Goafest 2013: Advertisers to talk about what they want from Creative and Media Agencies

As the excitement around Goafest 2013 India’s most awaited advertising festival builds up, the Advertising Conclave preceding it has also become a highlight for senior minds in the industry to pause and plan its course. This year the theme of the Goafest Advertising Conclave is ‘Time to Listen’. The Conclave will highlight the shortcomings of Media and Creative Agencies, as perceived by major advertisers. Much like the last few years, the Conclave is being sponsored by Discovery Channel that will see 200 industry leaders drawn from Marketing, Advertising and Media. Participation to the Conclave is by invitation only.

Srinivasan Swamy, Chairman of the Goafest Advertising Conclave, who has also chaired the Conclave in the past few years, said that “Our Conclaves always focus on issues of relevance to us. In the past we have talked about how to grow the advertising industry, or on the changing agency structure or how advertising is more than creative and media etc. In the same vein, this year we will get advertisers to tell us how we can be more relevant to their needs. The theme ‘Time to Listen’ captures this essence.”

Goafest Advertising Conclave will have some of India’s biggest marketers identify the areas that agencies, both Creative and Media agencies need to focus on and make suggestions to get served better.

Nitin Paranjpe, MD and CEO Hindustan Unilever will deliver the keynote address at the Conclave. A few other industry stalwarts will share their invaluable experiences and insights at the Conclave. The finalized names include: Harit Nagpal, MD and CEO Tata Sky, Arundhati Bhattacharya, MD SBI Capital Marketers and Arunabh Das Sharma, President Bennett Coleman. Couple of more names will be finalized over the next few days.

Sunil Alagh, Founder and Chairman of SKA Advisors and former MD of Britannia, will moderate a lively panel discussion with the distinguished speakers.

Nakul Chopra, Chairman of Goafest 2013, said, “ The original idea of the Conclave as distinct from Goafest was a forum where industry leaders could contemplate the future of our industry and come together to cooperate in improving it. True to this spirit this year it is our endeavour to make the Conclave a much more potent learning experience for the industry. There is no better way to improve our future than by listening to our own customers. With a stellar caste of speakers and a potent theme this year's Conclave promises to be thought provoking at the very least.”

The Advertising Conclave will be held on 4th April 2013 at Zuri White Sands, Goa from 3:30PM – 7:30PM

For the record, Goafest 2013 will be in its 8th edition and for the 6th consecutive year AAAI and The Advertising Club will come together to deliver India’s premier awards that celebrate creativity.