MAM
IAA World Congress offers special privileges to Indian delegation
MUMBAI: The IAA India Chapter will be offered a special concession to invited Indian delegates of the World Congress scheduled in Dubai from 20 – 23 March, 2006.
This is the first time that the Organising Committee of an IAA World Congress has offered a special concession to Indian delegates.
IAA India Chapter president Sam Balsara said, “We are delighted that the Organising Committee of the 40th IAA World Congress has recognised the important role that India can play in the World Congress to be held at Dubai and have agreed to offer a special delegate fee of only $ 750 (as against $ 1,200) for invited Indian delegates. With this we hope to take a delegation of at least 100 Indian delegates to the World Congress.”
Advertising, marketing and media people in the world and the Organising Committee is sparing no effort in putting together a renowned list of speakers, which includes the Who’s Who from the world of advertising, marketing and media.
Prominent amongst the confirmed list of speakers are – Allen Rosenshine (chairman, BBDO), Ann M. Fidge (chairman, Y&R Brands), Dr Tony Alessandra (author of The Platinum Rule), Gregory Lee (chief marketing officer, Samsung Electronics), Howard Draft (chairman, Draft Worldwide), Jack Klues (chairman, Publicis Groupe Media), James R. Stengel (global marketing officer, Procter & Gamble), John Elkins (executive vice president, Visa International), Marcio Moreira (vice-chairman, McCann-Erickson), Norman Pearlstine (editor-in-chief, Time), Sergio Zyman (author and former CMO, Coca-Cola), Sir Martin Sorrell (CEO, WPP), Steve Forbes (CEO, Forbes), Susannah Outfin (CEO, Carat International), Tateo Mataki (CEO, Dentsu Japan), Tom Bernardin (CEO, Leo Burnett Worldwide).
MUMBAI: In India’s fast-moving payments race, Visa has just swiped in a new leader. The company has named Suresh Sethi as its India country head, marking a key leadership shift as it sharpens its focus on digital payments growth in the market. Sethi steps into the role following his recent exit from Protean eGov Technologies, where he served as chief executive officer. He succeeds Sandeep Ghosh, who has moved on after more than four years at Visa to pursue an external opportunity.
The appointment comes at a time when Visa is doubling down on its expansion strategy across India and the wider region, deepening partnerships and accelerating adoption in an increasingly competitive digital payments ecosystem.
Sethi brings with him a broad, cross-market perspective shaped by decades of experience across corporate banking, retail financial services, mobile money and large-scale government technology initiatives. He began his career at Citigroup, where he spent 14 years working across India, Africa, South America and the United States, focusing on transaction banking services within the corporate bank.
His appointment signals a blend of institutional experience and market familiarity qualities that could prove critical as Visa navigates a landscape where fintech innovation, regulatory evolution and consumer adoption are all accelerating at once.
As digital payments in India continue to scale rapidly, the leadership change underscores a simple reality, in a market where every tap, scan and swipe counts, who leads the charge can matter just as much as the technology itself.
