AD Agencies
IOAA joins the global initiative essays for peace to mark International Peace Day
Mumbai: The Indian Outdoor Advertising Association (IOAA) joined the global movement Essays for Peace in commemoration of UN International Peace Day. As a part of this initiative, a glowing candle symbolizing peace and unity was displayed on digital screens at midday across India for five minutes by digital out-of-home (OOH) partners, aligning with similar displays around the world. The image, free of words or logos, represented a universal call for hope and solidarity, resonating with the pressing need for peace in today’s world.
In India, the initiative recorded widespread participation. A coalition of prominent OOH media companies, including Network Advertising, Wallop, Laqshya Media, Jagran Engage, AS Advertising, Roshan Space, Symbiosis, Alakh Advertising, Vyoma Technologies and Brands on Wheels, Pioneer Publicity united to bring the campaign to life.
The combined network of the OOH media partners enabled the successful display of the candle in diverse locations, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hubli, Lucknow, Aligarh, Raipur, Noida, Secunderabad, and Goa. The seamless execution across such a wide geographical spread underscored the Indian OOH sector’s ability to mobilize quickly and effectively for initiatives of international significance.
Globally, the action took place in several cities in New Zealand and concluded in Honolulu, Hawaii.
IOAA’s involvement is part of its ongoing effort to align the Indian OOH industry with international standards through collaboration with the World Out of Home Organization (WOO), showcasing the sector’s capability to engage on the world stage.
Indian Outdoor Advertising Association chairman & Jagran Engage (A Unit of Jagran Prakashan Ltd) chief operating officer Pawan Bansal said “IOAA is delighted to mark International Peace Day as part of the global initiative and movement, “Essays for Peace.” This initiative is not only relevant and essential in today’s world but also part of IOAA’s broader mission to integrate into the global World Out of Home community, aiming to elevate the Indian out-of-home industry to international standards.
Going forward, we will witness several such events on the Indian Out of Home platform. One key initiative being spearheaded by IOAA is the plan to make OOH India an eco-friendly and sustainable industry, with the goal of achieving ad-net zero by 2030.”
Looking ahead, the Indian Out of Home platform will host several events. A major initiative led by IOAA aims to make the OOH industry in India eco-friendly and sustainable, with a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2030.
AD Agencies
Publicis Brazil’s creative chief Mauro Ramalho lands the jury chair at Abby Awards 2026
Mauro Ramalho brings 25 years of global advertising firepower to the new creative commerce, use of data and B2B category at Goafest
GOA: The Abby Awards 2026, powered by The One Club and The One Show, has appointed Mauro Ramalho, chief creative officer of Publicis Brazil, as jury chair for its newly launched creative commerce, use of data and B2B category. The announcement, made on 18 March, signals the awards’ intent to bring serious international muscle to a category that sits squarely at the intersection of creativity and commercial performance.
Ramalho is not a name that needs much introduction in global advertising circles. Over 25 years spanning three countries, he has worked at some of the industry’s most creatively restless addresses. At AKQA in San Francisco, he worked across McDonald’s, Nike, Fox, Target, Kraft Foods and GAP, and helped lead “The Lost Ring” for McDonald’s, one of the first alternate reality campaigns and among the most awarded projects of its era. He later moved to Organic in Toronto, bridging the Detroit and Toronto offices on Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler, before spending over a decade building CUBOCC into one of Brazil’s most iconic and innovative independent agencies, which subsequently joined the IPG network.
A stint at FCB followed, where Ramalho led integrated work bridging online and offline, before he joined R/GA São Paulo as vice-president and executive creative director, stitching together the São Paulo office with New York, London, Portland and California on global clients including Verizon, Google, Meta, Samsung, American Express and Heineken. He now heads Publicis Brazil as its chief creative officer.
His trophy cabinet includes Clios, Effies, TikTok awards and MMA Smarties, and he has served on juries at the Andys, TikTok and the Lisbon Awards.
The Abby Awards 2026 is scheduled to take place at Goafest 2026 on 20, 21 and 22 May in Goa.
For Indian advertising, landing a jury chair of Ramalho’s calibre for a category built around data-driven creativity and commerce is a statement of ambition. Goafest just raised its own bar.
