MxMIndia

Tag: Goafest

  • … and some entertainment and cricket as well

    Knowledge sessions, masterclasses & entertainers rule Day 3 of Goafest 2024…

    Ahead of a day of knowledge seminars and masterclasses, singer Harshdeep Kaur started the proceedings. This was followed by a session titled.

     

    Indian Women Harnessing the Power Of Identity. This panel discussion saw playback singer Shilpa Rao, film-maker Alankrita Shrivastava, actor Tamannaah Bhatia, content creator and Prajakta Koli. Ambika Muttoo, Editor-In-Chief of Femina, was moderator of the session.

     

    An interesting session titled Secrets of Longevity: Adapting our lifestyles to increase our ‘Healthspan’ saw Dr Marcus RannJey – Founder and CEO, Human Edge speaking with moderator – Anupriya Acharya, CEO, Publicis Groupe, South Asia.

     

    This was followed by a keynote by titled Do More With Conversations, delivered by Gaurav Jeet Singh, Head of Agency Business, India, at Meta.

     

    The first half also saw a WARC masterclass by Sujeet Kulkarni titled The Anatomy of Effectiveness. Another masterclass titled Meta Creative Shop x WhatsApp: Getting Creative with Conversations was presented by Varun Goswami. And then there was Jo Jackson, CEO of D&AD, delivering a masterclass on Unpacking Brand Iconicity.

     

    The second half of Day 3 started with a seminar titled Customer-Centric Adaptability; Meeting Shifting Expectations; Maintaining Customer Loyalty in a Dynamic Environment, focusing on meeting shifting expectations and maintaining customer loyalty in a dynamic environment. Leading the discussion was Tarun Puri, Senior Operating Partner at Lighthouse Funds, Asha Kharga, Chief Customer & Brand Officer at Mahindra Group, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Founder & MD at Roy Kapur Films, with senior journalist Anuradha SenGupta as moderator.

     

    The next session, titled The Art of Storytelling, was conducted by journalist and radio presenter Neelesh Misra. This was followed by a session titled Adaptability And Innovation: The Cornerstones Of A Future-Ready Agency featuring Anusha Shetty, Chairperson & Group CEO of Grey Group, India; Jitendra Dabas, Chief Operating Officer & CSO, India, Head of Effectiveness, APAC, McCann WorldGroup and Babita Baruah, Chief Executive Officer of VML India. Moderating the discussion was Dheeraj Sinha, Group CEO for India and South Asia at FCB Group India.

     

    Another panel titled Evolving Market Landscape: Navigating The New Normal saw Shashank Srivastava, Member of the Executive Committee at Maruti Suzuki, and Sunil Kataria, Chief Executive Officer of Raymond Lifestyle (India & International) as speakers with journalist Anuradha SenGupta moderating the session.

     

    OOH took centrestage with a session titled Adapting to be accountable featuring Darshana Shah, Head of Marketing & Customer Experience at Aditya Birla Capital, Pawan Bansal, COO of Jagran Engage & Chairman of IOAA (Indian Outdoor Advertising Association); Noomi Mehta, Chairman of the Board at Selvel One Group; and Jahan Mehta, Chief Growth Officer at Oap Mediatech. Sam Balsara, Founder, Chairman & MD of Madison World & Madison Communications, moderated the session.

     

    The next two sessions featured cricket and cinema. The session titled Embracing Change: Lessons from The Field to Life featured Sourav Ganguly alongside journalist Boria Majumdar who was moderator. And then a session titled The Art Of Adaptability: From Real Life to Reel Life featuring actor Manoj Bajpayee alongside Prasoon Joshi, CEO and CCO of McCann World Group India who was moderator.

     

    There were many masterclasses held as well. These being:

    by Yagnesh Ravi and Srivatsan Jayasankar on GenZ Marketing 101: The Snap Camera.

    by Ranjan Mishra and Rahul Singh on Elevating Your Digital Marketing Strategy with AI

    by Jayesh Moorjani on Youtube Shorts

    and lastly by Lisa Evans and Paul Drake on Unlocking Award Winning Ideas.

  • Knowledge sessions and masterclasses dominate proceedings

    Day 2 @ Goafest: First Half Wrap-Up

    Day 2 of Goafest 2024 began began with a session hosted by the India chapter of IAA in collaboration with UNICEF. The theme was titled Gender-Sensitive Marketing: Navigating The New Consumer Landscape. Among the panellists were Chandni Shah, Chief Operating Officer of FCB Kinnect, Darshana Shah, Head of Marketing & Customer Experience at Aditya Birla Capital, Kailashnath Adhikari, Business Head of Sri Adhikari Brothers & Managing Director of GovernanceNow, Rajdeepak Das, Chief Creative Officer of Publicis Groupe South Asia & Chairman of Leo Burnett South Asia; and Ram Madhvani, Filmmaker, Producer, and Founder of Equinox Films and Ram Madhvani Films. Moderating the discussion was Kranti Gada, Founder of NeOwn.in.

    Post that, in a keynote address, Pulkit Trivedi, Managing Director of Snap Inc. India, revealed how Snapchat emerged as the preferred platform for young India. This was following by a session titled titled Media Agencies Panel – The Changing Expectations from a Media Client Leader, and the Challenges in Getting There, comprising prominent industry leaders. The panellists included Ajay Gupte, CEO, Wavemaker South Asia, Anita Kotwani, CEO – Media (South Asia) at Dentsu, Tanmay Mohanty, CEO of Publicis Media Services India and Vaishali Verma, CEO of Initiative India. Steering the discussion was Vikram Sakuja, Partner & Group CEO of Media & Out-of-Home at Madison Communications.

    The third knowledge seminar was titled, Trust or Bust: Thriving in the Digital World, with ASCI as partner. The panel of experts included were Amit Doshi, Chief Marketing Officer at Britannia, Falguni Vasavada, Professor at MICA and Digital Creator, Paras Sharma, Director of Global Partnerships at Meta and Sharan Hegde, Finance Content Creator and Co-founder and CEO of 1% Club. Manisha Kapoor, CEO & Secretary General of ASCI, moderated the session. We thought the session could be a tad longer.

    What followed was a fireside chat featuring Ankit Kapoor, Head of Marketing & International Business at Parle Agro, Mahesh Shetty, National Sales Head at Viacom18 and Navin Khemka, CEO – South Asia of Essence Mediacom. Conducting the conversation was anchor and marathoner Shibani Gharat.

    Day 2 also saw a series øf masterclasses. By WhatsApp on Agency Exclusive: Drive growth across the customer journey with WhatsApp, presented by Riddhika Sand. Then Ujaya Shakya, Founder and CEO of Outreach Nepal on Unlocking Market Potential: Open your eyes to Nepal. There was also the the D&AD masterclass presented by Lisa Evans and Paul Drake titled Unlocking Award Winning Ideas. Amazon miniTV also held a masterclass on Brand Integration with Vijay Iyer, Director, Amazon Ads India and Amogh Dusad, Head of Content, Amazon miniTV conducting the session. There was also a masterclass on Hall of Flame – The Olympics Masterclass presented by Chandan Roy.

  • Former Actor and now Instagram star Zeenat Aman was the highlight of the day

    Day 2 @ Goafest: Second Half Wrap-Up

    The highlight of second half of Day 2 saw a session titled A Story Of Adaptability: From the Silver Screen to the Mobile Screen with Zeenat Aman, actor and now an Instagram star speaking with RJ Anmol. There was Knowledge Seminar titled Marketing Adaptability: Blending Traditional And New-Age Marketing For Brand Success, featuring Chandan Mukherjee, Director & Executive Vice President at Nestle; Shubhranshu Singh, Chief Marketing Officer of Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, Sukhleen Aneja, Chief Executive Officer of The Good Glamm Group, Sandeep Karwa, Vice President, Monetization at Flipkart and Zairus Master, Chief Business Officer at Honasa Consumer Ltd. Conducting the discussion was Delshad Irani, Editor of Storyboard 18.

    A masterclass by Flipkart Ads on the topic Flipkart IRIS: Winning the e-commerce game with deep analytics was conducted, followed by another by Spotify’s Shraddha Shetty. Another masterclass was conducgted by D&AD with Paul Drake, introduced ‘Win One, Teach One’ at the Trend Immersion Workshop, which emphasised on nurturing new talent in the creative industry through initiatives like D&AD New Blood and D&AD Shift. Notably, 270 Shifters have completed the program, with 72% now employed in creative roles across sectors. Drake explored trends like ‘Pay It Forward’, ‘Open Source Casting’, and ‘Ownable Iconicity’, highlighting the ‘Awe Economy’ and extreme responses as key drivers. He quoted Arthur Schopenhauer on stress innovative thinking and discussed distinguishing between trends and fads, showcasing examples like Pokemon Go and Fortnite. Participants engaged in interactive activities and viewed videos like Pharrell Williams’ ‘Cash In Cash Out’ to learn about trend applications. The workshop emphasised humour, awe, and authenticity while prioritising the product. Overall, it emphasised innovative thinking and strategic foresight in navigating trends within the creative industry.

    Another highlight of the evening was Advertising Rocks!; a musical contest that offers a platform for the advertising, media and marketing fraternity to showcase their musical talents. Stealing the show in first place in the Solo – Indian and Solo – International category were Nishant Patil from Logicserve Digital Pvt. Ltd., and Bodhisattwa Banerjee from VML India, respectively.

  • Unveiling The Age of Adaptability as theme

    Day1@Goafest 2024: Sanjiv Mehta, Harit Nagpal, Sukhvinder set the stage afire

    Goafest 2024, the annual industry festival organised by The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and The Advertising Club (TAC), kicked off with a performance by Bollywood playback singer Sukhwinder Singh. This was followed with members of the organising committee lighting the ceremonial lamp. Prasanth Kumar, President of AAAI and CEO of South Asia at GroupM, then addressed the attendees, marking the festival’s 17th edition. This year’s event also celebrated the third year of collaboration between The Abby Awards and One Show. Under the theme ‘The Age of Adaptability,’ delegates were welcomed to Goafest 2024 with a champagne launch, setting a celebratory and spirited tone for the proceedings. This is Goafest, and even if it’s being held in Mumbai, tea, coffee, soft drinks and beer were available through the day. No questions and monies asked.

     

    In the first session titled Adapt To Thrive Not Just Survive, Harit Nagpal, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Play, stressed on the criticality of adaptability as a means to thrive. Delivering the keynote, Nagpal underlined the inevitability of disruption in our lives and the importance of resilience in the face of it. “Disruption can be caused by anything or anyone, but it becomes our responsibility to survive and thrive,” he said. After Nagpal, a keynote titled, Navigating The Age Of Adaptability: Leading with Vision, Flexibility, and Purpose, was delivered by  Sanjiv Mehta, former CEO of Hindustan Unilever and Executive Chairman of L Catterton India. “Learning happens when you have the humility to say, ‘I don’t know?’” – by admitting so, organisations and corporations open themselves to new knowledge and understanding, fostering a growth mindset that enables them to learn and develop from others’ expertise and experiences, not just myopically thinking of profit generation ,” he said.

     

    Later there was a session titled From Setbacks to Comebacks: The Power of Persistence presented by acclaimed writer and film director, Tahira Kashyap captivated the audience with her inspiring journey, moderated by Atika Farooqui, Celebrity Host & Actor. Kashyap shared personal anecdotes and professional experiences, illustrating how resilience and determination have been instrumental in her success. “Women go through multiple hardware upgrades; every day is so different for women, every hour is so different than the previous one,” she mentions, also candidly referring to the books she has written on womanhood and motherhood.”

     

    And then there was a session titled Lessons of Adaptability: Embracing Failure to Touch Success, featuring Indian actress Medha Shankr and actor Vikrant Massey, moderated by the multifaceted Actor, Producer & Entrepreneur, Neha Dhupia. Medha and Vikrant, the cast of the acclaimed film 12th Fail, illuminated the audience with their insights on embracing failure as a stepping stone towards triumph.

     

    Here’s what the Goafest 2024 leadership team said in a statement:

     

    Prasanth Kumar
    Prasanth Kumar

    Prasanth Kumar, President of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and CEO of GroupM, South Asia: “The composition of the clients has been very interesting this year with a notable presence of tech specialists. It’s encouraging to see such diversity. It’s truly heartening to witness the growing number of partners, which not only strengthens and welcomes many newcomers into the Goafest fold. While we anticipated challenges, the dedication and support of all involved have exceeded our expectations, and for that, we’re immensely grateful. We’re excited to welcome many new faces and investors to Goafest 2024; we’re also looking forward to numerous tech sessions and integrations that will enrich the experience. Our goal is to institutionalise Goafest, constantly striving to improve. By completing 60% of the work early and refining timing, we’re making practical strides toward our vision for the next year.”

     

    Rana Barua
    Rana Barua

    Rana Barua, President of The Advertising Club and Group CEO of Havas India, South East and North Asia: “Through countless journeys together, we’ve always been driven by passion, not profit. This year, our commitment to not miss out has been unanimous. The whole team rallied together, united by our love for this industry, to make Goafest 2024 happen within our tight timeframe.”

     

    Jaideep Gandhi

    Jaideep Gandhi, Chairperson of the Goafest Organising Committee: “We aim to keep this festival relevant, as we’ve successfully done in the past two years, especially in the post-pandemic era. Each year, we strive to introduce new elements, constantly raising the bar.”

     

    Dheeraj Sinha
    Dheeraj Sinha

    Dheeraj Sinha, Group CEO – India and South Asia, FCB and Co-chair Awards Governing Council, Abby Awards 2024 powered by One Show: “We’re thrilled to see a fantastic response from returning agencies, with VML, and McCann Worldgroup India, amongst others, making a comeback, along with many others. It’s a near-complete reunion, with only a handful of agencies not joining us this year!”

     

    Day One ended with Publisher and Media Abby being presented.

  • Wavemaker is Media Agency oof the Year, ABP Publisher of the Year

    Wavemaker is Media Agency oof the Year, ABP Publisher of the Year

    It’s now become a winning habit for GroupM agency Wavemaker. On the first day of the Goafest 2024, Wavemaker India was crowned Media Agency of the Year at Abby Awards Powered by One Show. They bagged 16 metals. Earlier, ABP Ltd bagged the Publisher of the Year titled with five metals.

    The EssenceMediacom team winning the sole Grand Prix Media Abby for Airtel 5G Plus Ultimate Fans: Look Maa! I am on TV

    The Wavemaker tally include four golds, nine silvers and three bronzes. The sole Grand Prix presented was won by GroupM agency EssenceMediacom for Airtel 5G Plus campaign #LookMaImOnTV for innovative use of branded content – integration.

    While Wavemaker scored 98 points, the next best was less than half that at 48. That was Initiative Media. EssenceMedia secured 42 points.

    The ABP Pvt Ltd team winning the Publisher of the Year Abby

    Like last year’s edition, the Abby Awards are powered by One Show and have received a total of 3506 entries as against 3301 last year. As many as 73 entrants for the Media Abby as against 63 last year. In Creative, there are 198 entrants as against 181 last year. The total number of entries for Media Abby were 1258 this year (up from 1019 last year) and in the various categories under Creative, it’s been 2248 this year, as against 2282 last year. Digital, Mobile, and Technology, have collectively garnered 626 entries from 75 companies.

    The gates for receiving entries had to be shut as per deadline, we were told, else, the entries for Creative Abby would’ve crossed last year’s tally.

    There were 23 jury chairs and 204 jurors across 23 categories. Of these there were 53 new, young, award-winning judges. There were 68 women amongst the judges (nine jury chairs are women).

    Publisher Abby

    Media Abby

  • To host sessions with a focus on ‘The Age of Adaptability’

    Goafest 2024 update: Day 1 to host keynotes, Media & Publisher Abby

    Day One of Goafest 2024 is all set to being a little after noon with a some music and knowledge sessions. And since it’s Goafest, albeit in Mumbai, there’s also a Champagne Launch. Co-hosted by The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and The Advertising Club (TAC), Day 1 of the festival will feature key industry experts exploring the diverse aspects of the theme ‘The Age of Adaptability’.

    The opening session titled Adapt To Thrive Not Just Survive, will see Harit Nagpal, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Play, and this will be follow by a session on Navigating The Age Of Adaptability by Sanjiv Mehta, former HUL chief and Executive Chairman of L Catterton India.

    Then there’s a session titled From Setbacks to Comebacks: The Power of Persistence, with writer and film director Tahira Kashyap in conversation with Atika Farooqui. Concluding Day 1 with what adaptability means in real life, a session titled Embracing Failure to Touch Success, will feature actors Medha Shankr and actor Vikrant Massey chatting with Neha Dhupia.

    The evening will see the Media and Publisher Abby awards being presented.

  • All roads lead to Goafest 2024

    All roads lead to Goafest 2024

    Sanjeev KotnalaThis year, my second-favourite festival of advertising and marketing – GoaFest, relocates to the picturesque hillock by Powai Lake in Mumbai. Despite the change of scenery, the essence of Goafest remains intact. Scheduled at the height of summer during the sweltering ‘Nau tapa,’ it promises the same exclusivity as the Grand Hyatt Goa. Fear not; the accomplished management team ensures continuity in excellence and execution.

     

    Goafest has significantly evolved over the years, shedding its initial entertainment-heavy façade for a more serious, business-focused atmosphere. The transformation reflects the industry’s current realities, with a noticeable reduction in entertainment elements. Pre-session entertainment is now limited and doesn’t set the mood for the serious awards or the informative afternoon sessions. However, the night-after parties still provide ample opportunity for networking and letting loose, albeit within friendly organisational circles. I miss the more relaxed vibe of earlier editions.

     

    Kudos to the organisers for enhancing the knowledge sessions. The event now features keynotes, interviews, and interesting discussions. However, clearly catering to audience preferences, a marked enhanced emphasis on celebrity guest speakers. This raises a pertinent question: Should association-led, fee-based events prioritise audience desires over their foundational goals? Striking a balanced approach seems to be an elusive target for Goafest.

     

    The relocation of GoaFest from Goa’s beaches prompts a re-evaluation of its geographical anchorage. Opinions are divided: some advocate for Mumbai due to its status as an industry hub, while others suggest rotating the location annually. This year’s participation will offer crucial insights into this ongoing debate.

     

    Timing is another crucial aspect under scrutiny. Given the industry’s low activity in April and May, these months appear ideal for higher attendance. Yet, climate conditions, the IPL season, and elections every fifth year suggest a shift to a post-monsoon, pre-festival window or a February prelude, positioning it as the first significant advertising festival of the year.

     

    Goafest is still to address three persistent challenges, even though there is no lack of effort. But, somehow, the results are missing.

     

    First, client-side participation remains low. Second, the ever-expanding list of awards diminishes their value. Third, international participation in both awards and attendance is lacking. While there are no easy solutions, enhancing client involvement could significantly elevate the festival’s prestige and indirectly also address the lethargic response.

     

    A final, somewhat controversial point: Are we burdened with too many awards functions? The coexistence of Kyoorius and Goafest within a tight timeframe begs the question. Despite their distinct identities—one is association-led, and the other a privately promoted—both events draw industry attention. However, financial constraints and the rise of digital participation threaten their sustainability. This duality fosters polarisation and factionalism within the industry, necessitating a thoughtful resolution.

     

    While Goafest continues to adapt and thrive, it must address these critical issues to retain its relevance and prestige in the dynamic advertising landscape.

  • Co-presented by Snapchat, along with WhatsApp as Technology Partner and Hindustan Times as Digital Partner

    Goafest 2024 updates: 50+ partners

    Goafest 2024 has unveiled the names of partners for its 17th edition. Scheduled to take place from May 29 to 31, 2024 at The Westin Mumbai, Powai Lake, supporting Goafest 2024 as the ‘Co-presenting’ partner is Snapchat along with WhatsApp as the ‘Technology Partner’, and Hindustan Times as the ‘Digital Partner’.

    Brands like Tata Motors, Mondelez, ITC Foods, Britannia, Guinness World Records, NoBroker, and MakeMyTrip, to platforms like ShareChat, Sony Liv, Flipkart Ads, Amazon Ads, Spotify, MiQ, The Trade Desk and Whisper Media are also associated as are broadcasters, publishers and content studios including ABP News, Amar Ujala, Dainik Bhaskar, Dainik Jagran, Dangal TV, Disney Star, Eenadu, Femina, Flowers TV, Goldmines Telefilms, Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhumi, News18 Network, Radio City, Rajasthan Patrika, Sakal Media, Sakshi, Sri Adhikari Bros, Sun TV, The Hindu Group, TV9, Viacom18, Vijayavani and Zee Media. Then there’s the bevereratwallahs: PepsiCo, Kingfisher, Pernod Ricard.

    Speaking on these partnerships and engagements, Prasanth Kumar, President of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and CEO of GroupM, South Asia said: “We are delighted to have Snapchat as our Co-presenting Partner, WhatsApp as our Technology Partner and Hindustan Times as our Digital Partner, for Goafest this year. As South Asia’s largest creative fest, Goafest’s incredible significance continues to attract brands and advertisers, presenting them with an opportunity to deepen their engagement with the industry at large. On behalf of the organizing team, we welcome and are very thankful to all our partners and look forward to forging successful long-term associations that celebrate creativity, foster knowledge and thrive with adaptability.”

  • It is scheduled to take place from May 29 to 31 at the Westin Powai in Mumbai

    Goafest 2024 update: Surge in delegate entries reported

    Goafest, notes a communique, has achieved remarkable success with a surge in delegate entries and unprecedented support from industry leaders. It is scheduled to take place from May 29 to 31 at the Westin Powai in Mumbai.

    The 17th edition of Goafest boasts of delegations from media agencies including Group M, Madison Communications, Initiative Media, OMD, Havas Media, Publicis Media and Zenith Optimedia among others. Creative firms Leo Burnett, FCB Group, TLG India, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, Havas Worldwide are also on board, along with brands like Nestle, Tips Industries, Kotak General Insurance, and Airtel. Media giants Bennett Coleman, ABP Group, Zee Media, Navabharat Media Network, et al have also shown unwavering registration support. The festival’s appeal spans multinational agencies to smaller firms, showcasing its inclusive ethos.

    Sam Balsara, Chairman of the Delegates Committee – Goafest 2024, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming event, stating, “Goafest has always been a beacon of creativity and innovation in the advertising industry. This year’s entries have set a new benchmark for excellence. The support from the industry has been overwhelming, and the record number of registrations is a clear indicator of the vibrant and dynamic nature of advertising media and marketing industry.”

  • Set to host experts from the creative sector with a focus on ‘The Age of Adaptability'

    Goafest 2024 unveils line-up of speakers, sessions

    Goafest 2024 has announced its line-up of speakers for its 17th edition to be held from May 27 to 29 in Mumbai. With the theme being ‘The Age of Adaptability’, the event will host over 50 speakers and entertainers, across 20+ sessions in addition to 15+ masterclasses.

    Tata Play’s Managing Director and CEO, Harit Nagpal and Sanjiv Mehta, Executive Chairman, L Catterton India are among those who will address attendees through keynotes.   Additionally, Tarun Puri, Senior Operating Partner, Lighthouse Funds, Asha Kharga, Chief Customer & Brand Officer, Mahindra Group, Raymond Lifestyle’s Sunil Kataria, Maruti Suzuki’s Shashank Srivastava, Nestle’s Chandan Mukherjee, Tata Motors’ Shubhranshu Singh, The Good Glamm Group’s Sukhleen Aneja, Honasa’s Zairus Master, Darshana Shah from Aditya Birla Capital, among others will engage in conversations and discussions. Other speakers include Dr Marcus Ranney, Manoj Bajpayee, Sourav Ganguly, Zeenat Aman, Vikrant Massey, Medha Shankar, Neha Dhupia, Tahira Kashyap and Neelesh Misra.

    In addition to knowledge and entertaining sessions, Goafest 2024 will host the second edition of its talent showcase, ‘Advertising Rocks’. And in terms of entertainment, there will be performances by Sukhwinder Singh and Harshdeep Kaur as well as an After Hours Party each day.

    Said Rohit Ohri, FCB Global Partner and Chairman of the Content Committee, Goafest 2024: “Goafest 2024 is set to ignite minds, spark creativity, and explore new frontiers in the ever-evolving landscape of advertising and marketing. We are excited to offer a diverse array of speakers and sessions that celebrate creative excellence and emphasize the crucial role of adaptability in thriving within our industry. With warm hearts and joyful smiles, we eagerly anticipate welcoming all delegates and together redefining the future of our business.”

    Added Anupriya Acharya, CEO South Asia, Publicis Groupe, and Immediate Past President of The Advertising Agencies Association of India: “This year at Goafest, we are embarking on a transformative journey with the theme ‘The Age of Adaptability’. Our carefully curated speaker line-up reflects this ethos, showcasing how our industry must pivot and innovate in response to shifting landscapes. From insightful sessions to vibrant celebrations, Goafest 2024 will promise an enriching experience for all. With this, we are eagerly looking forward to welcoming our delegates, confident that together, we will navigate the ever-evolving currents of our industry with agility and ingenuity.”

  • Less than a week to go Goafest 2024

    Less than a week to go Goafest 2024

    It almost didn’t happen, but the bravehearts in the Indian advertising, media and marketing ecosystem decided that it’s got to happen. The Advertising Agencies Association of India and The Advertising Club, which jointly organises Goafest, announced the 17th edition of the annual Goafest and 55th edition of Abby for May 29 to 31. In Mumbai, instead of Goa. Overlooking Powai Lake instead of the Arabian Sea. The venue: Westin Powai, what was called Renaissance earlier and host to Ficci Frames for eons.

    Prasanth Kumar
    Prasanth Kumar
    Jaideep Gandhi
    Jaideep Gandhi
    Mohit Joshi
    Mohit Joshi

    From the organising leadership of Goafest, Prasanth Kumar, President of the Advertising Agencies Association of India and CEO of GroupM South Asia, Jaideep Gandhi, Chairperson of the Goafest Organising Committee and Mohit Joshi, CEO Havas Media Network India and Goafest 2024’s Co-chair spoke with MxMIndia early on Thursday.

    It may be noted that the detailed agenda hasn’t been unveiled yet, but that’s understandable. All the Goafest folks have busy day jobs, and everyone is trying their damnedest to make it a runaway success. And this we know from reasonably close quarters. Even the naysayers are helping. In fact, Prasanth Kumar or PK, as he’s known to the world, is delighted that Goafest 2024 will see each and every association in the M&E ecosystem chipping in. This includes the newspaperwallahs, the broadcasters, the digital folks… everyone.

    Gandhi joined him in adding: “Visionaries like Sundar Swamy, Arvind Sharma, Colvyn Harris, Ambi Parameswaran, Nagesh Alai, Nakul Chopra, Ashish Bhasin, Sam Balsara and Shashi Sinha have been key pillars of shaping and scaling Goafest to this magnitude over the last 16 years. Each one of them made unique contributions that made the festival larger, and relevant each year.”

    Hmmm. So here’s what our conversation generated.

    On Goafest in Mumbai:

    The organising leadership had a logistical issue of doing Goafest in Goa. PK: “We didn’t want to take a break, especially in the context of the way the industry is evolving. We felt it’s important for the industry to get together.

    Hence, Age of Adaptability is the theme, and, said PK, “in the true spirit of adaptability, we are doing the event in Mumbai”.

    On delegates not staying over like in Goa affecting the spirit:

    The fact is that if you want to be in the fest, you’ll be there. This is regardless of it being in Mumbai or Goa. We have taken a lot of time and effort to make the three days very interesting. We are going to offer a lot of opportunities for people to network. This Goafiest is not only about Goa or Mumbai… it is the largest event for the entire industry

    On registrations:

    PK: Good registrations, excellent response.”

    Gandhi: Last year’s registration count was upwards of 1600

    PK: This year, given the conversations we are having, we could get close to 2000. We are going to see a lot of clients, media publishers, owners, media agencies… We had an early bird entry fee which had a cut of 20% instead of the usual 10%

    On Absence of clients/marketers at Goafests in the past, and this year:

    Lot of speakers are from client organisations, So we hope to see them at least for a day

    On the Agenda:

    Joshi: We have over 20 sessions with panel discussions and keynotes. There are close to 50 speakers, and each of them sticking to the theme of adaptability. Industry experts and leaders. We are really excited about the agenda and are sure that people will learn from it.

    PK: We are also going to have a large number of masterclasses – From D&AD, some of our own sessions

    Meanwhile, the Goafest committee has been able to attract a string of sponsors, and some of them are still being signed up, according to the information received. There is at least one more international tie-up that is being inked, but details of that have still not been unveiled.

  • The Abby Awards powered by One Show will be held on May 29, 30 and 31

    Praful Akali, Ashish Khazanchi Jury Chairs for Abby 2024

    Praful Akali, Managing Director and Founder, Medulla and Ashish Khazanchi, Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Enormous, have joined as Jury Chairs for Health category and Still Print category respectively, at The Abby Awards 2024.

    The Abby Awards powered by One Show will be held on May 29, 30 and 31 as part of Goafest 2024 which is being held in Mumbai this year.