Awards
Abby Awards ropes in Francesco Poletti to judge young creative mavericks
MUMBAI: The Ad Club has brought Italian flair to Goafest 2025, appointing Le Pub Publicis Italy CCO Francesco Poletti as international jury chair for the Abby Awards powered by One Show. Poletti will oversee judging in the Young Maverick Abby category, promising an exciting touch of creativity seasoned with his signature boldness.
Currently Le Pub Publicis Italy’s CCO, Poletti previously showcased his creative prowess at VMLY&R and Jung von Matt. His quick rise at VMLY&R to the CCO role within two years marked him as a standout creative force.
Known for notable campaigns for global brands like Barilla, Heineken, and Netflix, Poletti’s award cabinet boasts multiple Cannes Lions, including Grand Prix wins, along with several coveted Pencils from D&AD and One Show. His iconic ‘Rocking Mamas’ campaign for Rolling Stone continues to resonate globally.
The Abby Awards, a cornerstone of Goafest, India’s premier advertising festival, will run from 21-23 May 2025, at the plush Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage and Horizon. This annual event is a joint effort by the Advertising Agencies Association of India and The Advertising Club.
With Poletti leading the creative charge, Abby Awards 2025 promises to spotlight groundbreaking ideas from India’s freshest advertising talents.
Awards
Ajay Kakar to chair jury for ad:tech Honours Awards 2026
Industry leaders join jury as nominations surge for marketing tech awards
NEW DELHI: The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 are gearing up for a bigger second edition, with Ajay Kakar, head of corporate branding at Adani Group, set to chair the jury for India’s technology-focused marketing awards.
Organised in partnership with the International Advertising Association India Chapter, the awards celebrate the growing influence of technology in shaping modern advertising and marketing outcomes. This year’s edition has drawn a strong response from across the industry, signalling rising momentum around innovation in marketing technology.
The organisers say the nominations reflect a wide range of ideas and approaches, highlighting how brands and agencies are increasingly leaning on platforms, tools and data to sharpen their campaigns and connect with audiences more effectively.
Leading the evaluation process, Kakar will head a jury made up of senior leaders from across brands, agencies and technology platforms.
The jury panel includes Amaresh Godbole, CEO, digital technology business at Publicis Groupe; Bishwajeet S, head of marketing and PR at Volkswagen India; Carol Goyal, executive director at Rediffusion and CEO of Aesthetic Intelligence Lab; Kushal Sanghvi, director at Komerz; Lara Balsara, executive director at Madison World; Rana Barua, group CEO India, sea and North Asia; Deepak Oram, senior vice president growth marketing and martech; and Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi, head of marketing and creative solutions at Amazon Ads India.
The ad:tech Honours Awards aim to recognise not just creative campaigns but the smart use of technology that delivers measurable impact and business results. Categories this year reflect the rapidly evolving digital landscape, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, content ecosystems, automation, martech and adtech integration, and commerce-led marketing.
The winners will be announced on 17 March 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during ad:tech New Delhi 2026. The event is expected to bring together leaders from brands, agencies, platforms, creators and technology partners for an evening celebrating the ideas and innovations shaping the future of marketing.iconductor industries.
