Mumbai, June 26, 2009

Finally, the long wait of the Creative and Media Agencies to become members of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) is over. At its General Body Meeting held on June 26, 2009, the AAAI decided unanimously to go ahead with several changes in the decades old Rules and Regulations of the Association. Primarily with a view to make the Association truly representative of the Industry today where Full Service Agencies co-exist with Creative and Media Agencies. Going forward the AAAI will now be able to admit all three categories of Agencies as full-fledged Independent members.
 
Mr Madhukar Kamath, President, AAAI, at the end of the General Body Meeting stated that making the AAAI more inclusive was the need of the hour. As the apex Industry body, the AAAI will now not just be truly representative but will also emerge as a stronger Association. Fully equipped to serve its member agencies better. What is paramount is the protection of the interests of all the three types of agencies. Going forward the stage is now set for the AAAI to be more alive to the changes in the Industry and the operating environment. The AAAI will now have a wider base, a broader spectrum of talent and closer co-ordination. "For example”, he added, “with the proposed changes, the interface with the various Media bodies like the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), the Indian Newspaper Society (INS), to name two of the key players, will be strengthened and become more meaningful".

The General Body also decided on the new set up of the Executive Committee which will now comprise of 21 members as compared to 18 earlier. The governing body will have eight representatives of Full Service Agencies, four of Creative Agencies, four of Media Agencies and three from regions one each from North, South and East. The President and the immediate Past President would be the part of the Executive Committee as earlier. 

With the above changes, the AAAI would no more be an exclusive body of Full Service Agencies but would become the flag bearer of the entire advertising industry.

On this occasion, Mr Vinod Nair, Chairman, Membership Development Committee said, earlier a substantial number of players were left out from the AAAI and now, AAAI will truly represent the entire Industry. The new membership rules will not only protect the interest of members but benefit clients as well.
 
The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) is the apex body for all Advertising and Communication Agencies in India. This professional association, set up in 1945, caters to the branding and communication needs of virtually all major advertisers in the country and accounts for nearly 90% of advertising and media spends in India.