The Advertising Agencies Association of India’s (AAAI) Annual General Body Meeting has named Anupriya Acharya, CEO, Publicis Groupe, South Asia, President of AAAI for the year 2020-21.
Acknowledging her appointment, Acharya said, “It’s a tremendous honour and also an enormous responsibility to be elected as the President of such a prestigious organisation. 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.”
Referring to legacy building at AAAI, Acharya added, “I will strive to do my best to further the interests of the advertising industry and take AAAI to greater heights as we emerge into the new normal. Many top advertising professionals have contributed very selflessly and relentlessly to the AAAI, both with and without executive positions. And that is what inspires me immensely as I take on this position. Many thanks to Ashish Bhasin for his leadership in the last two years as President — he has made great progress in making the association more inclusive, diverse, and future-ready. Also, thanks to all the Executive Committee members and the secretariat for all the learning they have given me in the past many years”.
Ashish Bhasin, the outgoing president, congratulated Acharya and said, “I have had the privilege to lead AAAI for two years as its president. I wish to thank all my fellow executive committee members for their wholehearted cooperation and valuable support. I would also like to congratulate Anupriya Acharya 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.”
Acharya, who has over two decades of frontline experience in media and advertisement, began he career in 1994 when she started as an assistant media planner with Ogilvy & Mather in Chennai. She then moved to Mumbai where she worked with McCann (then McCann Erickson), media agency Mindshare Fulcrum, and The Media Edge. In 2009, she joined Aegis Media as CEO in Singapore, which gave her exposure to cross-cultural experience of leading regional and global teams. In 2013, Acharya took over as Group CEO of ZenithOptimedia (part of the Publicis Groupe).
