Recipients Recognized for their Notable Contributions & Commitment to Advancing Communications in the Global Marketing & Advertising Industry.
New York: The International Advertising Association (IAA) announces the winners of the 2018 Inspire Awards, a group of distinguished awards that celebrate experienced champions, young professionals and distinguished veterans for their vision, achievement and committed service to the IAA and the marketing communications industry.
Raj Nayak, Chief Operating Officer, Viacom 18 Media, India was conferred with IAA Inspire Champion Award and Janak Sarda, Director, Deshoot Media Group, India was honored with IAA Young Leader Award. While Jank Sarda accepted the honor in Bucharest, Raj Nayak will be honored at the IAA World Congress at Kochi as he couldn’t make it to the event due to unavoidable reasons.
IAA World President and Chairman, Felix Tataru, congratulates the winners of this year’s IAA Inspire Awards and says: “The IAA Inspire Awards pay tribute to our outstanding members for their many achievements and services to advance the IAA globally as well as to make a difference in the worldwide arena of marketing communications. They have contributed their leadership, vision and professional expertise and inspired the marketing communications community locally, regionally and globally in the true spirit of the IAA as the global compass of marketing communications.
We are proud to recognize their accomplishments, commitment and services contributed to our industry.”
IAA Champion Award
The IAA Inspire Champion Award honors notable leaders for their lifetime achievements, vision, committed services to IAA, as well as their contributions to advancing the IAA and communications in the global marketing communications industry. This year’s six recipients:
- Raj Nayak, Chief Operating Officer, Viacom 18 Media, India
- Norkor Duah, Managing Director, Mullen Rowe Accra, Ghana
- Nabil Kazan, President/CEO, KPTV-MENA, UAE
- Maria Predoiu, Capabilities Leader P&G South East Europe, Romania
- Raymond So, Chairman, AFAA, Taipei
- Amanda Marano, Global Account Executive Officer, Washington Post, USA
IAA Young Leader Award
The IAA Inspire Young Leader Award recognizes young professional members for their significant service as leaders in the IAA Young Professionals arena and for their dynamic contributions in the marketing communications industry. This year’s four recipients:
- Janak Sarda, Director, Deshoot Media Group, India
- Andrei Țigănaș, CEO & Trainer, Țigănas Communication, Romania
- Vicki Chi-hsuan Chiu, Assoc Professor, School of Communications, Ming Chuan University, Taipei
- Ivona Băbărelu, Head of Marketing, Clever Tech, Romania
Honorary Life Membership Award
This year’s IAA Honorary Life Membership Award pays tribute to three venerable members from IAA Chapters in Bahrain, Romania and Sri Lanka, and celebrates their long and distinguished service to the IAA and their work as communication leaders. Recipients of the 2018 Honorary Life Membership Award:
- Khamis Al Muqla, President Gulf Marcom, Bahrain
- Mihail Vartosu, Founder IAA Romania
- Ranil de Silva, Founder IAA Sri Lanka
IAA Chapter Excellence Award
The IAA Chapter Excellence Award is presented to the IAA Chapter judged to have made the best overall contribution to achieving the aims and objectives of the IAA over the previous two years.
Recipient of the 2016-2018 IAA Chapter Excellence Award:
- Romania Chapter (Chapter President: Maria Predoiu, Executive Director: Victor Dobre)
IAA Young Professionals Chapter Excellence Award
The IAA Young Professionals Chapter Excellence Award recognizes the IAA YP Chapter judged to have made the most outstanding achievements in programs and activities to advance the aims and objectives of the IAA over the previous two years.
Recipient of the 2016-2018 IAA YP Chapter Excellence Award:
- Romania Chapter (Chapter President: Iulia Nicolae)
Recipients for each group were selected by separate judging panels chaired by Heather Leembruggen, IAA VP & Chairman IAA Inspire Awards. Nominations are reviewed and considered in light of various criteria including career experience, significant contributions, IAA involvement, and advancing IAA locally and globally, among other specific categorical criteria.
In commenting on the nominations and the winners of the IAA Inspire Awards, she said, “We were delighted with the caliber of the nominees and the spread of countries represented in the entries we received. It demonstrates that the global network we embrace is truly international in its scope and service to the industry, and also, importantly, that the IAA family is comprised of many high achievers and leaders in the marketing communications community. I congratulate all this year’s winners for their contributions and for bringing to life IAA’s value proposition as “the global compass of marketing communications.”
