AD Agencies
Rishit Mehta named CFO of Omnicom Media India
MUMBAI: Omnicom Media India has tapped Rishit Mehta as its new chief financial officer, signalling a tighter grip on operations as the network races to scale in one of the world’s fastest-growing ad markets. The announcement was shared internally by Tony Harradine, chief executive of Omnicom Media APAC.
The leadership rejig does not stop there. Kartik Sharma steps in as chief executive officer for India operations, while Amardeep Singh takes charge as chief operating officer. Industry stalwart Shashi Sinha shifts into an advisory role, offering strategic counsel as the company beds in a sweeping post-merger overhaul after acquiring Interpublic Group in the region.
The restructure is designed to steer the integrated entity smoothly through a turbulent transition, strengthening client delivery, synchronising agency backbones and pushing for sharper growth in a market that refuses to slow down.
Formal announcements are expected on the India portal in the coming days. Until then, all eyes are on Omnicom’s new power trio, tasked with proving that bold moves can beat market headwinds to the finish line.
AD Agencies
ABBY Awards 2026 names Rajdeepak Das, Khazanchi, Ramaswamy jury chairs
Top creative leaders to steer judging across film and direct categories
MUMBAI: The Ad Club has announced the appointment of three of India’s most prominent creative leaders as jury chairs for the ABBY Awards 2026, powered by The One Club.
Rajdeepak Das, chief creative officer, South Asia, Publicis Groupe and chairman, South Asia, Leo Burnett, will chair the AV Film (TV) category. Ashish Khazanchi, managing partner at Enormous, will lead the AV Film (Digital and OTT) jury, while Anupama Ramaswamy, managing director and chief creative officer at Havas Creative India, takes charge of the Direct category.
The trio brings a mix of creative firepower and industry experience to the judging table. Das is known for blending creativity with technology to solve real-world problems, with landmark campaigns such as Whisper’s “Touch the Pickle” and “Missing Chapter” helping reshape conversations around menstrual health. His work has earned top honours at global platforms including Cannes Lions and The One Show.
Khazanchi, meanwhile, has built Enormous into one of India’s leading independent agencies. Best known for creating Tata Sky’s “Jingalala” campaign, he has played a key role in shaping brand narratives for both legacy companies and startups, picking up hundreds of awards along the way.
Ramaswamy’s appointment rounds off the leadership trio with a strong focus on culturally resonant creativity. Her campaign “Ink of Democracy” became one of the most awarded works globally in 2025, earning multiple honours across Cannes Lions, Clio and Spikes Asia. Over the years, she has built a reputation for work that not only wins awards but also shapes public discourse.
The appointments come as the ABBY Awards continue to sharpen their global positioning, with backing from The One Club adding international heft to the platform.
The awards will be held during Goafest 2026 from May 20 to 22 at Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon, bringing together the industry’s top creative minds for what promises to be a closely watched showcase of ideas.
With heavyweight jury chairs in place, the stage is set for a high-stakes celebration of creativity where craft, culture and commerce collide.
