MAM
ASCI Board appoints Partha Sinha as new chairman
Mumbai: Post the board meeting held today following the 38th Annual General Meeting, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) appointed Bennett Coleman & Company Ltd chief brand officer & president, Partha Sinha as the chairman of the ASCI Board of Governors for 2024-25. Pidilite Industries Ltd managing director Sudhanshu Vats, was appointed vice-chairman, and Lintas India Private Ltd Group CEO & chief strategy officer-APAC, S. Subramanyeswar was appointed hon. Treasurer.
Sinha comes with a rich and vast experience with top organisations such as Bennet Coleman, Ogilvy, Publicis, BBH, McCann, and Citibank, along with his stronghold of brand marketing, media, and communications.
Sinha expressed a compelling vision for ASCI. “Being the chairperson of ASCI is both an honour and a profound responsibility, especially as our industry is under greater scrutiny by our stakeholders. With rapid changes in the digital environment and the emergence of new challenges. ASCI is committed to not just keeping up but to staying ahead. Deploying technology and AI to monitor errant advertising as well as putting our might behind preventive measures will be our focus in the days to come. This will ensure that creativity and responsibility coexist, creating an ecosystem that values consumers and encourages innovation.”
Reflecting on his term, outgoing chairman Saugata Gupta said, “Leading ASCI through a period that witnessed significant development and change has been a privilege. This year has been marked by historic milestones, including the formation of the ASCI Academy, which has become a cornerstone in promoting responsible and progressive advertising. Our commitment to training and capacity building, creating new direction via our thought leadership work, reflects a culture of responsibility from the ground up.”
ASCI has made great progress in terms of its achievements and strategic initiatives during the year, reinforcing its commitment to the proactive work since the start of ASCI Academy. The Academy’s expansion is an important aspect of ASCI’s initiatives, and it is quickly becoming an active proponent of industry training and education. Since its inception, the Academy has expanded to encompass over 75 alliances and, through its training and education, successfully impacted 33,300 new and emerging professionals, firmly anchoring ethical principles deeply within the advertising community.
ASCI has also actively engaged in research and thought leadership through collaborative projects. Notable among these were partnerships with Khaitan & Co. on a white paper on the influence of generative AI on advertising, with the UN Women- led Unstereotype Alliance and lead research agency Kantar on D&I in India, as well as with Lexplosion for an in-depth understanding of privacy and data protection.”
In the past year, ASCI actively co-hosted and participated in several stakeholder and government consultations to address and discuss issues like dark patterns, green claims, and surrogate advertising.
ASCI updated and introduced new guidelines on an array of categories this year, including deceptive patterns, charitable cause marketing, and green claims ads, among others. These changes keep the ASCI Code current in the face of the changing industry dynamics and consumer expectations.
ASCI’s rigorous complaint redressal and monitoring operations this year included processing over 10,000 complaints and reviewing over 8,200 advertisements, affirming its role as a vigilant guardian of the advertising industry.
ASCI remains dedicated to advancing ethical, inclusive, and transparent advertising.
AD Agencies
Collective Creative Labs wins two Silver Effies, ranks top 15
Independent agency shines with strategy-led campaigns that move brands and culture
MUMBAI: Collective Creative Labs (CCL) has bagged two Silver Effies at the 25th Effie India Awards and claimed the 15th spot in the Agency of the Year rankings, marking a standout moment for the independent agency.
For a young agency built without legacy backing, these accolades go beyond trophies. They celebrate a fresh approach: starting with brand truth, sticking to strategy, and creating work that drives business, not just chatter.
Three years ago, Collective Artists Network spotted a gap in the market. Brands had access to creators and cultural moments but lacked cohesive strategy. CCL was born to fill that gap, blending cultural insight with disciplined brand planning to deliver campaigns that truly perform.
Collective Artists Network founder and group CEO Vijay Subramaniam said, “We were already sitting at a rare intersection of culture, creators, entertainment and influence. But brands don’t need access alone; they need alignment. CCL brings strategy to the heart of culture so that it drives real brand growth.”
CCL’s campaigns, including work for Zebronics, Rakesh Masala and Liberty, have travelled far beyond paid media, not chasing virality, but earning it through clarity of insight and purpose. Big names are used to amplify thinking, not replace it.
Collective Creative Labs CEO and partner at Collective Artists Network Sanjana Jain added, “Great work starts with clarity, what the brand stands for, the consumer’s reality, and the business goal. In a world that loves spectacle, we focus on outcomes. These awards validate that approach.”
Both Silver-winning campaigns were built on immersive consumer understanding and sharp strategic thinking, reinforcing CCL as a performance-driven creative partner. Operating where brands, culture, entertainment and emerging media intersect, CCL represents a new kind of agency model, uniting talent, content, influence and strategy under one roof.
For CCL, these wins and the Agency of the Year ranking are just markers of momentum, not the finish line.
