AD Agencies
Urvashi Sharma joins Havas Play, bringing digital flair to experiential marketing
MUMBAI: Urvashi Sharma has announced her move to Havas Play, taking on the role of associate vice president. This appointment marks a significant step in Sharma’s career, transitioning her extensive digital advertising sales experience into the realm of experiential marketing.
Sharma’s career boasts a strong track record in digital advertising sales, with significant tenures at MX Player and Zee5. At MX Player, she held various roles, including LCS lead: north and regional manager, demonstrating her expertise in strategy, account management, and business development. Her time at Zee5 as a business partner: north LCS further solidified her skills in digital brand solutions and strategic partnerships.
Prior to her digital media roles, Sharma gained experience in brand solutions and events management at Bennett Coleman and Co Ltd. (Times group), askme.com, The Walt Disney Co, BloombergUTV, and Fever FM (HT Media Ltd.). These positions honed her abilities in client relations, negotiation, and large-scale event management. Her foundational experience includes a stint as a relationship specialist at Genpact
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.
