MAM
Taproot India hooks strategy & biz head Sameer Aasht
MUMBAI: Creative hotshop Taproot India has tapped into another talent by roping in Sameer Aasht to come in as its head of strategy & business. Aasht joined the agency, according to his linkedin profile, in March 2013.
Over the past year of so, Sameer has been been playing entrepreneur, founding loveknits.org (which focuses on empowering designers, artisans and NGOs to leverage professional marketing expertise and a brand-led, digital migration approach to go global with their hand made / eco friendly creations) and Alma Mater PLC (which seeks to offer brand consultancy to start-ups and turnarounds).
Before turning entrepreneur, Sameer put in workexp across a range of design, communication, brand consulting agencies, and even worked in marketing on the client side at Jet Airways, where he worked with cross functional teams to launch the brand in North America, Europe, west Asia as well south east Asia apart from launching consumer segment focused brand experiences.
Among the agencies he has worked with include Percept/H (where he headed strategic planning) and Landor Associates’ India office (heading strategy). But his largest stints have been with communication agencies like TBWA, Ambience Publicis, Contract, Ogilvy and Rediffusion Y&R. Among the brands he has been deeply involved with figure: HSBC, Cadbury’s, Asian Paints, Mahindra, Volvo-Eicher, Suzlon, World Gold Council, Visa Monetize (Movida), Unilever’s Elle18, Pantaloons, Kansai Nerolac, Samsonite, Black & Decker, DeWalt, Tata Water (Himalayan), Times of India and FICCI. An MBA from ITM, Sameer is also an IIM-A alumnus.
Taproot’s chief creative officer & co-founder Agnello Dias says that “Sameer‘s wealth of experience and strategic acumen will add even more muscle to everything that Taproot India brings to the table and look forward to client’s continued cooperation in creating powerful value for their brands.”
His partner at Taproot Santoh Padhi (who carries the same title as him) adds that Sameer’s experience “working on all four sides of the table – advertising, marketing, design and digital” across a diverse set of categories ranging across tourism and hospitality, FMCG, automotive, financial services, fashion, retail and luxury is a big plus for their agency.”
Says Sameer: “Taproot is a dream agency for most professionals in the industry today. I absolutely look forward to co-creating the best solutions for the brands we handle.”
“One of the first things, Aggie and Padhi should put him to work on is getting their website http://www.taprootindia.co.in/ working, apart from working on brands,” says an advertising industry observer. “The site is under construction. And that’s not looking good for a crack creative agency such as Taproot which pushes the envelope on almost everything.”
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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.
