairman & Board Member, ISWAI; D Shivakumar Group Executive President, Aditya Birla Management Corporation P. Ltd; Girish Agarwal, Director, Dainik Bhaskar Group ; Harish Bhat, Director, Tata Consumer Products Ltd; KV Sridhar, Chief Creative Officer (Global), Nihilent Ltd; Madhusudan Gopalan, CEO, Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care Ltd; Rohit Gupta, President – Network Sales & International Business, Sony Pictures Networks India P. Ltd; Prof SK Palekar, Centre For Developmental Education, IFIM Business School; Priya Nair, Executive Director Beauty and Personal Care, Hindustan Unilever Ltd; Prasun Basu, President – South Asia, Nielsen (India) P. Ltd; Sivakumar Sundaram, President Revenue, Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd; Umesh Shrikhande, CEO, Taproot India Comm. P. Ltd.
Said Kamath: “It’s a genuine privilege to accept this role as Chairman of ASCI. Having served ten years on the board, I have had the honour of working and learning from very senior and experienced leaders of the industry. More importantly, I have learned the immense value of self-regulation and the far reaching impact of the work ASCI has done over the years. Our industry today is at a crucial stage. With the digital revolution influencing brand messaging and engagement with consumers, advertising is evolving rapidly. And with the recent formation of the Central Consumer Protection Authority constituted by the government, self-regulation will be even more crucial in promoting consumer confidence and trust. As I have always said, with great creative power, comes great responsibility. So I look forward to working closely with the ASCI team to continue the good work set up by my predecessors and to introduce some newer, more future-facing initiatives as well.”
Recalling his year-long tenure at ASCI, outgoing chairman Rohit Gupta added: “I thank all my colleagues, ASCI members and everyone who was part of this incredible journey. I am glad I was given an opportunity to drive the body that spearheaded important changes in the advertising industry. This year has been the most eventful for ASCI as we tackled several challenges. The pandemic saw many misleading ads, which were dealt with immediately. The Ministry of AYUSH reached out for help in flagging misleading advertisements regarding prevention and treatment of Covid-19. We also signed up with TAM to monitor 3,000 digital portals for misleading claims. We successfully met the three objectives we had set: increasing our consumer base, monitoring the digital space and working closely with government bodies. I wish Kamath and the board the very best.”
At the AGM, veteran mediaperson Roger Pereira presented a tribute to Brahm Vasudeva, non-executive chairman of Hawkins Cookers and the first chairman of ASCI, who passed away in July. ASCI members missed his presence at the AGM where Vasudeva would always come up with pertinent and well-researched questions.
In March 2018, ASCI’s Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) upheld complaints against 191 advertisements out of the total of 269 advertisements that were evaluated by the CCC.
Of the total 191 advertisements against which complaints were upheld, 114 belonged to the healthcare sector, 24 to the education sector, 35 to the food and beverages category,seven to the personal care and 11 were from others category. A total of 183 advertisements were picked up by ASCI’s suo moto surveillance and objections against 165 advertisements were upheld.
Of the 86 advertisements complained against by the general public or by industry members, complaints against 26 advertisements were upheld by the CCC. Exaggeration of product efficacy was the number one reason for upholding complaints. The other reasons included exploiting consumers’ lack of knowledge, providing facts and figures which were inadequately substantiated to support claims and delivering advertisements which were misleading by ambiguity or by implication. This was followed by violations of the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act (DMR Act) and the Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Rules and advertisements which contravened various ASCI guidelines.
Among the various complaints against advertisements featuring celebrities, the CCC observed that an advertisement for an innerwear brand featuring a popular superstar was found to misguide the consumers, by trying to get them to think that superstars in the film industry wear this brand. A celebrity was seen endorsing a cream to clear dark spots, whose efficacy was not substantiated and was misleading. Likewise, an advertisement featuring a celebrity promoting excessive consumption of a snacking product was considered to be in contravention of the ASCI Guidelines for celebrities in Advertising.
Said Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Chairman, ASCI: “Grievances against brands from various segments have been upheld for not abiding by the Self-Regulation code and guidelines put forth by ASCI. It is ASCI’s ongoing mission to maintain and enhance the public’s confidence in advertising and ensure that consumers stay protected from misleading information in the advertisements.â€
In February 2018, the Advertising Standards Council of Indias Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) upheld complaints against 193 advertisements out of the total of 290 advertisements that were evaluated by the CCC.
A total of 187 advertisements were picked up by ASCI’s suo moto surveillance and objections against 163 advertisements were upheld. Of the 103 advertisements complained against by the general public or by the industry members, complaints against 30 advertisements were upheld by the CCC. Of the total 193 advertisements against which complaints were upheld, 154 belonged to healthcare sector, 18 to education sector, eight to the food & beverages category, two to personal care and 11 were from the ‘others’ category.
Gross exaggeration of product efficacy was the number one reason for upholding complaints, followed by the violation of the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act (DMR Act) and the Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Rules. The other reasons were failure to provide substantial facts and figures to support claims and delivering advertisements which were misleading by ambiguity and / or by implication.
Abanti Sankaranarayanan
‘’Food Safety Standards Authority of India recently renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ASCI as a reflection of its successful association in the first year. The MoU gives ASCI a suo moto monitoring mandate to co-regulate and curb misleading advertisements in F&B sector. This association has helped us to augment our efforts in curtailing false F&B advertisements†said Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Chairman ASCI
The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) has constituted a committee to control misleading advertisements and exaggerated claims of AYUSH drugs. The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) is the only non-government member in the empowered committee of seven members comprising AYUSH, Health and Family Welfare and DoCA representatives.
The constituted committee will be empowered to review and monitor the implementation of the provisions of The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954 and Rules there under for curbing misleading advertisements of ASU & H drugs. The committee will be authorised to make recommendations for regulatory action against misleading advertisements and advise the Central Government for issuing any specific directions or advisories and for taking necessary steps. The committee will also be responsible for reviewing the actions taken by the states and the pharmaceutical vigilance centres for surveillance and control of misleading advertisements of ASU & H drugs.
Abanti Sankaranarayanan
Said ASCI Chairman Abanti Sankaranarayanan: “ASCI has been closely working with AYUSH to ensure that Indian consumers are not exposed to false information and have access to safe drugs. We are confident that the new committee will act as a catalyst to the process of self-regulation in advertising, thus safeguarding consumers from deceptive advertisements that can negatively impact themâ€.
The meeting of the constituted committee will be convened on a six monthly basis or as and when required to review progress and make recommendations to accomplish their objective of controlling misleading advertisements.
In November 2017, ASCI’s Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) upheld complaints against 182 advertisements. A total of 243 cases were brought to ASCI’s notice and suo moto action was taken against 152 advertisements, and the rest being complaints through direct sources. Out of 182 advertisements against which complaints were upheld, 65 belonged to healthcare, 96 to education, three to personal care, seven to the food & beverages category and 11 from the ‘other’ category.
Said Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Chairman, ASCI: “ASCI is committed to the cause of self-regulation in advertising and it is our continuous effort is to protect the interests of consumers. Grievances against brands from various segments have been upheld for not abiding by the codes put forth by ASCI. Our association with several Government bodies helps us to cover the respective sectors with particular focus,â€.
At Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Chief Strategy & Corporate Affairs Officer at Diageo India and former Vice Chairman, Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) has been elected as Chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).
D. Shivakumar, Chairman & CEO PepsiCo India was elected as Vice-Chairman and Shashi Sinha, CEO, IPG Mediabrands was re-appointed as the Honorary Treasurer.
Other members of the Board of Governors are Al Rajwani (Managing Director & Chief Executive, Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care Ltd.), Benoy Roychowdhury (Executive Director, HT Media Ltd.), Gurmit Singh (Vice President India Business, Oath), N.S. Rajan (Global Partner & Managing Director, Ketchum Sampark Pvt. Ltd.), Narendra Ambwani (Director, Agro Tech Foods Ltd.), Prashant Singh (Managing Director, Nielsen India Region), Raj Jain (Chief Executive Officer, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.), Rohit Gupta (President – Network Sales & International Business, Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd.), Sandeep Kohli (Executive Director & Vice President, Personal Care, Hindustan Unilever Ltd.), S.K. Palekar (Adjunct Professor & Advisor – Executive Education, Institute of Management Technology), Srinivasan K. Swamy (Chairman & Managing Director, R K SWAMY BBDO P. Ltd.), Subhash Kamath (Managing Partner, BBH Comms India Pvt. Ltd.) and Sunil Lulla (Chairman & Managing Director, GREY Group India).
Said Swamy, who is the outgoing Chairman of ASCI: “2016-17 has been an interesting year for ASCI as it marked some impressive advancements. In a noteworthy achievement, ASCI received positive re-enforcement for the role it plays as a self-regulatory body in a landmark Supreme Court Judgement. Renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) which is currently on its third year, and the signing of two new MOUs with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Ministry of AYUSH, has collectively proven credibility ASCI enjoys with the Government. Other noteworthy aspects include ASCI being included as an Expert Committee member to look into matters pertaining to advertising of High Fat Sugar and Salt (HFSS) foods and Sugar Sweetened beverages (SSBs), and as a key stakeholder in the committee constituted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). ASCI is now a part of the Executive Committee of International Council on Ad Self-Regulation (ICAS). Interestingly ASCI was a Gold winner at Global EASAs Best Practice Awards for its mobile app, a service that was introduced in 2016. Another significant step was introduction of an Independent Review Process by a retired Supreme Court/High Court Judge, when CCC decisions are sought to be reviewed by affected advertisers. Guidelines were issued relating to Celebrity endorsements of products/services given the importance consumers attach to such association.  Im delighted to have been an enabler for this years journey for ASCI and Im sure the Council will take proactive steps in the cause of self-regulation in advertising.â€
Added Sankaranarayanan: “ASCI has seen a remarkable year on year progress through formalised collaborations with various regulators, notable recognitions from eminent external organisations, further facilitation of robust codes and guidelines and swifter processes to promote the cause of self-regulation in advertising. I feel privileged to be elected as Chairman of ASCI and Im elated to take over as the torch bearer for several more successful initiatives and significantly contribute to effective self-regulation in advertising. Its heartening to see ASCIs relentless efforts being recognised by the judicial body, prominent regulators and government bodies and we shall take all efforts to continue to keep it so. Core to ASCIs mission to ensure protection of the interests of consumers, through supporting Honesty, Decency, Responsibility and Fairness in Advertising, ASCI shall carry on to keep true with its consumer focused tagline, So you can trust advertising.â€
Said Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Chairman, ASCI: “ASCI is committed to the cause of self-regulation in advertising and it is our continuous effort is to protect the interests of consumers. Grievances against brands from various segments have been upheld for not abiding by the codes put forth by ASCI. Our association with several Government bodies helps us to cover the respective sectors with particular focus,â€.