AD Agencies
DDB Mudra appoints 11 specialists in GOB
MUMBAI: As a part of its endeavor to build a future ready marketing services organisation, DDB Mudra Group has reconstituted the executive board and has announced the formation of The Group Operating Board (GOB). Consisting of leaders with a proven track record within the group and the industry, GOB members bring together diverse skillsets in marketing services and technology from across geographies.
The GOB will advice and assist the Group CEO and MD, Chairman & CCO and CFO on various aspects related to leading and growing the organisation. The GOB will focus on achieving the group’s People and Product goals to deliver client excellence.
The Group Operating Board will include:
• Aditya Kanthy- Chief Strategy Officer, DDB Mudra Group
• Anurag Bansal- Chief Financial Officer, DDB Mudra Group
• Gour Gupta- Executive Director, DDB Mudra Group & CEO, DDB Mudramax (OOH, Events & Experiential)
• Madhukar Kamath, Group CEO & MD, DDB Mudra Group
• Ranji Cherian- President, DDB Mudra South&East
• Rajiv Sabnis- Executive Director, DDB Mudra Group & President, DDB Mudra West
• Rita Verma- Executive Vice President- Organization Development, DDB Mudra Group
• Sathyamurthy Namakkal- Executive Director, DDB Mudra Group & President, DDB Mudramax- Media
• Sonal Dabral, Chairman & CCO, DDB Mudra Group
• Vandana Das- President, DDB Mudra North
• Vineet Gupta- Chief Digital Officer, DDB Mudra Group and MD, 22feet Tribal Worldwide
Quoting on the development, Madhukar Kamath said, “I am thrilled that each one of them is also a specialist in his / her field. The Group Operating Board will help lead collaborations with external partners in Technology, Data Analytics and Content.”
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.
