MAM
IAA announces categories for Leadership Awards
MUMBAI: The International Advertising Association‘s (IAA) India chapter has revealed the categories for the first IAA leadership awards.
The categories cover a wide spectrum of verticals from auto, banking, media & entertainment and telecom to FMCG.
The IAA Leadership Awards categories are — Media Agency Head of the Year, Creative Agency Head of the Year, Marketer of the Year: Media & Entertainment, Marketer of the Year: Banking, Marketer of the Year: Insurance, Marketer of the Year: Auto Passenger Vehicles, Marketer of the Year: Auto Commercial vehicles, Marketer of the Year: Household Products, Marketer of the Year: FMCG – Food & Beverages, Marketer of the Year: FMCG – Personal Care, Marketer of the Year: FMCG – Consumer Durables, Marketer of the Year: Telecom Products, Marketer of the Year: Travel & Hospitality, Best CEO, News Anchor of the Year, Media Person of the Year, Editor of the Year and Hall of Fame.
IAA leadership awards aim to bring together the disciplines of Marketing, Advertising and Media under one roof. The awards will recognise and honor “outstanding” individuals in the fields of Marketing, Advertising and Media.
Presented by Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) Colors, the award is scheduled to be held in Mumbai on 2 February.
IAA president Srinivasan Swamy said, “The IAA Leadership Awards salutes the hard work put in by individuals to make a difference to the brands they work for. The categories have been selected to ensure that individuals from various sectors are covered.”
In order to ensure the process is seen as transparent, IAA has appointed the experienced marketing research company AC Nielsen to execute the nomination and voting process.
Further Ernst & Young has been appointed to conduct audit and validate the entire process. The winners will be decided in a two-stage selection process; the first stage will include nominations and shortlisting by seasoned marketing, media and advertising professionals; and the second stage will be the final selection of winners by a voting process among the shortlisted nominees, by respective senior industry peers.
In the first edition of the annual awards, Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari will be present as the chief guest.
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.
