IAA Leadership Awards 2022: Honouring Industry Icons

25th July, Mumbai – The 9th edition of the IAA Leadership Awards, held at Taj Lands End, Mumbai, honoured top industry leaders for their remarkable contributions. The event was presented by Diageo India, with India Today Group as co-partner, and Times Now and ABP Network as powered-by partners.

N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, was awarded IAA Business Leader of the Year. In a rare appearance at a marketing and advertising forum, he said, “Running a business is like a marathon; at Tata, it’s an ultra-marathon. There’s no magic sauce—just teamwork, the right people, hard work, focus, and a bit of luck.” On time management, he shared his mantra: “Tension nahi leneka, gyan nahi deneka.”

Ranveer Singh, known for his energy and charisma, was honoured as IAA Brand Endorser of the Year and brought cheer to the event with his engaging conversation.

Sonu Sood received the IAA Force for Good award for his tireless humanitarian efforts during the pandemic.

IAA India inducted Shashi Sinha into the Hall of Fame for his lifelong contribution to the industry. Reflecting on his journey, Sinha credited Dr. Kurien as his mentor and highlighted the influence of Anil Kapoor in instilling the values of community and conviction.

IAA President Megha Tata remarked, “This past year was a silver lining to the dark clouds of 2020. As businesses began recovering, it was these leaders who steered organizations forward with resilience and adaptability.”

Co-chair Nandini Dias added, “We evaluated over 200 companies across 15 categories, also considering ESG ratings this year. With no entry fees or submissions, the IAA awards remain one of the most credible recognitions in the industry.”

Other key awardees included:

• Avinash Pandey – Media Person of the Year
• Punit Goenka – Media Game Changer of the Year
• Tanmay Mohanty – Media Agency Leader of the Year
• P.G. Aditiya – Creative Agency Leader of the Year
• Zakka Jacob – TV Anchor of the Year