MAM
India will host AdAsia conference in 2011
MUMBAI: After a gap of eight years, the Asian Advertising Conference will be held next year in New Delhi from 31 October to 3 November. The theme that was unveiled by Mudra Group CEO and chairman AdAsia 2011 Madhukar Kamath will be ‘The New Certainty.‘
The Times of India Group executive president Bhaskar Das said India had pitched the idea of hosting the conference in 2007 and it was accepted unanimously.
The organising committee of the conference includes Living Media chief executive officer Ashish Bagga; Das and Star India CEO Uday Shankar.
The advisory board of the conference will be chaired by Mahindra & Mahindra vice-chairperson and managing director Anand Mahindra. The board will also comprise of The India Today Group chairperson and editor in chief Aroon Purie; ITC executive Kurush Grant director; Hindustan Unilever CEO MD and group vice-president South Asia Manu Anand; Ogilvy & Mather executive chairperson and creative director, South Asia Piyush Pandey; Network18 Media founder and editor Raghav Bahl; Bennett Coleman and Co., CEO Ravindra Dhariwal and Britannia Industries MD Vinita Bali.
Around 1200 delegates including 45 international delegates are expected to attend the conference.
India had last held the AdAsia conference at Jaipur in 2003.
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.
