AD Agencies
Leo Burnett brandishes Activation
MUMBAI:Its Leo Burnett’s tool to fight recession.
Leo Activation, the two-month-old division of the ad agency, has launched a slew of promotions, loyalty programmes, events, ground related activities and database management to popularise diverse products among the masses.
The idea behind the venture is to use festivals and other occasions to promote products and familiarise masses with them. Says the agency, “With a huge need from existing clients of Leo Burnett including Godrej, Fiat, Bajaj Auto, Prudential ICICI, Amtrex Hitachi, Bajaj Electricals and many others, Leo Activation will also be looking outside the agency for more opportunities.”
With ad budgets shrinking every quarter, Leo Activation is an innovative venture aimed at adding value by reaching the consumer directly. Headed by Tarun Chauhan, who has moved in from Thompson Connect, Leo Activation took Pilsbury Semiyan to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and other smaller towns in the south on the occasion of Pongal. The event was accompanied by on-the-spot price offers in the twenty cities it covered.
On 1 February, the global integrated communications division undertook the unveiling of two new Cinthol products for Godrej – Cinthol deodorant and Cinthol Skin fresh-the orange variant soap along with the revamped talc, for the 250 odd sales reps of the company at Renaissance Convention Hall in Mumbai. The event was accompanied by audiovisual presentations, the presence of celebrities and music performances.
AD Agencies
ABBY Awards 2026 names 3 jury chairs across digital, PR and publisher
Aditiya, Dharmaraj and Puri to lead key categories at Goafest 2026
MUMBAI: The Ad Club has announced the appointment of PG Aditiya, Deepshikha Dharmaraj and Pavita Puri as jury chairs for the Digital, PR and Publisher categories respectively at the ABBY Awards 2026, powered by The One Club and The One Show.
The awards are set to take place during Goafest 2026 from May 20 to 22 at Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon, bringing together some of the biggest names in advertising and marketing.
PG Aditiya, founder and CCO at Talented, will chair the Digital jury. A former chief creative officer at Dentsu Webchutney, he now leads Talented, an employee-owned independent agency known for its unconventional structure and award-winning work for brands such as Meta, Google, Britannia and Tanishq. The agency has also been recognised as a global ‘Best Place to Work’ by Campaign magazine for two consecutive years.
In the PR category, Deepshikha Dharmaraj, CEO at Burson Group India, brings over three decades of experience in public relations and integrated communications. She oversees multiple entities including Burson Genesis, GCI Health India and Hill & Knowlton India. Known for her strategic counsel and leadership, Dharmaraj has also served as president of industry bodies such as PRCAI and PAFI, and has been a jury member at global platforms including Cannes PR Lions and D&AD Awards.
Pavita Puri, chief brand and marketing officer at The Indian Express Group, will chair the Publisher category. With over 15 years of leadership experience, she has been instrumental in driving the group’s transition into a digital-first media powerhouse, overseeing brands such as The Indian Express, Financial Express, Loksatta and Jansatta. Her earlier stints in advertising include roles at Rediffusion and Lowe India, where she handled marquee clients across sectors.
The appointments reflect a strong mix of creative, communications and media expertise, underscoring the awards’ focus on recognising excellence across evolving industry segments.
As the industry gears up for Goafest, the ABBY Awards 2026 promise to spotlight standout work, with seasoned leaders at the helm of jury deliberations shaping the benchmark for creative excellence.
