MAM
Advertising Agencies Association of India &The Advertising Club announce the Awards Governing Council for ABBY Awards 2019
MUMBAI: The 14th edition of the premiere Advertising Festival – Goafest 2019, presented by Viacom18 is just around the corner and the preparations are in full momentum for the apex industry event and awards. Celebrating creative excellence in the Advertising and Media industry, the ABBY awards presented every year at the festival is a key focus area for the fraternity to showcase their their best work. The Advertising Agencies Association of India &The Advertising Club have now announced the Awards Governing Council for the prestigious awards.
The celebrated Awards Governing Council for the ABBY’s 2019 are.
Awards Governing Council on behalf of The Advertising Club
• 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
• Sapangeet Rajawat: Head – Marketing, Hindi Mass Entertainment
Awards Governing Council on behalf of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI)
• 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
• Jaydeep Gandhi: Chairman & Director, Jaya Advertising
Speaking on the focus of the AGC for the upcoming edition, Shashi Sinha, Chairman of the Awards Governing Council, ABBY Awards 2019 & Secretary, The Advertising Club said “The newly appointed Awards Governing Counicl 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.”
Speaking about the awards, Mr. Ashish Bhasin, President of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) said, “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’s.”
Speaking about the AGC appointment, Vikram Sakhuja: President, The Advertising Club 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 ABBYs continue to live up to its repute of being the ultimate industry awards that celebrate meritorious campaigns.”
Mr. Nakul Chopra, Chairman – Goafest 2019 said “ Every year ABBY’s 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 judjed by a renowned jury panel curated by the eminent Awards Governing Council.”
Presented by the Advertising Club and AAAI the Goafest 2019 will once again see the entire advertising and marketing fraternity soon come together in Goa in April 2019.
MAM
Sameer Nair steps down as CEO of Applause Entertainment
Veteran media executive exits after a decade at the Aditya Birla Group-backed studio.
MUMBAI: After a decade of calling the shots, Sameer Nair is taking a bow from Applause Entertainment. The veteran industry leader and CEO of the prominent content studio is stepping down from his role, according to sources familiar with the development. This marks a significant leadership transition at one of India’s key players in the television and digital content space.
Applause Entertainment, part of the Aditya Birla Group, has built a strong reputation under Nair’s leadership for its high-quality adaptations of international formats and a slate of original series across OTT platforms. Nair, who joined the company a decade ago, was instrumental in shaping its growth and positioning it as a notable force in India’s evolving streaming landscape.
Prior to Applause, he held senior roles at major media organisations, including Star India, where he played a pivotal part in the launch of the iconic show Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000. He also worked with Balaji Telefilms and NDTV Imagine.
It remains unclear who will succeed Nair or what his next professional move will be. Queries sent to Nair did not receive a response, and Applause Entertainment declined to comment on the matter.
His exit comes at a time when the Indian content ecosystem is undergoing rapid changes, with streaming platforms recalibrating investments, focusing on profitability, and adjusting content strategies amid shifting viewer preferences and increasing competition.
Industry insiders suggest the transition could signal a strategic reset for Applause as it navigates the next phase of growth.
In the fast-paced world of Indian entertainment, where hits can fade as quickly as they rise, Sameer Nair has enjoyed a remarkably steady and influential run. As he steps off the stage at Applause, the spotlight now turns to what comes next for both the executive and the studio he helped build.
