AD Agencies
Wieden+Kennedy turns Kyoorius’ initiative into an industry wake-up call
Mumbai: This year, Kyoorius Creative Awards has introduced a special initiative to empower younger, growing agencies. For the first time, participants whose entries don’t make it past the first round of judging have a special incentive – they will get back 50 per cent of their entry fee, per entry. This is also the year when newer kinds of participation are being encouraged, be it for regional or for pharma.
Their creative partner, Wieden+Kennedy India, felt this was an apt opportunity to take this brief to the next level. They’ve taken Kyoorius’s initiative of ‘giving something back’ to an industry-level clarion call, urging every member from adland to give back more to the industry that has made them.
“Kyoorius has grown beyond an award, it has become the industry’s voice, that’s why this year’s campaign isn’t just about the award, it’s about addressing the uncomfortable realities in advertising and igniting the change it needs.” Wieden+Kennedy India chief creative officer Santosh Padhi (Paddy).
“When I heard of Paddy’s brainchild, ‘Give Back’, it struck a chord with me. I know the world of Indian advertising is going through its toughest challenges and if we all don’t take ownership of our problems, if we don’t introspect and evolve, then who will?” shared Kyoorius founder CEO Rajesh Kejriwal.
W+K Mumbai ECD Yogesh Rijhwani added “Our creative team found a way to express each hard-hitting message through some stunning typography, which has become the visual voice of the campaign. We enjoyed the love, especially for craft, in the comments section of these posts.”
The campaign started on 21 Feb and has had more than 30 posts since. The creatives will continue to be shared till the actual day of the event.
W+K partnered with Nirvana’s Rajiv Rao for a funnier take on Give Back video, featuring prominent ad landers and marketing names.
AD Agencies
ABBY Awards 2026 names 3 jury chairs across digital, PR and publisher
Aditiya, Dharmaraj and Puri to lead key categories at Goafest 2026
MUMBAI: The Ad Club has announced the appointment of PG Aditiya, Deepshikha Dharmaraj and Pavita Puri as jury chairs for the Digital, PR and Publisher categories respectively at the ABBY Awards 2026, powered by The One Club and The One Show.
The awards are set to take place during Goafest 2026 from May 20 to 22 at Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon, bringing together some of the biggest names in advertising and marketing.
PG Aditiya, founder and CCO at Talented, will chair the Digital jury. A former chief creative officer at Dentsu Webchutney, he now leads Talented, an employee-owned independent agency known for its unconventional structure and award-winning work for brands such as Meta, Google, Britannia and Tanishq. The agency has also been recognised as a global ‘Best Place to Work’ by Campaign magazine for two consecutive years.
In the PR category, Deepshikha Dharmaraj, CEO at Burson Group India, brings over three decades of experience in public relations and integrated communications. She oversees multiple entities including Burson Genesis, GCI Health India and Hill & Knowlton India. Known for her strategic counsel and leadership, Dharmaraj has also served as president of industry bodies such as PRCAI and PAFI, and has been a jury member at global platforms including Cannes PR Lions and D&AD Awards.
Pavita Puri, chief brand and marketing officer at The Indian Express Group, will chair the Publisher category. With over 15 years of leadership experience, she has been instrumental in driving the group’s transition into a digital-first media powerhouse, overseeing brands such as The Indian Express, Financial Express, Loksatta and Jansatta. Her earlier stints in advertising include roles at Rediffusion and Lowe India, where she handled marquee clients across sectors.
The appointments reflect a strong mix of creative, communications and media expertise, underscoring the awards’ focus on recognising excellence across evolving industry segments.
As the industry gears up for Goafest, the ABBY Awards 2026 promise to spotlight standout work, with seasoned leaders at the helm of jury deliberations shaping the benchmark for creative excellence.
