Viacom18’s Raj Nayak conferred with 2018 IAA Inspire Champion Award

The International Advertising Association (IAA) has announced 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. 

Congratulating the winners of this year’s IAA Inspire Awards, IAA World President and Chairman, Felix Tataru, said, “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 recognise their accomplishments, commitment and services contributed to our industry.” 

IAA Champion Award

The IAA Inspire Champion Award honours 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:

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
Raj Nayak, Chief Operating Officer, Viacom18 Media, India 

IAA Young Leader Award

The IAA Inspire Young Leader Award recognises 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, Associate 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 recognises 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. 

Commenting on the nominations and the winners of the IAA Inspire Awards, Leembruggen said, “We were delighted with the calibre 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.”