Madhukar Kamath named this years AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award winner

The Advertising Agencies Association of India has named Madhukar Kamath as 2019’s AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award.

This is the highest honour to be given to an individual in India for his/her outstanding contribution to the Advertising Industry.

Kamath (pictured) is a distinguished alumnus of XLRI, Jamshedpur and Loyola College, Chennai. He has more than four decades of experience in the Advertising Industry and has spent over twenty-five years in the erstwhile Mudra now the DDB Mudra Group. Under his leadership, Mudra transformed itself from an Advertising Agency into one of India’s leading Integrated Marketing Communications Groups. Kamath also played a key role in the Omnicom acquisition of the Mudra Group and the integration with the Global DDB Network. Subsequently, he facilitated the entry of Interbrand, the leading Global Brand Consultancy into India, and functioned as its Chairman. Currently, Kamath is the Chairman Emeritus of the DDB Mudra Group and Mentor Interbrand India.

Kamath has actively participated in and has led several industry bodies. He was Vice President of AAAI (2005-07) and President of AAAI (2007-09). During his tenure as President, AAAI, Kamath initiated and concluded the entry of media agencies in the fold of AAAI after amending the constitution of AAAI. During Kamath’s tenure an IAMAI-AAAI joint agreement was signed for the promotion and smooth working of Digital media. He also led the AAAI’s involvement in creation of BARC.

Kamath played a vital role in conceiving and facilitating one industry- one award program and The Advertising Club joined hands with AAAI for its prestigious Goafest. This led to Abby Awards being presented at Goafest since 2008. Kamath worked closely with presidents of IBF, ISA and INS in organizing AdAsia 2011 in New Delhi.

He was also Chairman of ASCI (The Advertising Standards Council of India). He is currently serving on the board of the Audit Bureau of Circulation as Vice Chairman and is soon set to take over as Chairman of ABC.

Kamath took forward the legacy of A G Krishnamurthy in building MICA and establishing it as India’s leading business School for Strategic Marketing and Communication Management. He was the Chairman of Mudra Foundation from 2003 to 2017. He was also the Chairperson of the Governing Council of MICA from 2010-17.

In 2013, Kamath became an Executive Board member of Plan International India, which is a not- for-profit organization striving to advance children’s rights and equality for girls, thus creating a lasting impact. Helping Plan India reach an impact on the lives of 10 million girl children as a part of their Country Strategic Plan, is also very close to his heart. Madhukar joined the Board of Music Broadcast India (Radio City) in 2017.

Ashish Bhasin, President, AAAI, said, “Madhukar Kamath is an inspiration for generations in our industry. His contribution in making Mudra into one of the top agencies in India is extremely commendable. In addition to his professional achievements, he has done so much for the industry. Under his Presidentship, AAAI made significant progress. He is truly deserving of this honour”

Chairman of the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award Selection Committee Nakul Chopra said, “Madhukar Kamath was the unanimous choice given his stature in the Indian advertising industry. In his case, it was never a question of if, it was only a question of when. My heartiest congratulations to him for this richly deserved honour.”