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In a significant move for the Indian advertising industry, Prasanth Kumar, CEO - South Asia of GroupM Media (India) Pvt Ltd, has been re-elected as President of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) for the term 2024-25. This announcement was made during the Annual General Body Meeting held in Mumbai, underscoring the ongoing commitment to leadership within the advertising sector.
Rana Barua, Group CEO - Havas India, South East & North Asia (covering Japan and South Korea), joins Kumar as Vice-President, marking his third term in this pivotal role. This leadership duo is poised to steer the association towards further advancements in the advertising landscape.
Other newly elected Board members include prominent figures such as Sam Balsara, Tanya Goyal, Tapas Gupta, Vishandas Hardasani, Mohit Joshi, Santosh Kumar, Kunal Lalani, Rohan Mehta, Chandramouli Muthu, Vikram Sakhuja, Kalyan Sarkar, and K Srinivas.
The Board also includes a diverse range of advertising agencies, such as Madison Communications Pvt Ltd, Everest Brand Solutions Pvt Ltd, BEI Confluence Communication Ltd, Matrix Publicities and Media India Pvt Ltd, Havas Media India Pvt Ltd, Innocean Worldwide Communications Pvt Ltd, Crayons Advertising Pvt Ltd, Kinnect Pvt Ltd, Maitri Advertising Works Pvt Ltd, Platinum Advertising Pvt Ltd, Standard Publicity Pvt Ltd, and Sloka Advertising Pvt Ltd from Hyderabad.
Immediate Past President Anupriya Acharya will serve as an ex-officio member of the AAAI Board for the 2024-25 term, ensuring continuity and experience within the leadership.
Reflecting on his re-election, Prasanth Kumar expressed, “I am deeply honoured by the trust AAAI members have placed in me for another term as President of this distinguished institution. Our commitment to championing innovation, upholding the highest standards of planning and creativity, and building on the momentum we have achieved remains unwavering. Our goal is to provide steadfast support to the entire ecosystem, helping the advertising industry navigate challenges and seize new opportunities. With the exceptional team of AAAI members and the broader ecosystem, I am confident we will continue to shape the future of our industry to greater heights.”
In his remarks, Rana Barua noted, “Being appointed Vice President of AAAI for the third time is both an honour and a testament to the trust the industry places in me. I look forward to continuing our efforts in driving innovation and excellence in advertising while supporting the growth of this dynamic industry.”
The AAAI, a not-for-profit, industry-led trade association founded in 1945, aims to promote the interests of advertising agencies across India. It currently represents a diverse array of agencies, collectively accounting for nearly 80% of the advertising business in the country.
As the Board continues to evolve, additional experienced members will be inducted to ensure broad-based representation, enhancing the association's capability to address industry challenges and foster growth in the competitive advertising landscape.
