Sam Balsara wins Lifetime Achievement Award from AAAI

The Advertising Agencies Association of India announced Sam Balsara, chairman and managing director, Madison World as the recipient of 'AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award' for 2009. The award will be presented to Balsara on 13 November in Mumbai.
 
Balsara is the head of the Indian-owned Madison World, which has 20 units across 10 specialised functions: advertising, media, public relations, outdoor, BTL, rural, retail, entertainment, events and sports management.
 
Madhukar Kamath, president, AAAI, and managing director and chief executive officer, Mudra Group says in a press statement, "Sam Balsara is a respected professional and an acknowledged leader in the industry today. He has made immense contribution to the Indian advertising industry with his participation in the agenda of AAAI, Advertising Standards Council of India, International Advertising Association, Advertising Club, etc. He has been in the forefront of championing industry issues, be it with the Government or the media."

The executive committee of AAAI discussed the award and zeroed in on names, before empowering a three-member team comprising Kamath; Colvyn Harris, vice-president, AAAI, and chief executive officer, JWT; and SK Swamy, immediate past president, AAAI, and chairperson and managing director, RKSwamy/ BBDO.

"It was a unanimous choice and did not take much time," says Harris on choosing Balsara as the recipient. The award was known as 'AAAI Prem Narayan Award' till 2007. In 2008, the award was presented to Ranjan Kapur, country head, WPP group.

The AAAI is the official, national organisation of advertising agencies consisting of around 100 members, which together account for almost 80 per cent of the advertising business in the country. It is recognised as the spokesperson for the advertising industry at all forums.