The Ad Club today revealed the first set of jury chairs for The ABBY Awards 2025, powered by One Show. Scheduled to take place at Goafest 2025 on May 21, 22, and 23, 2025, at Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage and Horizon, Goa, the event will showcase some of the best creative minds from across the country.
The appointed jury chairs include:
- Rajdeepak Das – Chief Creative Officer, Publicis Groupe, South Asia, and Chairman, Leo Burnett, South Asia, for the Video Film below 1-minute duration category.
- Senthil Kumar – Chief Creative Officer, VML India, for the Video Film Above 1-minute duration category.
- Chandni Shah – Founder & COO, FCB Kinnect, for the Mobile category.
- Anupama Ramaswamy – Joint MD & Chief Creative Officer, Havas Worldwide, for the Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion category.
Rajdeepak Das Appointed Jury Chair for Video Film Below 1 Min Duration
Rajdeepak Das is the Chief Creative Officer, Publicis Groupe, South Asia, and Chairman, Leo Burnett, South Asia. Over the years, he has established a distinctive reputation by driving impactful marketing and creative innovations for some of the country’s biggest brands.
He strongly believes that creativity and technology must work together to find human-centric solutions for the biggest brands. His notable achievements include the award-winning Whisper – The Missing Chapter, which won a Grand Prix in Sustainable Development Goals at Cannes Lions 2022. His work on PepsiCo Lays Smart Farms also won a Grand Prix at Spikes Asia 2024.
“I’ve always believed that what’s good for people is good for brands,” Rajdeepak Das said. “The true potential of creativity lies in solving human problems.”
Senthil Kumar to Chair Video Film Above 1 Min Duration Category
Senthil Kumar is the Chief Creative Officer at VML India and one of the most awarded creatives in Indian advertising. He has led his teams to win over 300 international awards, including 27 Cannes Lions and multiple Grand Prix awards at prestigious platforms like Spikes Asia.
Senthil’s work includes directing several national commercials and short films, including the National Award-winning biopic ‘A Salaam To Kalam’, based on President Abdul Kalam’s childhood.
Senthil Kumar commented, “The awards are not just about recognising the best ideas, but celebrating those ideas that push the limits of creativity.”
Chandni Shah to Lead Mobile Category Jury
Chandni Shah, Co-founder and COO of FCB Kinnect, has broken boundaries in the digital advertising world. At 32, she has already been named one of the most influential young leaders in the industry. Under her leadership, FCB Kinnect has grown into one of India’s leading agencies.
Chandni has also been recognised as Campaign Asia-Pacific's Young Business Leader of the Year (2021), and ranked among IMPACT’s 50 Most Influential Women in Advertising & Marketing.
“Leading with innovation and authenticity is crucial,” said Chandni Shah. “I believe in empowering women to embrace their individuality and create their own paths to success.”
Anupama Ramaswamy Appointed Chair for Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion
Anupama Ramaswamy is the Joint MD & Chief Creative Officer at Havas Worldwide. With over 25 years in the industry, Anupama has earned multiple prestigious awards, including Cannes Gold and Clio Awards.
Her work with major brands like Reckitt, Dabur, P&G, and Maruti Suzuki has made a lasting impact on the advertising landscape.
Anupama Ramaswamy said, “Diversity and inclusion are not just trends, they are the foundation for creativity and innovation in today’s world.”
The ABBY Awards 2025 promises to be an exciting event, bringing together the brightest minds in creative excellence to recognise and celebrate exceptional work in the industry.
