Awards
MRSI to honour B.V. Pradeep with lifetime achievement award
Veteran insights leader to be recognised at 7th Golden Key Awards in Mumbai
MUMBAI: The Market Research Society of India will confer its Lifetime Achievement Award on B.V. Pradeep at the 7th Golden Key Awards on March 6, 2026, in Mumbai, celebrating a career that has quietly shaped how businesses listen to consumers.
With more than four decades in the field, Pradeep is widely regarded as one of the architects behind the transformation of market research from a support function into a strategic growth engine. An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, he spent nearly 30 years with Unilever in India and overseas, where he developed research frameworks and insight-led systems that went on to become global best practices.
Long before consumer centricity became corporate shorthand, Pradeep championed the idea that organisations should build from the consumer backwards. He played a key role in formalising the consumer and market Insights function, elevating it from number crunching to boardroom influence. From reshaping sensory research in tea and refining brand equity measurement in the 1990s to designing large-scale insight systems and behaviour change models, his work helped businesses turn observation into action.
His impact stretches well beyond India. Pradeep served on Esomar’s Governing Council as vice president and treasurer and worked to strengthen India’s presence in the global research community. He has chaired the joint technical committee for Television Audience Measurement, been a governing council member of the Media Research Users Council and led MRSI as president from 1999 to 2005. He now heads his consultancy, Catalyst-4ur-Growth, advising organisations on marketing, insights and analytics.
TAM Media Research chief growth and partnerships officer and MRSI president Nitin Kamat, said Pradeep’s contribution extends beyond frameworks and methodologies. “He reshaped how organisations think about consumers and expanded the sector’s horizons beyond FMCG. His work elevated insights into a strategic lever for growth, and we are proud to honour his legacy.”
Kantar managing director and qualitative head Apac and committee chair for the award Paru Minocha, noted that Pradeep’s influence is both deep and enduring. “He pioneered frameworks that unlocked growth for clients and agencies alike and helped position India strongly on the global research map. His work strengthened the strategic role of consumer insights in lasting ways.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award jury was chaired by C K Sharma, former strategic consultant and principal at Gallup, and included senior industry leaders from Nestlé India, RSPL, Quantum Consumer Solutions and Inteliphyle Ltd.
As the Golden Key Awards return for their seventh edition, MRSI continues to spotlight the people and ideas that power the research and insights industry. This year, the spotlight falls firmly on a man who ensured that the consumer voice was not just heard, but heeded.
Awards
Ajay Kakar to chair jury for ad:tech Honours Awards 2026
Industry leaders join jury as nominations surge for marketing tech awards
NEW DELHI: The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 are gearing up for a bigger second edition, with Ajay Kakar, head of corporate branding at Adani Group, set to chair the jury for India’s technology-focused marketing awards.
Organised in partnership with the International Advertising Association India Chapter, the awards celebrate the growing influence of technology in shaping modern advertising and marketing outcomes. This year’s edition has drawn a strong response from across the industry, signalling rising momentum around innovation in marketing technology.
The organisers say the nominations reflect a wide range of ideas and approaches, highlighting how brands and agencies are increasingly leaning on platforms, tools and data to sharpen their campaigns and connect with audiences more effectively.
Leading the evaluation process, Kakar will head a jury made up of senior leaders from across brands, agencies and technology platforms.
The jury panel includes Amaresh Godbole, CEO, digital technology business at Publicis Groupe; Bishwajeet S, head of marketing and PR at Volkswagen India; Carol Goyal, executive director at Rediffusion and CEO of Aesthetic Intelligence Lab; Kushal Sanghvi, director at Komerz; Lara Balsara, executive director at Madison World; Rana Barua, group CEO India, sea and North Asia; Deepak Oram, senior vice president growth marketing and martech; and Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi, head of marketing and creative solutions at Amazon Ads India.
The ad:tech Honours Awards aim to recognise not just creative campaigns but the smart use of technology that delivers measurable impact and business results. Categories this year reflect the rapidly evolving digital landscape, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, content ecosystems, automation, martech and adtech integration, and commerce-led marketing.
The winners will be announced on 17 March 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during ad:tech New Delhi 2026. The event is expected to bring together leaders from brands, agencies, platforms, creators and technology partners for an evening celebrating the ideas and innovations shaping the future of marketing.iconductor industries.
