International Advertising Association announces categories for fourth edition of IAA Leadership Awards

The awards will be presented across 24 categories and will recognise contributions in the fields of marketing, advertising and media.

The International Advertising Association's (IAA) India chapter has announced the categories for the fourth edition of the IAA Leadership Awards to celebrate and recognise individuals from across the fields of marketing, advertising, and media.

The awards ceremony which is a 'By Invite Only' event, will be held on March 12, 2016 at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai.

The International Advertising Association's (IAA) India chapter, for the fourth consecutive year, will honour the achievements of various groups in the marketing, advertising and media community, for their outstanding performance, innovation and creativity in delivering high impact marketing initiatives. Twenty four categories have been identified, based on an exhaustive list of quantitative and qualitative parameters.

Viacom18's Hindi general entertainment channel Colors is the lead sponsor for the IAA Leadership Awards. This year, the performance of individuals who have been shortlisted will be judged by a jury comprising of industry leaders.

Categories this year include Marketer of the Year - Banking, Marketer of the Year - Insurance, Marketer of the Year - FMCG - Food (chocolates, noodles and biscuits), Marketer of the Year - FMCG - Beverage (Soft Drinks, Health Drinks and Energy Drinks), Marketer of the Year - FMCG - Home Care (Household Products), Marketer of the Year - FMCG - Personal Care, Marketer of the Year - Two-wheelers, Marketer of the Year - Passenger Vehicles, Marketer of the Year - Consumer Durables, Marketer of the Year - Mobile Devices, Marketer of the Year - Mobile Services, Marketer of the Year - E-commerce (Ominibus), Marketer of the Year - E-commerce (Niche/Specialised Services), Marketer of the Year - Home Improvement, Marketer of the Year - Retail, CEO of the Year, Media Person of the Year, News Anchor of the Year, Editor of the Year, Media Agency Head of the Year, Creative Agency Head of the Year, Hall of Fame, Brand Visionary of the Year - Male, and Brand Visionary of the Year - Female.

Speaking on the fourth edition of the IAA Leadership Awards, Sam Balsara, chairman, IAA Leadership Awards Committee, says, "The year 2015 has seen some truly remarkable and noteworthy marketing initiatives that have furthered the brand value and propositions for many businesses. The IAA Leadership Awards honour these programmes, designed by some of the best marketing minds in the industry, which have helped in furthering the organisation's goals through a focussed and targeted outreach. With competition on the rise across sectors, we look forward to celebrate the achievements of talented individuals who have shone."

Commenting on the awards, Srinivasan K Swamy, president, IAA India Chapter, adds, "Over the past three years, the IAA Leadership Awards have become a coveted one to win within the community, which makes us strive harder to ensure the winners are picked through a robust process. As we prepare for the fourth edition to take off, we look forward to celebrate the hard work of marketers and professionals who have furthered the meaning of excellence within their respective industries/sectors."

For the shortlist, IAA has collaborated with Nielsen, its knowledge partner, to analyse the market presence and marketing spends of brands for the latest available period, January 1-December 31, 2015. The shortlisted nominees across categories have been examined closely by a panel of jury members who have laid focus on market share data, growth and other qualitative aspects to pick the winners in each category.

The International Advertising Association (IAA), founded in 1938, claims to be the world's only globally-focussed integrated advertising trade association with membership representing advertisers, agencies and the media. IAA is present in 76 countries including the top 10 economies in the world. Membership to the Indian Chapter of IAA is by invitation only. IAA Leadership Awards, IAA Olive Crown Awards, IAA Gender Sensitisation Seminar, IAA Debate series, IAA Mentorship Webinar series, and Knowledge Seminars are some of its initiatives.

Viacom18 Media claims to be one of India's fastest growing entertainment networks and a house of iconic brands that offers multi-platform, multi-generational and multi-cultural brand experiences. A joint venture of Viacom Inc. and the Network18 Group, Viacom18 defines entertainment in India by touching people on air, online, on ground, in shop, and through its cinema.

Colors, launched on July 21, 2008, is Viacom18's flagship brand in the entertainment space in India. It offers an entire spectrum of emotions to its viewers celebrating its 'Jasbaat Ke Rang', with its range of fiction shows, format shows, reality shows, and blockbuster movies.