MAM
Srinivasan K Swamy to receive AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award 2016
MUMBAI: The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) announced the recipient of this year’s AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award as Srinivasan K Swamy popularly known as Sundar Swamy. This Award is the highest honour to be given to an individual in India for his/her outstanding contribution to the Advertising Industry. This award was instituted in 1988 by AAAI and so far 23 persons have been bestowed with it earlier.
Swamy is the chairman of R K Swamy Hansa , a prominent and well diversified marketing communications group. Since inception in 1973 as an advertising agency, the Group interests currently include creative & media, interactive & digital, health care communications, social & rural sector, communication, human resources communication, marketing analytics, market research, events & activation, retail identity, public relations, continuing medical education, global language work etc.
Making the announcement, AAAI president Dr. M G Parameswaran, stated that “If there is one person who has tirelessly worked for the advertising industry, for over two decades, in various industry bodies, it is Sundar Swamy. So in a sense it was an easy choice this year. We are hopeful that AAAI and its member agencies will have his continued involvement and inputs as we navigate the ever changing terrain of advertising business.”
Swamy has been active in various industry bodies working towards the growth and development of the Advertising industry. He was president of AAAI for three consecutive terms (2004 – 2007) and continues to take active interest in the activities of AAAI. He is the vice chairman of Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), and a board member of Audit Bureau of Circulations. Swamy was also president of All India Management Association during 2008-09. He was the president of The Madras Chamber of Commerce & Industry (2008-10), Madras Management Association (2001-02) and the Advertising Club, Madras (1988-89).
He is serving his fourth term as the president of the India Chapter of International Advertising Association and was recently elected as senior vice president of International Advertising Association, the global body. Swamy is vice chairman of Asian Federation of Advertising Associations. Earlier he was chairman of Confederation of Asian Advertising Agency Associations during 2008-10.
In addition, Swamy is actively involved with socially relevant institutions for the improvement of society viz. 220 bed, multi-discipline tertiary care, Hindu Mission Hospital at Chennai catering to the urban poor and the surrounding rural areas; chairman of Valluvar Gurukulam School Society which runs a school for 2,800 poor students, primarily girls and vice president of National Boys and Girls Education Society, a premium education institution in Central Chennai which runs three reputed schools. He is also chairman of Vidyadhanam and Annadhanam Trust, a Vedic Padasala of Sri Ahobila Mutt and trustee in the Consumers Association of India and CONCERT.
The AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Swamy on 29th July 2016 in Mumbai.
Brands
Reebok partners with Jerai Fitness for gym equipment in India
Long-term deal to manufacture and distribute Reebok-branded fitness products from April 2026.
MUMBAI: Reebok is pumping up its presence in India and this time, it’s bringing serious muscle to the gym floor. Jerai Fitness Limited, an Indian manufacturer with over three decades of experience in fitness equipment, has announced a first-of-its-kind long-term partnership with Reebok. Under the agreement, Jerai Fitness will manufacture and distribute Reebok-branded gym equipment across India and neighbouring countries including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. The products will be available from 1 April 2026.
The collaboration combines Jerai Fitness’ fully automated, technology-driven manufacturing facility with Reebok’s global brand legacy to redefine the fitness equipment ecosystem in the region.
Jerai Fitness Limited chairman & managing director Rajesh Rai said the partnership leverages advanced manufacturing capabilities to deliver high-quality products tailored to market needs.
Authentic Brands Group EVP of Reebok Steve Robaire noted that India is a dynamic and fast-growing fitness market. “Jerai Fitness brings the manufacturing expertise and local insight needed to deliver high-quality, performance-driven equipment at scale,” he said.
The partnership will introduce a comprehensive commercial range covering cardio, free weights, and high-end home-use equipment under two distinct series. All products adhere to international standards, including ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, ASTM certifications, and European safety standards EN ISO 20957-1:2013, EN 957-2:2003 and EN 957-4:2006.
Jerai Fitness’ manufacturing facility features fully automated production systems and dedicated storage infrastructure. As of 31 August 2025, it had an installed annual capacity of 21,000 units.
The Reebok-branded equipment will be available pan-India through Jerai Fitness showrooms and official websites jeraihomegym.com and jeraifitness.com.
In a market where fitness goals are rising faster than dumbbells, this partnership gives Reebok the local strength it needs while giving Jerai Fitness a powerful global brand to flex. For Indian fitness enthusiasts and gym owners, the workout just got a stylish upgrade.
