MAM
Times of India wins the ‘Green Brand of the Year’ at IAA’s Olive Crown Awards 2024
Mumbai: The India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) hosted the 14th edition of its annual property, the Olive Crown Awards 2024, on 5 April at the ITC Grand Central, Parel, Mumbai. The awards acknowledged the remarkable work of those individuals and corporations who drove the message of sustainability or ‘green advertising’.
The event was attended by senior marketing, media, and advertising professionals from across the country. The event was supported by The Hindu Group & ZEE News; Blue Star Ltd was the cooling partner; Radio City was the radio partner; while Vijay Sales, Rajasthan Patrika, ASUS and News18 were the associate partners for the event. Laqshya Media Group was the outdoor partner & Awardor the strategic partner.
An eminent jury comprising renowned professionals such as Anupama Ramaswamy (Chief Creative Officer, Havas Worldwide India), K.V. Sridhar (Global Chief Creative Officer Nihilent Limited & Hypercollective), Prateek Bharadwaj (Chief Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas India), Tista Sen (Creative Brand Consultant), Carlton D’Silva (Co-Founder, Musemakers & House of Awe) & Mukund Olety (Chief Creative Office, VML) shortlisted the winners through a rigorous process.
Jury members being felicitated at the event (L-R) Tista Sen, Avinash Pandey (President IAA India Chapter), Mukund Olety, Janak Sarda (Chairperson, IAA Olive Crown Awards), K V Sridhar
Avinash Pandey, President IAA India Chapter said “I believe these awards are not just unique but also very special. Unique because they are a symbol of intra-industry collaboration. Even though this is an IAA India Chapter property, it was launched 14 years ago at the GoaFest which is jointly run by the Advertising Club and the Advertising Agencies Association of India. Even now, it is associated with the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations, thereby being the only property with a real reach in both the Eastern and the Western parts of the world.
Special, because these awards symbolize the commitment of the Marcom industry to be not just guardians of their respective brands, but also guardians of Brand Earth..”
Avinash Pandey, President, IAA India Chapter
Adds Janak Sarda, Chairperson, IAA Olive Crown Awards “Any awards are only as good as the jury that judges them. So let me begin by thanking our jury members who were a real asset to us.
Our event could never have been held without the help of our supporters. Some have supported us for the second and third time. This marks them as loyal supporters of the environment.
And then I would like to thank those who have sent in their entries from all over the world. Their active participation shows that the marcom industry is indeed populated with people who believe that what’s good is also good for business. Finally, I would like to thank each one who is here today. All true friends of the environment. Planet Earth needs you.”
Janak Sarda, Chairperson IAA Olive Crown Committee 2024
VML bags 9 awards across categories including the ‘Green Agency Of The Year’ & Green Campaign of the Year’- for ‘#UnplasticIndia’
Teams from VML receiving the ‘Green Agency Of The Year’ trophy
The Times of India wins the ‘Green Brand of the Year’- Gold
Team from The Times of India along with presenters
‘Corporate Crusader Of The Year’ – Gold bagged jointly by Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd for the work ‘Mathrubhumi SEED’ & The Times of India for their work ‘#UnplasticIndia & Saving Our Stripes’
Mayura Shreyams Kumar, Director-Digital Business, Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Company Ltd receiving the trophy
The awards were presented across 17 different categories, including the coveted title ‘Green Crusader of the Year’ award, which was presented to Padma Shri Jadav Payeng for his life’s mission to put the green agenda on not just top of their list but to make sure that the people around them have stood up and taken notice. He has a forest spread over 550 hectares after him – the Molai Forest in Jorhat, Assam. Popularly known as the Forest Man of India, Jadav “Molai” Payeng is an environmental activist and forestry worker from Majuli. Over the course of several decades, he has planted and tended trees on a sandbar of the river Brahmaputra turning it into a forest reserve.
(L-R): Avinash Pandey (President IAA India Chapter), Bittu Sahgal (environmental activist, writer, and Founder, Sanctuary Nature Foundation), Jadav Payeng, Srinivasan K Swamy (Chairman – AFAA) & Janak Sarda (Chairman – IAA Olive Crown Awards 2024)
Malhar Kalambe gets the ‘Young Green Crusader of the Year’. He has been conducting beach clean-ups in Mumbai for the past five years at Dadar Beach, Mithi River & Airoli Mangroves, Elephanta Caves & Carter Road at Bandra. He uses social media to draw attention towards his cause, create awareness about environment conservation and plastic pollution, and gather a community of volunteers to help him with on-ground clean-up activities every weekend. He is an environmentalist, founder of BeachPlease and has won accolades from the Government of India as well as is the recipient of U.N. “I am the change I want to see in the world.’
Malhar with presenters
Earth Brigade Foundation get Gold in the category ‘Green NGO of the Year’.
Team from Earth Brigade Foundation receiving the trophy
Ramesh Narayan honoured with the ‘Most Sustainable Marcom Personality Award’ by EARTHDAY.ORG
Karuna Singh of EARTHDAY.ORG honors Ramesh Narayan
The ‘International Green Campaign of the Year’ Gold was won by Grameenphone ltd & Grey Advertising from Bangladesh for their truly outstanding campaign – Green Solar Network.
A ‘Committee Special Mention Award’ was conferred upon an initiative that brought together singers, artistes, green custodians and actors to act on the menace of Plastic waste. Asif Bhamla (Bhamla Foundation), Neeraj Roy (MD, Hungama), Ricky Kej, Shankar Mahadevan and Armaan Malik are a few of those who contributed to the cause.
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.
