3rd IAA Leadership Awards: Winners speak on their big wins

The IAA Leadership Awards presented by Colors held recently celebrated the hard-work and efforts put in by professionals from across industries that have enabled their brand promise and message to further their brand proposition with consumers. The third edition of the IAA Leadership Awards was presided by Union Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha and brought together the most creative and strategic minds from the world of marketing, media and advertising industry as they competed against each other for the awards. 

exchange4media spoke with few of the winners to get their reactions on winning the award.

CVL Srinivas

CEO, South Asia, GroupM

Awarded for: Media Agency Head of the Year

CVL Srinivas has close to 20 years of experience in the media and advertising industry. Prior to heading GroupM, he was also held senior management positions in leading media agencies such as Starcom MediaVest as the Chairman, Maxus as CEO, Asia Pacific and Madison Media as COO.

On winning the award:

This award is thanks to the fantastic team of 1500 champions we have in GroupM South Asia. Their hard work and commitment to building an agency of the future has helped us build a strong business. GroupM India has had one of its best years ever in 2014 with a record number of new business wins, several path breaking initiatives across digital, content, activation, data and of course numerous awards including best country in Asia-Pacific in the GroupM Network. The IAA leadership award is particularly special for us given the stature it has in the industry.

Manohar Bhat

VP Marketing, Maruti Suzuki

Awarded for: Marketer of the Year: Auto – Passenger Vehicles

Bhat’s experience in the automotive industry spans well over nine years and he has management experience of various aspects of the automobile industry. He has served as VP Marketing for three years in Maruti Suzuki India, prior to which he held the post of Commercial Business Head for four years in the same company.

On winning the award:

I am indeed very privileged to be receiving this award. The task is made easy when you have a strong and winning marketing team and strong products backing you, together with the support of a set of very efficient advertising, media and digital partners. And so very crucial is the support of loyal customers who continue to back Maruti Suzuki. I would like to thank them so very much for their continued support and faith in Maruti. I am proud to be leading such a fantastic team and am receiving this award on their behalf.

Sanjay Tripathy

SVP – Head Marketing, Product, Digital & E-commerce, HDFC Life

Awarded for: Marketer of the Year: Insurance

Tripathy has over 22 years of experience in business strategy and planning, sales, distribution and business development, new brand identity, brand planning amongst other expertise. Apart from HDFC Life he has worked with brands such as Reliance Communications, Mattel, PepsiCo and Amul. 

On winning the award:

I feel honoured to receive this award especially since we have won it for the second consecutive year. Being declared the Marketer of the Year in an industry like insurance that is not only complex and competitive, but also evolving rapidly, is not only a matter of pride but also gives us as a brand, a sense of responsibility to do better than the best. Receiving the prestigious IAA Award not only motivates us, but also pushes us to put more hard work.

Sashi Shankar

CMO, Idea Cellular

Awarded for: Marketer of the Year: Cellular Phone Services

Shankar has over 13 years of experience in the telecom industry and has served in the CMO role at Idea for over 4 years. Prior to this he was the COO of Idea for close to 10 years. He also was the VP Sales in Mattel India for close to three years.

On winning the award:

I think the company is going great guns, and the team at Idea is what makes it happen and I think we talk less and do more and the results are there for all to see. We have our feet firmly on the ground and we just want to do well and want to do new things.

Darshan Patel

Founder & MD, Vini Cosmetics

Awarded for:  Marketer of the Year: Personal Care

Patel has had over 25 years of experience in launching successful brands in the pharmaceutical business. Patel was the former MD of Paras Pharmaceutics which is currently India’s faster growing pharmaceutical companies. Vini Cosmetics is known for its deodorant brand Fogg which has been a big game changer in the deodorant space.

On winning the award:

Winning Marketer of the Year in FMCG- Personal Care at the IAA is an honour and a recognition which my Vini team and I will cherish for years to come.

Amarjit Singh Batra

CEO, South Asia, OLX

Awarded for: Marketer of the Year: Ecommerce

Batra has been at the helm of OLX for over three years and in the company for over six years. Prior to becoming CEO he was the Country Head – OLX India & VP Business Development. His prior experience also includes working with eBay India for over five years and prior to that in Baazee India.

On winning the award:

To win Marketer of the Year is an amazing and humbling feeling. We have worked hard to give OLX a distinct voice, and for that we have not been afraid to try unconventional approach and communication. Over the last 3-4 years, 'Bech De' has really struck a chord with the people, and we have been fortunate to receive a lot of love from our users. It feels great to also have the industry recognize OLX's leadership through this award. The Marketer of the Year award belongs to the OLX India team, and I am proud to receive it on their behalf. 
 

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