AD Agencies
Leo India goes direct to the top as Goafest cuts out the middleman
GOA: Day two of Goafest 2025 saw Leo India take the direct route to victory in the direct specialist category, proving that sometimes the shortest distance between two points is a pile of shiny awards.
The agency steamrolled to the ‘direct specialist agency of the year’ title with 40 points, built on three silvers, five bronzes and a merit—a performance so direct it made other agencies wonder if they’d been taking scenic routes all along.
Famous Innovations lived up to its name by famously securing second place with 30 points courtesy of five silver medals, though one suspects they might have preferred trading some of that silver for a bit more gold. FCB India rounded out the podium with 26 points, but not before bagging the coveted Grand Prix for its Lucky Yatra campaign for Central Railways—proving that sometimes the best way to reach your destination is by train.
FCB India’s Grand Prix triumph, accompanied by one gold and one silver, demonstrated that railway campaigns can indeed have locomotives rather than just motives.
Enormous managed a solid fourth place with 24 points through one silver, three bronzes and three merits—a performance that was moderately enormous rather than properly massive. Meanwhile, Havas Worldwide India and McCann Worldgroup India found themselves tied at 16 points each, both managing two golds apiece.
The middle order proved that mediocrity comes in many flavours. Grey Group grabbed 12 points with three bronzes, whilst Schbang settled for eight points courtesy of two bronzes. The participation trophy brigade included Mudra Max with four points from two merits, and tgthr. with four points from one bronze.
Those trailing weren’t entirely forgotten. ^a t o m network, BBH Communications India, Digitas, and VML India all managed two points each with a merit apiece.
The Abby Creative Awards 2025, powered by The One Show, continued their systematic conquest of advertising categories, with broadcaster, PR, digital specialist, and design specialist awards ensuring every conceivable niche gets its moment of glory.
AD Agencies
Tawana Burnett to lead social and influencer jury at Abby Awards 2026
Meta’s Apac leader takes the reins for Abby Awards, adding flair to social content
MUMBAI: Tawana Burnett, Meta’s Head of Top Accounts and Agencies for Apac, has been named jury chair for the new social content and influencer ,arketing category at the Abby Awards 2026, powered by The One Club | The One Show.
With a 25-year career spanning the US, EMEA, Latam, and Apac, Tawana has worked on campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands and leading advertising agencies. At Meta, she guides CMOs, business leaders, and agencies on harnessing digital and emerging advertising solutions to accelerate brand growth.
Before joining Meta, Tawana led award-winning product teams at Intuit, LeapFrog, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer, helping launch iconic products including QuickBooks, Listerine, Advil, and ChapStick.
A champion of diversity, she was featured in Adweek’s Women Trailblazers in 2019 for mentoring more than 15 women-led startups and for her work on the #biascorrect campaign that promotes women in leadership. She was also recognised in Ad Age’s Global Leading Women Class of 2023, The List in 2024, and served as juror for Spikes Asia and Mad Stars 2024.
Tawana has held leadership roles in the Singapore Inclusion Council at Meta, the IAB SouthEast Asia & India Board, and currently serves on the boards of IAA SEA and the Ronald McDonald House in New York City. Originally from New York, she now lives in Singapore with her husband and daughter.
The Abby Awards 2026, presented by The One Club | The One Show, will be held during Goafest 2026 from 20 to 22 May in Goa, celebrating creativity across the region.
