MAM
Focusing on multi-facets of the industry, Goafest 2019 announces a stellar line up on speakers
MUMBAI: The advertising & marketing industry’s apex convention, Goafest has announced its list of illustrious speakers for 2019. The 3-day convention of the best minds in the industry will see prestigious speakers from premier global and Indian advertising, smart technology, software development, entertainment, sports and others. Renowned cricketer Virender Sehwag, Bollywood actors Pankaj Tripathi, Kalki Koechlin and Siddhant Chaturvedi of the recent Gully Boy fame, global advertising maven Gordon Bowen, boxing legend Mary Kom, creative genius Madonna Badger and authors Navi Radjou and Jaideep Prabhu, will be amongst many others to address the knowledge sessions.
Nakul Chopra – Chairman Goafest said “At Goafest our aim has been to create a platform that provides learning, inspiration, collaboration and celebration. Content is the heart of the festival. Jaideep and his team have laboured from August last year to put up this stellar list of speakers. I am sure all delegates – especially the young guns – will have a lot to learn and be inspired from.”
Jaideep Gandhi – Chairman Industry Conclave and Knowledge Seminars said “Every year we try and bring an array of speakers that will provide a window to the current global perspectives in our ever-changing industry. As we do, to bring speakers, from allied fields and other arenas like sports who can inspire our young talent. I am confident that this year too the width and depth of our speaker panel will cover all of these facets.”
Here is a glimpse into Goafest 2019’s dynamic speaker list:
Knowledge Seminars
|
Name |
Designation |
Company |
|
Madonna Badger |
Chief Creative Officer/Founder |
Badger and Winters |
|
HarshwardhansinhZala |
Founder & CEO |
Aerobotics7 |
|
Barry Wacksman |
Vice Chairman and Global Chief Strategy Officer |
R/GA |
|
Gordon Bowen |
Founder and Global Chairman |
McGarryBowen |
|
Lt. Gen. DS Hooda |
Lt. General – Indian Army |
|
|
Virender Sehwag |
Renowned Indian Cricketer |
|
|
Kalki Koechlin |
Indian Born French Actress and Writer |
Duo Session |
|
Siddhant Chaturvedi |
Bollywood Actor & Writer |
|
|
Phil Kemish |
Co-Founder |
Disrupt Media LTD |
|
Mary Kom |
Boxing Legend |
|
|
Navi Radjou |
Author of famous books: Jugaad & Frugal Innovation |
|
|
Jaideep Prabhu |
Authors of famous books: Jugaad & Frugal Innovation |
|
|
Noelle LaCharite |
Director, Developer Evangelism |
Dev Collective- Microsoft |
|
Matt Eastwood |
Global Chief Creative Officer |
McCann Health |
|
Ambarish Mitra |
CEO and Founder |
Blippar |
|
Pankaj Tripathi |
Ace Actor |
|
Industry conclave
|
Name |
Designation |
Company |
|
Dr. A. Velumani |
Creator & Managing Director |
Thyrocare |
|
Ravi Desai |
Director, Mass and Brand Marketing |
Amazon |
|
Vijay Sharma |
Associate Director, Brand Marketing & Heads Digital Media |
Flipkart |
|
Achint Setia |
Vice President, Marketing |
Myntra |
Presented by the Advertising Club and AAAI the Goafest 2019 will once again see the entire advertising and marketing fraternity come together in Goa from 11thApril, 2019 to 13th 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.
