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Tag: Ramesh Narayan

  • Pandit hits the write note with memoir on adland, music and more

    Pandit hits the write note with memoir on adland, music and more

     MUMBAI: From the buzz of boardrooms to the rhythm of raag, Bipin R. Pandit’s journey finally finds its hardcover harmony. At Goafest 2025, amidst Abby cheers and industry nostalgia, The Advertising Club’s beloved COO Bipin R. Pandit launched his long-anticipated biography titled Impassioned. The launch wasn’t just ceremonial, it marked the culmination of 28 years spent scripting not just award shows, but a legacy in Indian advertising’s cultural corridors.

    Released by Ad Club President and Havas India group CEO for SEA & North Asia, Rana Barua, the book dropped during the 58th edition of the Abby Awards, a fitting venue, given Pandit has helmed 28 editions himself.

    But Impassioned is no dry professional recollection. Co-authored by Gokul Krishnamoorthy and supported by Gour Gupta’s Tribes, the book oscillates between Pandit’s rise from Castrol’s data division to becoming the backbone of India’s most prominent advertising secretariat and his other passions: cricket, Kishore Kumar and Khumaar, the live music IP he founded.

    It also swings into his personal innings, including a rooftop romance in Dadar that turned into a lifelong partnership. Reflections from industry stalwarts Piyush Pandey, Prasoon Joshi, Ramesh Narayan and Barua himself add emotional resonance to a story that’s both deeply personal and distinctly adland.

    The book also traces the birth of now-iconic properties like the Effies and Emvies, first conceptualised under Pandit’s watch in 2001 as part of a three-day Mumbai festival alongside the Abbys. Today, these awards stand as pillars of the Indian advertising industry.

    “Writing started with a LinkedIn blog post post-Abbys,” Pandit shared. “Rana called me and said ‘You need to make this a book’. The rest, as they say, got written.”

    Barua added, “Bipin’s been the pulse of the Club steady, smiling and always switched on. This book lets us meet the man behind the magic.”

    Adding heart to history, Pandit has pledged 10 per cent of all proceeds from Impassioned to the Light of Life Foundation, which supports underprivileged communities.

    From overseeing award ceremonies to belting out old classics, from managing committees to cricket trivia debates Bipin R. Pandit hasn’t just worked in adland, he’s lived it. And now, finally, it’s all on record with rhythm, recall and a whole lot of raag.

  • Bipin R. Pandit pens his passion in new biography, ‘Impassioned’

    Bipin R. Pandit pens his passion in new biography, ‘Impassioned’

    MUMBAI: Goafest 2025 witnessed more than just gold metals — it saw the unveiling of ‘Bipin R. Pandit – Impassioned’, a vibrant biography celebrating the Advertising Club’s spirited COO & founder of the soulful live music IP, Khumaar. The book was launched by Havas India group CEO SEA & North Asia, and Ad Club president  Rana Barua  during the 58th Abby Awards in front of an industry-packed house.

    The biography captures Pandit’s 28-year rollercoaster with the Ad Club, where he’s been the behind-the-scenes heartbeat of events like the Abbys, Effies and Emvies — awards that have since become institutionally iconic. From his early days at Baroda Rayon and Castrol India to being the anchor of over 1,000 stage shows, Impassioned weaves the personal with the professional — with equal notes of nostalgia, humour and humility.

    The book features:
    * Reflections from all 13 Ad Club presidents Pandit has worked with
    * Insights from 30 managing committee members, with a back-and-forth of perspectives
    * A tribute to Khumaar, now in its 20th year
    * A peek into the Pandits’ love story — a romance that began in school and blossomed into 40 years of marriage
    * And plenty of anecdotes that spotlight Bipin’s love for cricket, music and people

    With a foreword by Padma Shri Piyush Pandey and a special note by Padma Shri Prasoon Joshi, Impassioned isn’t just a biography — it’s a masterclass in loyalty, legacy and leading with heart.

    “I just wrote a LinkedIn blog after last year’s Abbys. Rana called, said this should be a book — and the rest is literally history,” said Pandit, thanking Gour Gupta and the team at Tribes for their support, and co-author-curator Gokul Krishnamoorthy for shaping the narrative.

    “Bipin has been the pulse of The Ad Club,” said Rana Barua. “His journey is a reminder that true leadership doesn’t always wear the loudest hat — sometimes, it sings from backstage.”

    Ad Club past president Ramesh Narayan added, “Bipin has always had that reassuring smile and an enviable ability to juggle committees, concerts, and cricket scores with ease.”

    The biography is priced at Rs 750 and available on www.bipinpandit.com. Ten per cent of the proceeds will go to Light of Life Foundation, supporting marginalised communities — yet another testament to Pandit’s impassioned legacy, both on and off stage.

    Credits
    Publisher & co-author: Bipin R. Pandit
    Curator & co-author: Gokul Krishnamoorthy
    Cover design: Vikram Gaikwad
    Book design: Mediaedge
    Cover photo: Himanshu Mestry
    Supported by: Tribes

  • IAA presented EARTHDAY.ORG’2024 Best Organisation Spearheading Sustainable Development’

    IAA presented EARTHDAY.ORG’2024 Best Organisation Spearheading Sustainable Development’

    Mumbai: At a well-attended function in New Delhi, EARTHDAY.ORG, the largest environmental movement in the world, presented its annual awards for excellence in sustainability.

    The India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) was presented the prestigious award for Best Organisation Spearheading Sustainable Development.

    EARTHDAY.ORG regional director Dr Karuna Singh said that IAA efforts in spreading the message of sustainability were truly laudable.

    IAA president Avinash Pandey said “The IAA in India is committed to creating and amplifying the green agenda for some 15 years now. It began with the setting up of the widely acclaimed IAA Olive Crown Awards supported by AFAA.

    This annual award salutes excellence in communicating sustainability and also honors corporates and individuals who have made a significant contribution to the environment. The awards have grown in stature and size year on year.”

    Ramesh Narayan who was earlier felicitated by EARTHDAY.ORG as the individual who has done the most for sustainability in the Marcom space accepted the award along with Avinash Pandey.

  • Ramesh Narayan presented AFAA Honorary Life Member Award at AdAsia Seoul

    Ramesh Narayan presented AFAA Honorary Life Member Award at AdAsia Seoul

    Mumbai: Advertising doyen Ramesh Narayan was presented with the AFAA Honorary Life Member Award at the AdAsia Congress being currently held at Seoul Korea.

    The award was presented at the inaugural session of the AdAsia by Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) chairman Srinivasan Swamy on 25 October 2023.

    With this Narayan becomes the only person to be presented all the three prestigious awards that AFAA presents every alternate year at the AdAsia.

    In 2015 he was presented the AFAA Special Merit Award at AdAsia Bali and in 2021, at AdAsia Macau he was inducted into the AFAA Hall of Fame.

    Swamy said, “This award seeks to honor the enormous contribution Narayan has made to AFAA and to the global advertising and marketing community.”

    Narayan said “I am accepting the award on behalf of all those to believe that communication can be a force for good.”

  • IAA Global honours Srinivasan Swamy and Ramesh Narayan

    IAA Global honours Srinivasan Swamy and Ramesh Narayan

    Mumbai: On the 85th Anniversary of the International Advertising Association (IAA) in New York, special North Star medals were announced for Srinivasan Swamy and Ramesh Narayan for their distinguished service to the IAA.

    In addition, Swamy was also commended for his role as the global president of the IAA.

    Swamy and Narayan had also been honoured as Global Champions by the IAA at its inaugural Inspire Awards in London in 2014.

    They have both been inducted into the IAA India Chapter Hall of Fame and are the recipients of several other prestigious awards in the Marcom space.

    Swamy was the first Indian to be global president of the IAA.

    Narayan has been a director on the Global Board of the IAA and was its vice president APAC region. They are both past presidents of the India Chapter of the IAA.

  • AFAA confers ‘Honorary Life Member’ status on Ramesh Narayan

    AFAA confers ‘Honorary Life Member’ status on Ramesh Narayan

    Mumbai: The executive committee of the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations has unanimously decided to confer the Honorary Life Member Award on industry doyen Ramesh Narayan.

    Reacting to the announcement Narayan said, ” I accept this recognition with humility. I am grateful to all those who helped me serve the industry in various capacities all these years. Most importantly I am blessed to have been able to build strong relationships around the world due to these industry associations”.

    AFAA chairman Srinivasan Swamy said, “This honour is but a small token of appreciation for the tireless work Narayan has put in for 23 years to build AFAA as a strong industry body across Asia.  He has been the go-to person for anything that required thinking. Ramesh is known for his integrity, truthfulness and his ability to communicate effectively on anything that is given to him. And he has a unique way of making friends and influencing people”.

    The nomination of Narayan describes him as a person who has selflessly served AFAA and shaped many strategies that have held AFAA in good stead as a relevant industry body.

    It also describes his role in other associations like the International Advertising Association where as the area director APAC he endeared himself to all the chapters in the region. He is also credited with conceiving the widely acclaimed Olive Crown Awards.

    In 2021 Narayan was inducted into the AFAA Hall of Fame. He has also been honoured with the AFAA Special Merit Award at the AdAsia Bali.

    He has been inducted into the IAA India Chapter Hall of Fame, has been recognised as a global champion by the IAA at its Inspire Awards in London, and is the recipient of the IAA Honorary Membership Compass Award.

    He was a part of a three-person Supreme Court-nominated committee to monitor government advertising in India.

    He always believes that what is good, is good for business and is a strong advocate of using communication as a force for good.

  • AdAsia 2021: Ramesh Narayan inducted into AFAA Hall of Fame

    AdAsia 2021: Ramesh Narayan inducted into AFAA Hall of Fame

    Mumbai: Canco Advertising founder and Indian advertising doyen Ramesh Narayan was inducted into the prestigious Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) Hall of Fame at the inaugural session of the AdAsia conference being held at Macao between 3 and 4 December.

    Thanking AFAA for the honour, Narayan said, “I have had the amazing experience to be a part of an industry that keeps the wheels of our economies moving. That ensures more employment across the world. That gives individuals the right to choose. That educates, and entertains and spreads awareness.”

    The first day of the conference being held as a virtual event this year, was streamed into a hybrid event held at Mumbai to present the AFAA awards.

    The event also saw Pradeep Guha posthumously inducted into the AFAA Hall of Fame for 2019 and Srinivasan Swamy being presented with the AFAA Special Merit Award for 2019. Swamy was recently elected AFAA chairman for a term of four years. 

    “The AFAA Hall of Fame sets out to recognise the best of the very best. It’s for those who’ve defined a generation of advertising.  Those who we look up to, who inspire us. Who have done what few others have ever done or could ever do. For those who have pioneered. Those who have been on top, stayed there and will always be there. The very few we can call legends,” said outgoing AFAA chairman Raymond So.

    Narayan has earlier been honoured by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) with their Lifetime Achievement Award, the International Advertising Association (Global) with their Global Champion Award, the India Chapter of the IAA with an induction into their Hall of Fame, the Public Relations Society of India with their Special Award, and the Association of Business Communicators of India (ABCI) with their Lifetime Achievement Award.

  • Ramesh Narayan to be inducted into AFAA Hall of Fame

    Ramesh Narayan to be inducted into AFAA Hall of Fame

    Mumbai: Canco Advertising founder and Indian advertising doyen Ramesh Narayan will be inducted into the prestigious Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) Hall of Fame at the AdAsia 2021 slated to be held in Macau between 3 and 4 December.

    “The AFAA Hall of Fame sets out to recognise the best of the very best. It’s for those who’ve defined a generation of advertising.  Those who we look up to, who inspire us. Who have done what few others have ever done or could ever do. For those who have pioneered. Those who have been on top, stayed there and will always be there. The very few we can call legends,” said AFAA chairman, Raymond So.

    “Ramesh Narayan is a legend who has the ability to look past what’s ‘good enough’ and focus on making everything ‘better than it has to be’,” he further said.

    He added, “Ramesh is known for his integrity and truthfulness. He is a true leader who generously gave his time to build a better future for the advertising industry and social causes. Ramesh is a gentleman and role model.”

    “I am really happy that AFAA has chosen Ramesh for their highest award. A well-earned recognition for all his self-effacing hard work, real commitment, continuous guidance and voluntary support that he has provided AFAA for over two decades,” said  IAA Global immediate past chairman & world president, and AFAA vice-chairman, Srinivasan Swamy. “It is not wrong to say that he was one of the builders of AFAA, to what it is today. I do hope he will continue to guide the Asian industry, the way he only can!”

    Narayan has earlier been honoured by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) with their Lifetime Achievement Award, the International Advertising Association (Global) with their Global Champion Award, the India Chapter of the IAA with an induction into their Hall of Fame, the Public Relations Society of India with their Special Award, and the Association of Business Communicators of India (ABCI) with their Lifetime Achievement Award.

    He has also been president of the Rotary Club of India and the recipient of many Club and District awards. 

  • Ramesh Narayan becomes IAA honorary lifetime member

    Ramesh Narayan becomes IAA honorary lifetime member

    NEW DELHI: Celebrated advertising professional and founder of Canco Advertising Ramesh Narayan has recently been conferred the IAA Inspire Award — honorary lifetime membership. The award presented by the International Advertising Association is to pay tribute to an individual who is retiring from business and/or who has given long and distinguished service to the association. 

    IAA immediate past chairman and world president Faris Abouhamad has also been honoured with the same. 

    Boasting of around two-and-a-half-decades of experience within the industry, Narayanan has been a past president of the IAA India Chapter and the VP marketing and communications for IAA Global.

    He was also inducted into the IAA Hall of Fame in 2014 and is a recipient of the lifetime achievement award by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (2014). n 2015, he was named 'Global Champion' by the IAA at the inaugural Inspire Awards in London.

    Read more news on IAA

    IAA had also recently announced the managing committee for India chapter 2020-21 under the leadership of newly appointed president Megha Tata who is also the managing director – south Asia at Discovery Communications India.

    The Mancom members included: Laqshya Media Group MD  Alok Jalan; The Advertising Club, Madras past president and independent communication consultant Anbuchezhiyan K; DAN CEO APAC and chairman India Ashish Bhasin; Intelligent Insights founder Venkatramani; Republic TV group president Bhaskar Das; Eenadu director I Venkat; India Today Group VC Kallie Purie; Mathrubhumi PTG & PBG MD MV Shreyams Kumar; Hungama Digital Media Entertainment MD and CEO Neeraj Roy; Viacom18 head – Hindi and kids TV Network Nina Elavia Jaipuria; The Advertising Club, Mumbai president Partho Dasgupta; 9x Media MD Pradeep Guha; Amar Ujala Publications president – marketing Rajiv Kental; Havas Group India CEO Rana Barua; Indira Television director Rani Reddy; Orient Electric business unit head – appliances Salil Kappoor; Madison Communications CMD Sam Balsara; Pantaloons (Aditya Birla Group) CEO Sangeeta Pendurkar; R K SWAMY BBDO CMD Srinivasan K Swamy; BARC India CEO Sunil Lulla’ Zee Entertainment Enterprise Tarun Katial; and Dailyhunt co-founder Umang Bedi, along with Ramesh Narayanan.