AD Agencies
Jai Maharashtra poaches ABP veteran as it plots pan-India expansion
MUMBAI: Jai Maharashtra has landed a heavyweight. Shailesh Hegde, who spent nearly a decade and a half at ABP Network, has joined the Marathi news channel as business head, taking charge of editorial, marketing, distribution, operations, and the entire business machinery.
Hegde brings 25 years of media muscle, having worked his way through Indian Express, Zee Entertainment, Sony Pictures, and ABP Network, where he served as vice president for sales and channel head of ABP Majha and Asmita, whilst also running the western branch for the entire network.
“I am truly excited to join Jai Maharashtra at a leadership level,” Hegde said. “This organisation is known for its collaborative culture, and the company’s forward-thinking vision and commitment to innovation and adopting new technology align perfectly with my professional goals and values.”
The appointment signals ambition beyond Maharashtra. Sushil Shetty, president and promoter family representative, made it clear this is just the opening salvo. “I am delighted to welcome Shailesh Hegde as our business head,” Shetty said. “He has the vision, leadership, and deep industry knowledge to guide our channel into its next chapter of growth and success.”
The channel is plotting a pan-India Hindi news channel and a global English news service, with infrastructure already in place. “I strongly believe in attracting great talent, and in the coming few months I expect many big names from our industry to come on board, starting with the appointment of Shailesh,” Shetty added. “For me, great ideas are very important, and I will back the person who has the conviction to go all out.”
The poaching has only just begun. Jai Maharashtra is expanding its footprint, and Hegde’s appointment is the first domino in what promises to be an aggressive talent raid across Indian news media. The question now isn’t whether more big names will follow—it’s whose phone will ring next.
AD Agencies
ABBY Awards 2026 names Rajdeepak Das, Khazanchi, Ramaswamy jury chairs
Top creative leaders to steer judging across film and direct categories
MUMBAI: The Ad Club has announced the appointment of three of India’s most prominent creative leaders as jury chairs for the ABBY Awards 2026, powered by The One Club.
Rajdeepak Das, chief creative officer, South Asia, Publicis Groupe and chairman, South Asia, Leo Burnett, will chair the AV Film (TV) category. Ashish Khazanchi, managing partner at Enormous, will lead the AV Film (Digital and OTT) jury, while Anupama Ramaswamy, managing director and chief creative officer at Havas Creative India, takes charge of the Direct category.
The trio brings a mix of creative firepower and industry experience to the judging table. Das is known for blending creativity with technology to solve real-world problems, with landmark campaigns such as Whisper’s “Touch the Pickle” and “Missing Chapter” helping reshape conversations around menstrual health. His work has earned top honours at global platforms including Cannes Lions and The One Show.
Khazanchi, meanwhile, has built Enormous into one of India’s leading independent agencies. Best known for creating Tata Sky’s “Jingalala” campaign, he has played a key role in shaping brand narratives for both legacy companies and startups, picking up hundreds of awards along the way.
Ramaswamy’s appointment rounds off the leadership trio with a strong focus on culturally resonant creativity. Her campaign “Ink of Democracy” became one of the most awarded works globally in 2025, earning multiple honours across Cannes Lions, Clio and Spikes Asia. Over the years, she has built a reputation for work that not only wins awards but also shapes public discourse.
The appointments come as the ABBY Awards continue to sharpen their global positioning, with backing from The One Club adding international heft to the platform.
The awards will be held during Goafest 2026 from May 20 to 22 at Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon, bringing together the industry’s top creative minds for what promises to be a closely watched showcase of ideas.
With heavyweight jury chairs in place, the stage is set for a high-stakes celebration of creativity where craft, culture and commerce collide.
