The Advertising Agencies Association of India has formed its new committee for the year 2009-10. The association has elected Colvyn Harris, CEO, JWT as President and Nagesh Alai, Executive Director of Interface Communications as Vice-President. The elections were held on 13th November, 2009. Madhukar Kamath, the former President will serve as an ex-officio member of the newly formed committee.

Neville Gomes, MD, Multimedia Aquarius is the new Honorary Secretary whereas Ashish Bhasin from Carat Media Services will be the Honorary Treasurer. Other additions in the executive committee are:

M G Parameswaran — DRAFTFCB+Ulka Advertising Pvt Ltd
Nakul Chopra – Publicis Communications Pvt Ltd
Prasoon Joshi — McCann-Erickson Ltd
Sam Balsara — Madison Communications Pvt Ltd
Srinivasan K Swamy – R K SWAMY BBDO Pvt Ltd
Surajit Nag — Advertising & Sales Promotion Company
Tapas Gupta — BEI Confluence Communication Ltd
Umesh Shrikhande – Contract Advertising (India) Pvt Ltd
Vikram Sakhuja — Group M Media India Pvt Ltd
Vinod Nair — Network Advertising Pvt Ltd.

The Advertising Agencies Association of India promotes the interests of the advertising agencies while ensuring trust and benefits to consumers. AAAI also hosts various award functions, workshops and seminars and has also introduced scholarships to encourage the interests of young individuals. The association aims remains to establish a forum where representatives of advertisers, advertising agencies, media owners and Government can meet on mutual ground and examine problems of mutual concern.

The Advertising Agencies Association of India has announced Sam Balsara, Chairman & Managing Director, Madison World as its recipient for its Lifetime Achievement Award-2009.The award will be presented to him on November 13 in Mumbai. The award is presented annually and recognizes the individual’s contribution towards the advertising agency.

Madhukar Kamath, President, AAAI and MD & CEO, Mudra Group along with the announcement also added, “Sam Balsara is an extremely respected professional and an acknowledged leader in the Industry today. With over 35 years of experience in the industry, Sam is a powerhouse of energy, ideas, enthusiasm and more importantly, humility.”

He further said, “Apart from growing Madison into one of India’s most reputed home-grown, diversified communications group in a short span of two decades, Sam has made immense contribution to the Indian advertising industry with his enthusiastic and selfless participation in the agenda of the AAAI, ASCI, IAA, Advertising Club, etc. He has been in the forefront of championing industry issues, be it with the Government, or the media fraternity, apart from working spiritedly to get various bodies like IBF, INS, ISA, etc., on to a common platform. He is indeed an inspiration to us all and a most deserving recipient of this award. By bestowing this honour on Sam, we salute his contribution to the Indian advertising industry.”