MAM
Nagesh Alai, Sandeep Seth, Richard Murphy to head APAC Effie Awards 2016 jury
MUMBAI: The Asia Pacific Effie Awards has named three more heads of Jury for the 2016 Awards in FCB Worldwide vice chairman – global Nagesh Alai, SK-II global brand director Sandeep Seth and McDonalds CVP digital, growth & foundation markets Richard Murphy .
Alai has been part of the APAC Effie Jury for the past two years and is currently a member of the APAC Effie Committee. A key force behind the Group’s sound fundamentals & success, he has been with FCBUlka Group for 25 years now. Between 2006 and 2011, FCB Worldwide handed over to Alai the finance and operational responsibilities of Asia Pacific & Africa region and prior to his recent assignment, he was group chairman of FCBUlka Group in India.
He is also actively involved with the industry having been the president of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) from 2010 to 2012. He currently serves as an executive member of the Confederation of Asian Advertising Agency Associations (CAAAA), various committees of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).
Alai said, “Advertising is all about creating awareness about a brand and triggering a behavioural change in the consumer. Effies platform recognises this truism. Hence, it’s an honour to be associated with APAC Effies it as a Head of Jury and help in selecting the best of the best advertising in the region.”
Seth has almost two decades of marketing experience across nine countries in APAC and Greater China, and a deep expertise in the Beauty and Prestige industry. He currently heads SK-II’s global marketing and commercial operations. He is also leading P&G Asia’s marketing talent rejuvenation movement.
“I feel extremely honoured to be on a Head of Jury for APAC Effie. Brands and advertising is a huge passion area. We are in a new era of advertising as the digital revolution has completely transformed how brands and consumers interact. It is an exciting time and I am looking forward to be inspired by the great work that everyone has been leading in the industry,” Seth said.
Murphy, with a brief to drive digital transformation at a market level, covers some 90+ countries across the globe and includes setting and aligning the agenda for digital, ensuring that markets are clear about the expectations the business has of them and to help drive a modern approach with customers.
“I am delighted to be invited as a Head of Jury for APAC Effie. Effectiveness is the core of the advertising business and what we strive to achieve. I’m glad to play a part in Effies in championing marketing effectiveness and am excited to see the great works from the region,” Murphy added.
This completes the Heads of Jury line-up for the 2016 Awards.
Awards chairman Cheuk Chiang said, “I’m absolutely convinced that with such a distinguished and experienced group of practitioners, the Effies in APAC will redefine and set new standards for effectiveness. It comes at a time when marketers want greater accountability and stronger results but fail to do this consistently. Inspiration will come from the best and most effective work that has been interrogated, scrutinised, evaluated and judged by the best in the business. There will be something to learn for all of us and it’s truly an honour to be working alongside such a distinguished and experienced group of thought leaders.”
Finalists will be announced in March 2016, with the Awards Gala set to take place in Singapore end April 2016.
Brands
FSS names Anand Krishnamurthi head of global digital delivery
Tech veteran to drive AI-first, cloud-led transformation in payments globally
CHENNAI: Financial Software and Systems (FSS), an AI-first payment infrastructure company, has appointed Anand Krishnamurthi as head of global digital delivery.
In his new role, Anand Krishnamurthi will lead FSS’s global digital delivery capabilities, focusing on AI-first and cloud-led transformation while ensuring predictable, high-quality outcomes for customers worldwide. He will be based in Chennai and report to V. Balasubramanian, CEO of FSS.
Bringing 28 years of experience in technology and digital transformation across banking, capital markets, financial services, and insurance, Anand has held senior leadership positions at Cognizant and NuSummit. He is recognised for scaling multi-geography delivery teams, leading mission-critical platforms, and embedding AI-driven automation in complex, regulated environments.
“What drew me to FSS is its deep payments expertise, strong product DNA, and the scale at which its platforms power real-world financial ecosystems,” said Anand Krishnamurthi. “I aim to strengthen delivery predictability, execution rigor, and engineering quality, building empowered teams that deliver measurable customer outcomes. FSS has a unique opportunity to create real-time, AI-infused payments infrastructure that is resilient, secure, and globally scalable.”
V. Balasubramanian added, “Anand’s track record in leading multi-geography delivery programs and AI-first operating models makes him the ideal leader for FSS as we accelerate our AI-driven digital payments business. His leadership will help us raise the bar for outcomes globally.”
This appointment is part of FSS’s broader push to build an AI-powered, cloud-native delivery organisation capable of meeting the evolving needs of banks, fintechs, and financial institutions worldwide.
