MAM
Olive Crown Awards 2013 crowns Grey Worldwide as ‘Agency of the Year’
Mumbai: IAA Olive Crown Awards has crowned Grey Worldwide as ‘Agency of the Year’ for the year 2013.
Organised by the India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA), the Olive Crown Awards were launched in 2011. They celebrate excellence in communicating sustainability or ‘green’ advertising.
Cheil’s Samsung Printers ‘Minus 1 Project’ was awarded as the Campaign of the Year while Kewal Kiran Clothing took away the Client of the Year award. Meanwhile, Padmashree Kartikeya Sarabhai was honored with the Green Crusader of the Year Award, an award which is presented to one unique individual who has dauntlessly fought our battle for going green.
The event saw many marketing and media heads and other industry leaders gracing the occasion like Colors CEO Raj Nayak, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment MD and CEO Neeraj Roy, Piyush Pandey, JWT South Asia CEO Colvyn Harries and Madison World chairman Sam Balsara. Praful Patel, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises was the chief guest.
This was the first year when IAA Olive Crown Awards witnessed pan-Asia participation.
Olive Crown Awards 2013 chairperson and ED & CEO Draftfcb Ulka M.G. Parameswaran said “We saw an almost 45 per cent increase in the number of entries this year alone and our Awards Jury consisting of veterans like Sonal Dabral, Pops Sridhar, Vinod Rao, Chax, Ramki and Charles Victor were of the opinion that the quality has also seen a dramatic improvement over the years”.
IAA India chapter president and RK Swamy BBDO chairman Srinivasan Swamy said, “There has been widespread acceptance for these awards as corporates see the green message as a key differentiator in a competitive environment. And going green is no longer a luxury but an essential part of doing business. We are delighted to see that clients are roping in agency partners to help them build green awareness for their brands”.
A total of 35 Awards were handed over at the event hosted by former Miss World, Daina Hayden. The Award Function was opened by a performance in Indian Fusion music by Raghu Dixit Project, the Bangalore based band. Midcourse was a laser pyrotechnic show was followed by a comic include by ‘A Slice of Ham’.
Click here for winner list
MAM
Ameya Velankar steps down as Uber’s head of marketing for India & South Asia
Veteran marketer exits after more than seven years with the ride-hailing giant.
MUMBAI: After more than seven years of steering Uber through the bumpy roads of India’s mobility market, Ameya Velankar has decided to change lanes. Ameya Velankar has stepped down as Head of Marketing for India and South Asia, marking the end of a significant chapter at the ride-hailing company. He had been with Uber since 2019, taking on multiple roles in product and category marketing before rising to lead the marketing function for the region in 2021.
During his tenure, Velankar played a key role in strengthening Uber’s positioning in one of its most competitive and dynamic markets. He helped drive localised marketing strategies and scale adoption across key offerings such as Auto, Moto, Rentals and Intercity, tailoring global platforms to Indian consumer needs.
Prior to joining Uber, Velankar built his marketing expertise at leading consumer companies including SC Johnson and Marico, where he handled category and product leadership roles. His career began at RPG Enterprises.
Details of his next professional move have not been disclosed.
In a fast-evolving mobility landscape where brands constantly battle for attention, Ameya Velankar helped Uber stay relevant and resonant with millions of Indian users. As he moves on from the driver’s seat of marketing, the company will now look for fresh ideas to keep its wheels turning smoothly.
