AD Agencies
CCOs are shepherds, not showmen, say ad veterans in spirited Goafest debate
MUMBAI: At Goafest 2025’s high-energy panel “WTF is Creative Leadership Now?”—powered by Sun NEO and Amar Ujala—the crowd wasn’t just fed insight, it was served a full-course debate. The motion on the table: “The chief creative officer (CCO) is no longer the heart of the creative agency”. What followed was part philosophy, part punchlines, and all-out passion.
Moderated by Ohriginal founder Rohit Ohri, the session featured industry legends and present-day captains: Bobby Pawar, Sonal Dabral, Senthil Kumar (VML India), and Lulu Raghavan (Landor APAC). The format was unconventional—a structured debate—and emotions ran high as both sides made their case.
Pawar, speaking for the motion, fired the opening salvo: “The CCO has become a generalist, not a specialist”. He lamented the erosion of focus, saying creatives today juggle too many hats—part spreadsheet warrior, part HR liaison, part plumber of broken processes. “The CCO is supposed to make people better, not just the work”.
Dabral echoed the sentiment. “The role’s been marginalised”, he said. “Once upon a time, creative work brought in the revenue. Now, we’ve surrendered that ground to consultants and growth officers”.
On the other side, Raghavan mounted a spirited defence. “The CCO is the custodian of the brand’s unified creative vision”, she said. “They’re culture magnets and client counsellors. Yes, the role has evolved, but that doesn’t mean it has weakened—it has amplified”.
Kumar brought the flair, calling today’s CCO a “playing captain”, not a bench-bound boss. “They’re curators of talent and makers of movement. They must know when to step up and when to step back.”
The debate heated up as rebuttals flew. Pawar quipped, “If the client only wants to speak to one person, why do they need the rest of us?” Raghavan countered, “Then make that person the one who inspires, not just manages”.
What united both camps, despite the sparring, was a shared reverence for creativity’s core purpose. All agreed that CCOs must move beyond ego, protect originality, and build cultures that nurture bold thinking. In Ohri’s closing words, “It’s not about idea ownership anymore—it’s about creating open spaces where ideas can roam freely and return home safe”.
The rapid-fire round that followed was peak Goafest theatre. The panelists defined today’s CCO in their own punchy terms: “instigator”, “playing captain”, “creative curator”, “versatile”. When asked to choose between a Cannes Lion or a lifetime client, most cheekily opted for both.
As the session wrapped, the takeaway was clear: the CCO isn’t dead. They’re just shape-shifting—and perhaps learning to lead not from the podium, but from the pasture.
AD Agencies
ABBY Awards 2026 names 3 jury chairs across digital, PR and publisher
Aditiya, Dharmaraj and Puri to lead key categories at Goafest 2026
MUMBAI: The Ad Club has announced the appointment of PG Aditiya, Deepshikha Dharmaraj and Pavita Puri as jury chairs for the Digital, PR and Publisher categories respectively at the ABBY Awards 2026, powered by The One Club and The One Show.
The awards are set to take place during Goafest 2026 from May 20 to 22 at Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon, bringing together some of the biggest names in advertising and marketing.
PG Aditiya, founder and CCO at Talented, will chair the Digital jury. A former chief creative officer at Dentsu Webchutney, he now leads Talented, an employee-owned independent agency known for its unconventional structure and award-winning work for brands such as Meta, Google, Britannia and Tanishq. The agency has also been recognised as a global ‘Best Place to Work’ by Campaign magazine for two consecutive years.
In the PR category, Deepshikha Dharmaraj, CEO at Burson Group India, brings over three decades of experience in public relations and integrated communications. She oversees multiple entities including Burson Genesis, GCI Health India and Hill & Knowlton India. Known for her strategic counsel and leadership, Dharmaraj has also served as president of industry bodies such as PRCAI and PAFI, and has been a jury member at global platforms including Cannes PR Lions and D&AD Awards.
Pavita Puri, chief brand and marketing officer at The Indian Express Group, will chair the Publisher category. With over 15 years of leadership experience, she has been instrumental in driving the group’s transition into a digital-first media powerhouse, overseeing brands such as The Indian Express, Financial Express, Loksatta and Jansatta. Her earlier stints in advertising include roles at Rediffusion and Lowe India, where she handled marquee clients across sectors.
The appointments reflect a strong mix of creative, communications and media expertise, underscoring the awards’ focus on recognising excellence across evolving industry segments.
As the industry gears up for Goafest, the ABBY Awards 2026 promise to spotlight standout work, with seasoned leaders at the helm of jury deliberations shaping the benchmark for creative excellence.
