Management
The AAAI functions through the active, voluntary services of a President, a Vice-President, an Honorary Secretary, an Honorary Treasurer and an Executive Committee assisted by a full-time Secretary General and his staff.
The AAAI functions through the active, voluntary services of a President, a Vice-President, an Honorary Secretary, an Honorary Treasurer and an Board of Directors assisted by a full-time Secretary General and his staff. The President and other office-bearers are elected every year by the General Body, which comprises of one representative of each agency-member of the Association. In addition, some members are co-opted to the Board of Directors and all zones and groups of agencies (by size) are represented on this committee. Assisting the above group are various Sub-Committees/ Task Committees, each looking after specific activity areas of the Association, and Regional Convenors who co-ordinate members’ activities in different regions of the country.
SRINIVASAN K SWAMY
President, AAAI & Executive Chairman of the R K SWAMY HANSA Group
SRINIVASAN K SWAMY
President, AAAI & Executive Chairman of the R K SWAMY HANSA Group
Mr Srinivasan K Swamy is the Executive Chairman of the R K SWAMY HANSA Group. The Group Companies include R K Swamy Ltd, Hansa Research, Hansa Customer Equity, Hansa Marketing Services, Hansa Vision, Hansa Estates and Hansa Entertainment. These Companies cover business interests in Advertising, Market Research, Advanced Marketing Analytics, Interactive Design and Search Engine Marketing, Media Planning and Buying, Marketing Consultancy, Social and Rural Sector Communication, Health Care Communication, Public Relations, Continuing Medical Education, Real Estate Development, film, TV and OTT content creation, vertical/micro dramas etc The Group also has companies in the USA, Singapore, Dubai and Bangladesh. The Group employs over 3000 people and its turnover is in excess of US$100 Mn.
Professional Bodies: In an unprecedented move, Mr Swamy was requested to take over as President of Advertising Agencies Association of India after a lapse of 18 years, where he had served in that role for three terms. He also was re-elected as Chairman of Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) for another four years starting January 2026. Earlier he was elected as the President and World Chairman of International Advertising Association (IAA), a New York Headquartered institution present in 56 countries, the only Indian to occupy this position in their eight decades history. These apart he has been Chairman/President of IAA India Chapter, Confederation of Asian Advertising Agency Associations, Advertising Standards Council of India, Audit Bureau of Circulation, All India Management Association, Madras Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Madras Management Association.
Honours: The only Indian to receive several global awards: the IAA Golden Compass Award, the International Honour Award from AD STARS, Korea and Certificate of Appreciation from Japan Advertising Association. Recently he was inducted to the AFAA Hall of Fame, the highest honour AFAA confers on anyone. Earlier AFAA had conferred on him their Special Merit Award; He has been admitted to the IAA Hall of Fame; recognised IAA Champion; a recipient of IAA Special North Star Medal for distinguished service and a recipient of IAA Force for Good Award. In India, he was honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and Rotary Club of Guindy; Distinguished Service Award by Advertising Club Madras; And Distinguished Alumnus Award from AC College of Technology.
Social Service: Mr Swamy is President, Hindu Mission Hospital, Chairman, Valluvar Gurukulam School Society, President, National Boys & Girls Education Society, Chairman, Vidyadhanam and Annadhanam Trust, and Director of Rasika Ranjini Sabha Foundation and Sri Visishtadvaita Research Foundation.
Personal: He is a Chemical Engineer and a Post Graduate in Management. He did an Advanced Management Program at BBDO New York.
- Email:skswamy@rkswamy.com
JAYDEEP R GANDHI
Vice President, AAAI
CHANDRAMOULI MUTHU
Hon Secretary & Regional Convenor South, AAAI
SHASHIDHAR SINHA
Hon Treasurer, AAAI
PRASANTH KUMAR
Imm Past President, AAAI
ANUPRIYA ACHARYA
Director, AAAI and CEO, Publicis Groupe South Asia
ANUPRIYA ACHARYA
Director, AAAI and CEO, Publicis Groupe South Asia
Anupriya Acharya, CEO of Publicis Groupe South Asia, commands three decades of excellence in media and advertising across India and Southeast Asia. A seasoned leader with 20 years in CXO roles across WPP, Aegis, and Publicis, she is also an active industry influencer through Board presence on AAAI, BARC, ASCI, MRUC amongst others. She also actively leads jury on key regional and international awards.
Topping the list of Impact’s Most Influential women in 2023 in the media marketing and advertising, she is also recognised in Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful Women in Business List for three consecutive years, Business Today’s Most Powerful Women in Business List for 2023 & 2024 and is also a Forbes’ W-Power Trailblazer.
An alumna of IIT Roorkee, she is a fitness enthusiast and a regular at high altitude adventure trips.
SAM BALSARA
Director, AAAI
BABITA BARUAH
Director, AAAI
PRIYANKA CHATTERJEE
Director & Regional Convenor East, AAAI
TANYA GOYAL
Director, AAAI
VISHANDAS HARDASANI
Director, AAAI
MOHIT JOSHI
Director, AAAI
SANTOSH KUMAR
Director, AAAI
KUNAL LALANI
Director & Regional Convenor North, AAAI
HEPHZIBAH PATHAK
Director, AAAI
KARTIK SHARMA
Director, AAAI & CEO, Omnicom Media India
KARTIK SHARMA
Director, AAAI & CEO, Omnicom Media India
Kartik Sharma is the Chief Executive Officer – India operations at Omnicom Media – the leading global media services division of Omnicom Group Inc.
With 30+ years of experience in the media industry, Kartik is a proven thought leader and expert in communication planning, behavioural economics, media research, analytics, and technology. A leader with a reputation for establishing and sustaining long-term client relationships, he firmly believes in the power of collaboration.
Kartik's career began at HTA as a Media Planner, progressing to leadership roles at Lintas and Mindshare and later heading the Madison Media Research Centre and leading Maxus as the Head of West Region. Before joining Omnicom Media, Kartik was the CEO of Wavemaker South Asia.
Goal-driven, extremely result-oriented and with a passion to create a lasting impact, he has an exceptional track record of handling some very prestigious brands like Hindustan Unilever, Mondelez, Marico, Netflix and L'Oréal among others.
A prominent leader in the industry, Kartik is currently a Board Member at the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) – the foremost representative body for advertising agencies in the country and is on the Disciplinary Committee of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC). In the past, he has also held influential positions at TAM Media Research and the Indian Readership Survey.
Kartik’s opinions and thought leadership are frequently sought after by leading publications and industry forums – a testament to his prowess in shaping the narrative of modern media and advertising.
Amongst noteworthy accolades, he has been recognised as the 2025 Influencer of the Year, and amongst the Top 100 Marketing Leaders by exchange4media, one of the Most Influential People in Advertising by ET Brand Equity, and AdGully's Powerful Influencer of 2021, to name a few.
- Email:kartik.sharma@omc.com
DHEERAJ SINHA
Director, AAAI & CEO - McCann India
DHEERAJ SINHA
Director, AAAI & CEO - McCann India
K SRINIVAS
Director, AAAI & Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Sloka Advertising Pvt. Ltd
K SRINIVAS
Director, AAAI & Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Sloka Advertising Pvt. Ltd
K. Srinivas is a visionary advertising professional and the Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Sloka Advertising Pvt. Ltd., he has worked closely with leading MNCs, government organizations, and emerging businesses, helping them establish strong market presence and achieve sustainable growth. His expertise spans across brand positioning, media planning, digital transformation, corporate communications, and integrated marketing strategies.
His philosophy is rooted in integrity, customer-centricity, and excellence with sharp focus on quality and innovation, he has earned the trust and respect of clients and industry peers alike.
He continues to lead Sloka Advertising with the same enthusiasm and commitment that have defined his career. He has positioned the agency as a trusted partner in an ever-evolving communications landscape.
Apart from his accomplishments in advertising, K. Srinivas is widely respected in the construction industry. Over the years, he has successfully established a reputation for delivering projects that reflect the highest standards of quality, durability, and attention to detail. The projects undertaken have earned laurels for their superior craftsmanship and timely execution.
A soft-spoken and friendly individual, he is known for his approachable nature, humility, and ability to build meaningful relationships with people from all walks of life. His warm demeanor, empathetic attitude, and genuine concern for others have earned him the respect and admiration of colleagues, clients, and friends alike.
PARITOSH SRIVASTAVA
Director, AAAI
AJIT VARGHESE
Director, AAAI and Partner & Group CEO, Madison Communications Pvt Ltd
AJIT VARGHESE
Director, AAAI and Partner & Group CEO, Madison Communications Pvt Ltd
Ajit Varghese has joined Madison as Partner and Group CEO, bringing over two decades of experience in building scale and driving transformation across global media, digital, and broadcasting networks.
Most recently, as Head of Revenue – Entertainment & International at JioStar (Reliance Disney JV), Ajit shaped the venture’s $2 billion monetisation strategy across TV, digital, and nternational markets. He strengthened advertiser confidence in a new ecosystem, unified the commercial narrative under the RACE initiative, and launched innovations such as Connected TV measurement, the JioStarverse influencer platform, and premium sponsorship models. He also spearheaded the monetisation of two ICC World Cups, two IPL seasons, and several marquee sports properties at Disney Star.
Earlier, at WPP’s GroupM, Ajit spent over 15 years in senior leadership roles across India, AsiaPacific, and the UK—including as Global President, Wavemaker (London) and CEO, Maxus South Asia. He built Maxus into one of India’s largest and most digitally advanced media agencies, driving content-data-solutions integration and scaling operations across markets.
At Madison, Ajit brings this global, cross-sector experience to lead its next phase of growth— anchored in AI-led transformation, platform partnerships, and performance-driven creativity— positioning Madison as a strategic growth partner for modern brands.
| Committee | Chairperson | Members |
|---|---|---|
| Business Practices & Government Relations | Prasanth Kumar | Anupriya Acharya, Sam Balsara, Vishandas Hardasani, Kunal Lalani, Shashidhar Sinha |
| Legal, Taxation & Constitution | Vishandas Hardasani | Tanya Goyal, Kunal Lalani, K Srinivas |
| Client Agency Reconciliation/ Disputes Committee | Kunal Lalani | Vishandas Hardasani, Santosh Kumar, C Muthu, |
| Talent, Training & Professional Development | Anupriya Acharya | Jaydeep R Gandhi, Tapas Gupta, Kartik Sharma, Hephzibah Pathak |
| Media (Print/TV/ Research) | Sam Balsara | Anupriya Acharya, Kartik Sharma, Shashidhar Sinha |
| Membership Expansion Committee | Jaydeep R Gandhi | Kunal Lalani, C Muthu, Tapas Gupta, K Srinivas |
| Young Creative/Media Contests | Dheeraj Sinha | Tapas Gupta, Santosh Kumar, Paritosh Srivastava |
| Creative Group | TBA | Tanya Goyal, Santosh Kumar, C Muthu, Paritosh Srivastava, Babita Baruah, Hephzibah Pathak |
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Jaydeep R Gandhi | Sam Balsara, Anupriya Acharya, Shashidhar Sinha, Prasanth Kumar |
| Goafest | Jaydeep R Gandhi | Anupriya Acharya, Sam Balsara, Kartik Sharma, Shashidhar Sinha, K Srinivas, Prasanth Kumar |
| Digital Evolution on Agency Ecosystem | TBA | Anupriya Acharya, Vishandas Hardasani, Mohit Joshi, Kartik Sharma |
| ASCI Activities | Sam Balsara | Shashidhar Sinha, Babita Baruah |
President would be ex-officio member of all the committees.