MAM
Avinash Pandey re-elected president of India chapter of IAA
Mumbai: At its Annual General Meeting held on 27 September 2023, the following members were unanimously elected:
Avinash Pandey (CEO, ABP Network) – President
Abhishek Karnani (President, Free Press Journal Group)- Vice President
Nandini Dias (Independent Advisor)- Hon. Secretary
Jaideep Gandhi (Founder, Another Idea) – Hon. Treasurer
The following five members were elected as voting members:
Srinivasan K Swamy (Chairman & Managing Director, R K Swamy Ltd),
M.V. Shreyams Kumar (Managing Director, Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co Ltd)
Prasanth Kumar (CEO-South Asia, GroupM)
Anant Goenka (Executive Director, The Indian Express Pvt Ltd)
Janak Sarda (Director, Blue Logic Systems)
Cosmos-Maya CEO Megha Tata will continue as an ex-officio office bearer as Immediate past president.
Apart from this, five more members will be co-opted in the upcoming ManCom meeting along with other special invited members.
Adds Pandey, “The India Chapter of the IAA is arguably the most active industry Association of its kind in the country. Its initiatives cover a wide spectrum of areas including saluting excellence in Marketing, Creativity and communicating Sustainability. In the year gone by, we also started Tech Pulse to cater to the growing digital market. The IAA has always maintained that what is good, is good for business and in that spirit it has converted its Voice of Change initiative into a nation-wide movement aimed at breaking the gender bias in advertising and the entertainment industry.
In the year ahead we will also be spear-heading two initiatives where we walk the talk that Communication is a Force for Good, and will also once again lead a group of CEO’s to the USA to study the latest developments in communication.
I look forward to a very meaningful term ahead.”
MAM
Ameya Velankar steps down as Uber’s head of marketing for India & South Asia
Veteran marketer exits after more than seven years with the ride-hailing giant.
MUMBAI: After more than seven years of steering Uber through the bumpy roads of India’s mobility market, Ameya Velankar has decided to change lanes. Ameya Velankar has stepped down as Head of Marketing for India and South Asia, marking the end of a significant chapter at the ride-hailing company. He had been with Uber since 2019, taking on multiple roles in product and category marketing before rising to lead the marketing function for the region in 2021.
During his tenure, Velankar played a key role in strengthening Uber’s positioning in one of its most competitive and dynamic markets. He helped drive localised marketing strategies and scale adoption across key offerings such as Auto, Moto, Rentals and Intercity, tailoring global platforms to Indian consumer needs.
Prior to joining Uber, Velankar built his marketing expertise at leading consumer companies including SC Johnson and Marico, where he handled category and product leadership roles. His career began at RPG Enterprises.
Details of his next professional move have not been disclosed.
In a fast-evolving mobility landscape where brands constantly battle for attention, Ameya Velankar helped Uber stay relevant and resonant with millions of Indian users. As he moves on from the driver’s seat of marketing, the company will now look for fresh ideas to keep its wheels turning smoothly.
