Mumbai: The Advertising Agencies Association of India has announced that Vikram Sakhuja will receive the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024. This prestigious honour recognises outstanding contributions to the advertising industry in India.
Vikram Sakhuja, an alumnus of IIT Delhi and IIM Calcutta, has nearly 40 years of experience with major companies such as P&G, Coca-Cola, Star TV, WPP, and Madison. He started his career as a DCM Management Trainee in 1984 and joined P&G in 1988, focusing on marketing research and media. He then moved to Coca-Cola to manage brand marketing for five years, followed by a role as EVP Marketing at Star TV. In 2001, he joined WPP and became the first Indian Global CEO of a global advertising and media agency. Currently, Vikram is the equity partner and group CEO of Madison.
His leadership roles have included overseeing Mindshare and GroupM South Asia, chairing FICCI's advertising & marketing committee, and serving on the boards of key industry bodies like BARC and AAAI. Recognised as one of the most influential figures in the media industry, he has frequently appeared on the Economic Times’ list of prominent individuals and has spoken at forums like the World Economic Forum.
Vikram has played a significant role in driving business growth and innovation, leading to the introduction of new practices in mobile, social media, and content at GroupM. He has been instrumental in launching brands such as Ariel, Sprite, and IPL, and in developing research initiatives like BASES and the Conversion Model. His efforts transformed GroupM into an award-winning leader, consistently securing over 50 per cent of industry awards. Vikram has also contributed to establishing India’s first Media AOR and has pioneered numerous media practices that have shaped the advertising landscape in the country.
AAAI president Prasanth Kumar said, “On behalf of the entire industry, it is a profound privilege to present Vikram Sakhuja with the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award 2024. It’s a pleasure to celebrate this moment as well as express gratitude to Vikram Sakhuja’s contributions to media and advertising industry. Vikram’s visionary leadership and relentless pursuit of innovation have continuously helped media agencies to shape progressively. Having worked closely with Vikram, his remarkable journey, from cutting-edge marketing strategies to driving transformative industry change, continues to inspire professionals across the board. This recognition is a testament to his commitment and immense efforts that has reflected invaluable impact he has had on the industry."
AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award selection committee chairperson Anupriya Acharya added, “Vikram’s unparalleled three-decade contribution has revolutionised our industry. His exceptional expertise in media, marketing, and advertising, combined with his relentless pursuit of excellence, sets him apart. His leadership skills are unmatched, as he mentors and inspires the next generation of industry leaders. It has been an absolute honor to work with him closely both at work as well as in the industry forums. And I am thrilled, proud, and eagerly anticipate Vikram being awarded this highest honour of our industry, recognizing his extraordinary influence and lasting legacy.”
The AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual with at least 25 years in advertising, who has held a top management position, actively participated in industry bodies, and made significant contributions to shaping industry priorities for growth and professionalism. The recipient is recognized for integrity, ethical practices, leadership qualities, and innovative thinking that contributed to their company's growth. They should also be involved in socially significant projects and serve as a role model in the industry.
Past winners of this award include Subhas Ghosal, Alyque Padamsee, Mike Khanna, R K Swamy, Piyush Pandey, Sam Balsara, Prem Mehta, Roda Mehta, Ram Sehgal, Madhukar Kamath, Arvind Sharma, and Colvyn Harris, among others.
