Janak Sarda elected IAA India president for 2026-27

MUMBAI: Janak Sarda has the gavel, and a big date in the diary. The veteran adman was elected president of the India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) for 2026-27 at the chapter’s Annual General Meeting in Mumbai on September 28, just as the industry begins its march towards AdAsia.

It is a natural succession. Sarda has sat on the chapter’s Managing Committee for ten years and served as honorary treasurer for two. He has also chaired the Olive Crown Awards for four years, a stint that gives him a close view of what the industry celebrates and why. Few arrive at the top of a trade body with that much time in the engine room.

His reach extends well beyond Mumbai. At the global level, Sarda is area director, APAC, for IAA Global, and has received the organisation’s Global Champion Award. He is also a special advisor to the chairman of the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA). That mix of local roots and regional standing matters in a year when India’s advertising community will be watched closely by its Asian peers.

Sarda’s message is continuity with purpose. “It is an honour to lead the India Chapter, more so in the run-up to the globally acclaimed AdAsia. We remain committed to continuing with the marquee events and meaningful initiatives that our past presidents have established over the years. We will also be steadfast in our ethos that what’s good is good for business,” he said.

The promise to keep the flagship calendar intact is a sensible one. Marquee events are the currency of a chapter like this, and a smooth handover in an AdAsia run-up avoids the wobble that often comes with change at the top. The closing line, “what’s good is good for business”, is a neat summary of the IAA’s long-held pitch: that responsible, credible advertising and commercial success are allies, not rivals.

The leadership bench has plenty of corporate muscle. Nandini dias, independent director and board member at Bandhan AMC Limited, is vice president. L V Navaneeth, chief executive officer of THG Publishing Private Ltd, takes over as honorary secretary. Pradeep Dwivedi, group CEO of EROS Media World, becomes honorary treasurer. Abhishek Karnani, president of Free Press Journal, continues as immediate past president.

The spread is telling. Financial services, publishing, entertainment and news media all have a seat at the table, which reflects how wide the advertising ecosystem has become.

The elected Managing Committee members are Jaideep Gandhi, founder of Another Idea; M V Shreyams Kumar, managing director of Mathrubhumi; Neena Dasgupta, CEO and founder of The Salt Inc Consulting; Nina E Jaipuria, business and media professional and former head, Hindi and Kids TV Network, Viacom18 Media; and Alok Jalan, managing director of Laqshya Media Group.

Five more names have been co-opted as members: Raj Kamble, Sam Balsara, Babita Barua, Rani Reddy and Anant Goenka. Their presence adds further experience across agencies, media and business.

The IAA India Chapter works across the marketing and communications ecosystem through industry events, awards and initiatives focused on advertising and allied sectors. With a seasoned president, a balanced team and AdAsia ahead, the chapter looks well placed for a busy and productive year.