AAAI elects Publicis Groupe’s Anupriya Acharya as new president

MUMBAI: The Advertising Agencies Association of India( AAAI) has elected Anupriya Acharya, CEO, South Asia, Publicis Groupe as its new president.
Acharya will take over the responsibility from Ashish Bhasin, who served as the president for the last two terms.

The AAAI members also unanimously elected Prasanth Kumar, CEO, South Asia, GroupM, as vice president of the association.

On her election, Acharya said that it’s a tremendous honour and an enormous responsibility. “I am acutely aware that our industry, like the rest of the world, has just witnessed the most unprecedented times and it’s a difficult time for most. The pandemic has only underscored the relevance of the collective thinking and the heightened role that AAAI can play,” she said.

Acharya added that she will strive to further the interests of the advertising industry in the era of new normal.

Bhasin, the outgoing president, had recently told ET that under his tenure, AAAI had become more inclusive and shed the perception of ‘old men’s club.

“He (Bhasin) has made great progress in making the association more inclusive, diverse and future-ready,” Acharya said, while also thanking the executive committee members and the secretariat for all the learning in the past years.

While thanking all his fellow executive committee members for their cooperation and valuable support, Bhasin said, “I would also like to congratulate Anupriya on her election as President. Anupriya has been a key member of the Indian media and advertising industry for a long time. I’m sure she will play a stellar role in taking forward the association and its work. I wish her the very best for this role.”

AAAI also elected Anand Bhadkamkar (Dentsu Aegis Network), Kunal Lalani (Crayons Advertising), Mohit Joshi (Havas Media), Pranav Premnarayen (Prem Associates Advertising), Rana Barua (Havas Worldwide) and Vivek Srivastava (Innocean Worldwide Communications) to executive committee.

Bhasin, chairman India and CEO, Asia Pacific at Dentsu Aegis Network, will be the ex-officio member of the AAAI Executive Committee for 2020-21 as its immediate past President.

Formed in 1945, the AAAI is the apex national organisation of advertising agencies with an aim to promote their industry interests. It represents small, medium and large-sized agencies as its members, who together account for almost 80% of the advertising business placed in the country.