NE BUSINESS BUREAU
CHENNAI, SEPT 11
As advertising rapidly fragments across screens, platforms and consumer communities, the challenge before industry bodies is no longer merely to celebrate creativity—but to create spaces where ideas, talent and technology can converge. Advertising Club Madras is signalling continuity with a fresh leadership mix as it begins its 2026–27 term.
- Surej Salim re-elected President for 2026–27
- New leadership team brings together advertising, media, TV and digital expertise
- MADDYS, Admate, PGDA and AdTalks remain key industry-development initiatives
- Club strengthens focus on talent, learning, networking and creative excellence
Surej Salim, Co-Founder & COO of Digitally Inspired Media, has been re-elected President of Advertising Club Madras for 2026–27 at the club’s Annual General Meeting held on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
The leadership continuity comes alongside a new combination of professionals from advertising, media, television, public relations and digital businesses, reflecting the increasingly integrated nature of the communications industry.
Kavitha Srinivasan, Founder & CEO, Coeus Communications India LLP, has been re-elected Secretary, while Murugan K, Business Head, Jaya TV Network, has been elected Treasurer.
Umanath V, Managing Editor, MediaNews4U.com, has been re-elected Vice President, and Stalin Periasamy, Founder & CEO, Presto Advertising, has been re-elected Joint Secretary.
A leadership team spanning the communications spectrum
S Balasubramanian, Dinamalar, will continue as Immediate Past President as Ex Officio.
The Executive Committee includes Chockalingam S, OPN Advertising Pvt. Ltd.; L.V. Navaneeth and John Justin, The Hindu Group; Ramkumar Singaram, Catalyst Public Relations Pvt. Ltd.; M. Ramalingam, Ontwikkel Advertising Pvt. Ltd.; Siluvai Amalan, A Brand Works; N. Upendran, Ayatiworks Technologies LLP; Rakesh, Deepsense Digital Solutions Pvt Ltd.; Ravindran Solomon, Soloverse; and Baatul Turab, The Raven Claw.
The club has also brought past and new voices into its co-opted membership.
Past Presidents Karthic Moorthy of Elegant Publicities, Anbuchezhian K of Blue Noodles, M. M. Charly, P. Shree Prakash of Feswa, Saravanaa of PSG Institutions and Arabbhi Athreya of Happy Unicorn are Co-opted Members of the committee.
Meena Chhabbria of Ma.ai, Karthik Nagappan of Super Chennai and K.M. Sridevi of TAFE have been newly appointed as Co-opted Members.
Beyond awards: building the next generation
While awards remain an important part of the club’s identity, its initiatives indicate a broader emphasis on learning, mentorship, industry exposure and professional networking.
The flagship MADDYS awards programme celebrates creative excellence in advertising and communication, providing a platform for agencies, brands and professionals to showcase impactful work.
Through Admate, the club partners with leading educational institutions to nurture young talent through mentorship and industry exposure.
The PG Diploma in Advertising (PGDA) offers a professional learning platform built around practical knowledge, expert-led workshops and seminars.
From AdTalks to sports, a wider industry community
The club’s Sparks initiative brings experts together through curated webinars examining emerging shifts, insights and opportunities in advertising and marketing.
AdTalks takes the conversation offline through interactive sessions featuring leading professionals from across India, creating opportunities to exchange ideas, inspire learning and stimulate industry dialogue.
The club also uses events, workshops and sports to strengthen interaction among its members. Activities ranging from Pub Quiz to sports tournaments are designed to provide opportunities for members to learn, compete and connect beyond the conventional workplace.
With advertising increasingly shaped by digital platforms, data, artificial intelligence, changing consumer behaviour and fragmented media consumption, the club’s renewed leadership will have an opportunity to position its programmes around the industry’s next set of challenges.
The re-election of Surej Salim, alongside a leadership team drawn from diverse corners of the communications ecosystem, therefore represents continuity with a wider canvas—keeping the club’s established platforms alive while creating room for new ideas and emerging talent.
