MAM
IndiaFirst Life elevates Dr. Poonam Tandon as the Chief Investment Officer
IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Limited (IndiaFirst Life), promoted by Bank of Baroda (BoB) and Union Bank of India (UBI), announced the elevation of Dr. Poonam Tandon as the firm’s Chief Investment Officer (CIO), effective August 1, 2020. As one of the earliest members of IndiaFirst Life, Poonam has significantly contributed to the organisation’s commitment to continuous improvement.
IndiaFirst Life has had a steep growth curve since its inception in November 2009. It has ended FY20 with an AUM of INR 14,723 crore. IndiaFirst Life offers both, Group and Retail policies that offer customers exposure across Debt and Equity funds. In her new role, Poonam will oversee IndiaFirst Life’s investment division and manage asset allocation and investment strategies across asset classes.
Congratulating Poonam, RM Vishakha, MD & CEO, IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Limited, said, “Poonam is a highly qualified and experienced investment leader in the Financial Services sector. She has been instrumental in the advancement of IndiaFirst Life’s growth by bringing in the right combination of investment discipline and passion for innovation. Poonam’s elevation as the CIO is a reflection of IndiaFirst Life’s strong HR policies and people practices. In her new role, Poonam will contribute immensely to our commitment to optimise returns to all stakeholders through appropriate investment strategies.”
In her decade long association with the organisation, she has managed several portfolios across Corporate Group Funds, Traditional and ULIP Debt Funds, Asset Allocation for Equity Investment. She has been instrumental in her contribution to Asset Liability Committee (ALCO) and to Product Pricing.
With an illustrious career spanning over 26 years in the financial services sector, Poonam is an accomplished veteran with experience and insight into financial markets and investment management in the banking and financial services sector. A B.Com (Hons) graduate, Poonam is an alumnus of XLRI, Jamshedpur, with a PGD in Business Management. She has earned a PhD in Financial Management from NMIMS, Mumbai
MAM
Ad:tech honours 2026: Full list of winners announced
Expanded awards spotlight winners across 22 categories as industry doubles down on intelligent automation
NEW DELHI: Marketing’s tech elite took the spotlight as the ad:tech honours 2026 returned with a sharper focus on AI, data and immersive media, signalling how deeply technology now underpins brand strategy. Held at Yashobhoomi on March 17, the second edition drew industry leaders to celebrate innovation that is reshaping engagement and performance.
Presented with the International Advertising Association India chapter and new partner Huella, the awards expanded from 8 to 22 categories, tracking the rapid convergence of creativity, automation and analytics.
The winners’ list reads like a snapshot of marketing’s future. In affiliate and partner marketing, Lyxel & Flamingo – Boat and Paytm Ads – Giva took silver. Mobavenue Media Private Limited struck gold in AI-driven dynamic creative optimisation, alongside a silver for Laqshya Media Limited.
Creative AI collaboration saw Rediffusion Brand Solutions Private Limited win gold, with Saltinc Consulting Private Limited securing silver. Laqshya Media Limited continued its strong run, taking gold in AI conversation agents and adding multiple wins across categories, including silver in GenAI-led creative and both gold and silver in interactive DOOH campaigns for Tanishq and Tata Coffee.
Predictive AI honours went to Strong Metrics and Tyroo, both silver, while Orient Bell Limited picked up silver in immersive retail tech. In GenAI-led creative, Laqshya Media Limited, Salt – Kotak and Sumimoto each secured silver, reflecting the crowded race in generative creativity.
Publicis bagged silver in influencer management and gold in performance marketing, where it shared the stage with Arm Worldwide and The Trade Desk, both silver. Glad U Came Private Limited stood out with gold in influencer measurement and analytics.
Marketing automation saw CereOne Media Pvt. Ltd. and Globale Media win silver, while ADMOTT Private Limited claimed silver in OTT innovation.
Programmatic media categories highlighted the shift to advanced targeting and connected screens. Mobavenue Media Private Limited clinched gold in connected TV advertising, with Animmoov Digital Media Pvt Ltd – Asus and Lyxel and Flamingo taking silver. Cheggout Services Private Limited won silver in retail media advertising, while Paytm Ads – Versuni secured gold.
On social platforms, Vayner Media India took gold in community and UGC engagement, with Under 25 – Oppo winning silver. Segumento rounded off the list with silver in the innovation category.
Jaswant Singh, country managing director at ad:tech India, underscored the momentum, saying generative AI and data-driven decision-making are now central to marketing impact. Neena Dasgupta, IAA mancom member and chief executive and founder at The Salt Inc Consulting, added that the awards celebrate not just technology, but “the people, the creativity, and the relentless effort behind it.”
Backed by Comexposium Group, ad:tech New Delhi has long tracked digital disruption. Now, with the honours, it is rewarding those who are not just adapting to change but engineering it.
In an industry racing towards automation, the message from 2026 is unmistakable. The future of marketing will be written not just in ideas, but in algorithms.
