MAM
IAA reveals categories for 2nd edition of IAA Leadership Awards
MUMBAI: The International Advertising Association’s (IAA) India chapter revealed the categories for the second edition of the IAA leadership awards. Presented by India’s leading Hindi General Entertainment Channel COLORS, these awards celebrate the outstanding contribution made by marketing, advertising and media professionals by honouring them on a common platform. After a successful first edition of the IAA Leadership Awards held last year, this year, the Awards will expand its scope to recognize excellence across 21 Categories namely:
IAA categories:
1. Marketer of the Year – Banking
2. Marketer of the Year – Insurance
3. Marketer of the Year – Auto: 2 Wheeler
4. Marketer of the Year – Auto: Passenger Vehicles
5. Marketer of the Year – Mobile Services
6. Marketer of the Year – Mobile Devices
7. Marketer of the Year – FMCG: Personal Care, Laundry and Toiletries
8. Marketer of the Year – FMCG: Foods & Beverages
9. Marketer of the Year – FMCG: Consumer Durables
10. Marketer of the Year – Home Improvement
11. Marketer of the Year – Household Products
12. Marketer of the Year – Ecommerce
13. Media Agency Head of The Year
14. Creative Agency Head of The Year
15. CEO of The Year
16. Media Person of The Year
17. TV Anchor of The Year
18. Editor of The Year
19. Hall Of Fame
20. Brand Ambassador OF The Year – Male
21. Brand Ambassador OF The Year – Female
Announcing these categories Srinivasan Swamy, President IAA India and VP-Development, IAA Asia Pacific, and Chairman, R K SWAMY BBDO commented “after the great response we received for the first edition of the IAA Leadership Awards, we have made some marginal changes in categories this year to take into account some feedback received. The final winners are being determined now on a number of product and service categories and of course some Awards for senior practitioners. The IAA Leadership Awards is our endeavour to recognize and salute these outstanding talent which has made impactful contributions in the market space and the companies and brands they led.”
To ensure the authenticity and credibility of the awards and maintain the highest level of transparency at all stages, IAA had a task force which looked at various performance criteria in every category under consideration, like revenue/market share growth, marketing initiatives undertaken, innovative schemes, launches, advertising spends etc to shortlist the nominees. Nielsen (India) Private Limited was engaged thereafter to have the nominees voted upon by senior marketers from the same industry to pick the final winner. Ernst & Young LLP will look at the process to satisfy itself of its fairness and will officially tabulate the results.
The IAA Leadership Awards, this year, are scheduled to be held on 1 March 2014 at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai. Honourable Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Sri Manish Tewari will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. The awards night will be attended by the cr?me de la cr?me of the marketing, advertising and media fraternity to see some of their leaders carry home coveted trophies.
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.
