Shashi Sinha bestowed with AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award

Advertising veteran and the CEO of IPG Mediabrands, Shashi Sinha, was on Friday bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023 by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI). 

Expressing his gratitude upon receiving the award, Sinha said, “37 years back when I started my journey in advertising, I had no clue that I would be here.”

With nearly four decades in the advertising industry, the majority of Sinha’s career was devoted to a single agency group. He is deeply involved in the workings of ASCI, and his contributions to the IRS editions and AAAI speak of his passion for the advertising industry.

Sinha, the current Chairman of BARC, has held several top posts in other industry bodies; he was President of the Ad Club and former Chairman of ABC and MRUC.

In a leadership span of 25 years, he progressed from being the head of Media at FCB Ulka to the CEO of all media units under IPG Media Brands in 2013.

Thanking industry stalwarts he met during this journey, Sinha said, “I was lucky to have such mentors in my life.” Sinha also credited leaders like Ravi Kant, former MD of Tata Motors, Prasanth Kumar, CEO of South Asia, GroupM, and Aditi Mishra, Lodestar CEO, for being an integral part of his journey.

“In 2004, I decided to make a full-time transition to media. A lot of people said ‘it is not good for you’ but I went ahead,” he asserted.

“I have always believed and still do that we can do well only if the industry is doing well. When I started out, it was difficult. Many people held my hand through the years,” he said.

Sinha is known for the turnaround and success story of IPG Media Brands. He is also lauded for his stewardship of Amul for over 37 years.

His involvement in ASCI, and contributions to IRS editions and AAAI further exemplify his commitment to influencing the advertising landscape. He has also been Chairman of the Awards Governing Council at Goafest. Beyond his professional life, he contributes to social causes through advisory roles in organizations like Akhand Jyoti Charitable Trust and TRRAIN Foundation, focusing on healthcare for curable blindness and supporting the training and placement of people with disabilities in the retail sector.