The mega summit on gender parity taking place in New Delhi will see renowned names such as Union Minister Smriti Irani, G20 Sherpa of India Amitabh Kant, Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Global Ambassadors & Business Stalwarts in attendance. 

As a purpose driven brand, for more than a decade CNBC-TV18 has put the spotlight on the very pertinent subject of gender equality and economic growth opportunity at the workplace. To fully commit to the cause of bridging the gender parity gap at the workforce, CNBC-TV18 has led charge with a one-of-its-kind mega initiative “Future. Female. Forward - The Women’s Collective” presented by HSBC India.

The initiative was launched with a grand on-ground event on 25 November 2022 in Mumbai with renowned industry names in attendance. Through the campaign’s presence at the World Economic Forum 2023 in Davos, the initiative attracted global attention and support with Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor, CNBC-TV18 leading the discussions with the most influential voices across the globe about gender parity and equality.

In continuation of its efforts to build dialogue around and inspire real change in this area, CNBC-TV18 will host India’s largest Summit on Gender Parity on March 14, 2023, at The Imperial, New Delhi, 4.30 PM onwards. Through the summit, the channel intends to ignite conversations, release the findings of an exclusive FICCI & CNBC-TV18 survey on women in the workforce, and discuss prevalent concerns pertaining to the deficit of gender parity and possible solutions to bridge this disparity.

The summit will kickstart with the special anthem composed by musician Sonam Kalra exclusively for Future. Female. Forward which would be followed by a keynote address by Ms. Smriti Irani, Hon’ble Minister for Women and Child Development to set the context for the evening. Following this, the evening will see a special tribute to the legendary Late Ms. Elaben Bhatt of SEWA with the organisation’s leadership in attendance, for her phenomenal work in transforming the lives of millions of women. The evening will witness a remarkable moment with the presence of The Navy Chief, Admiral R. Hari Kumar in an exclusive conversation on leading change in the Defence Forces and will also see women who are breaking barriers from the defence services such as Major Beena Tiwari of the Indian Army in attendance. The evening would then see a special session featuring the G20 EMPOWER Women Champions from across the length and breadth of the country share the meaningful work they have been doing and their thoughts on G20 EMPOWER 2023 goals.

The summit will also address the global gender gap with ambassadors & diplomats like A. Elizabeth Jones, US Ambassador to India; Ugo Astuto, EU Ambassador to India; Barry O'Farrell, Australia Ambassador to India in conversation with CNBC-TV18’s Parikshit Luthra. A special CNBC-TV18 & FICCI “Women in the workforce” survey report will be launched at the summit, diving deep into the state of women's representation across the formal private sector in India, which would be discussed in detail by Shereen Bhan with FICCI leaders in attendance.

A major highlight of the summit will be the mega leadership panel moderated by Shereen Bhan to discuss ‘Workplace Inclusivity & Parity- A Rising Reality?’. The panel will see industry doyens like Hitendra Dave, CEO, HSBC India; Romal Shetty, CEO Designate, Deloitte India; Suresh Narayanan, Chairman & MD, Nestle India Ltd; Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa of India; Lavanya Nalli, Vice Chairperson, Nalli Silk Sarees Pvt. Ltd; and Auguste Tano Kouame, World Bank’s Country Director for India.

Bringing together diverse women achievers will be the concluding panel- ‘SHE LEADS: Charting A New Growth Story’, which will see pathbreakers such as Sameera Reddy, Actress & Influencer; Capt. Zoya Agarwal, Commercial Pilot; Tage Rita, Founder, Naara Aaba; Pabiben Rabari, Founder, Pabiben.com; Dr. Geetha Manjunath, Founder & CEO, Niramai Health Analytix; and Monica Saxena, Captain of the Indian Women’s Polo Team, talk about breaking stereotypes and setting a bright example for women to pursue their dreams.

Commenting on the much-awaited mega summit, Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor, CNBC-TV18 said, “For over a decade now, CNBC-TV18 has been actively mainstreaming the discussion about establishing equal opportunity workplaces. We have unified this long-standing support into an impactful initiative and endeavour to make this an active dialogue and exchange of ideas. Since the launch of the campaign, we have showcased stories of change from the assembly line to the boardroom. Leaders from India & the world have shared their stories and experiences on making the workforce more inclusive. With our summit, we intend to further accelerate the conversation on gender parity and bring actionable changes and solutions to the table.”

Hitendra Dave, CEO, HSBC India, said, “HSBC's core value is valuing difference and providing equal opportunity. A diverse and inclusive workplace brings a variety of perspectives to the table, a balance of voices and diversity of different thoughts that are critical for good business decision making. A business priority, diversity and equal opportunity bring benefit to our customers, our business and our people. We recognise the action needed in order to accelerate women's equality at workforce and provide a level playing field. We are focused on building a diverse, connected and balanced workforce.”

Sharing her thoughts, Smriti Mehra, CEO, Business News, Network18, mentioned, " CNBC-TV18 has always been a purpose-driven brand. With the Future. Female. Forward mega summit, we aim to lead a shift in the overall mindset and create a positive difference that reaches every nook and cranny of the workforces. Prominent and powerful voices & policymakers from across sectors will be part of the summit and will highlight the importance of gender equality and equity in all systems."

Rahul Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Functions, HCLTech, said "At HCL Tech, we’re on a journey to supercharge progress, not just for women, but for all. Celebrating, recruiting, hiring, promoting, and educating women in tech isn’t just an acknowledgment of the power and potential of women, it’s our strategic responsibility to improve our organization, our industry and the world. The ‘Female Future Forward platform from CNBC aligns to our commitment to bring a shift in mindset and further strengthening the mainstream diversity narrative. We look forward to being part of this initiative to create a playbook for change."

Romal Shetty, CEO Designate, Deloitte India also commented, “India can only achieve its true potential when women actively and equally participate in nation-building. At Deloitte, we believe that opportunities must go beyond mere empowerment and focus on nurturing an environment that’s devoid of biases and cultural maladaptation. To achieve a gender-equitable workforce, each of us has an equal role to play towards ensuring that the enabling mechanisms are real, reasonable, current, and actionable."

CNBC-TV18’s Future. Female. Forward – The Women’s Collective is proudly presented by HSBC India. It is co-presented by HCLTech, while Deloitte India supports the initiative as Knowledge Partner, with Industry Partner, FICCI and Associate Partner, Reliance Industries.

Nikhil Mathur, the Head of Marketing at India TV, has recently announced that he will be stepping down from his position at the company.

He has put in his papers and will be taking a short break before moving on to his next venture.

Nikhil has been an integral part of the India TV team and has played a key role in the growth and success of the company. As the Head of Marketing, he has been responsible for developing and implementing innovative marketing strategies that have helped India TV stand out in a highly competitive market.

During his tenure, Nikhil Mathur has been instrumental in launching several successful campaigns that have helped India TV reach new heights. The availability of Live India TV at Delhi, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Chandigarh airports is one of the instances.

Nikhil’s decision to step down from his position at India TV has come as a surprise to many, but he has made it clear that he is looking forward to taking some time off and before moving on to his next venture. He has expressed his gratitude to the entire India TV team for their support and hard work over the years and has assured them that he will always be available to help in any way he can.

In a statement, Nikhil said, "It has been an incredible journey working at India TV, and I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had here. I would like to thank the entire India TV team for their support and dedication, and I look forward to staying connected with them in the future."

With his vast experience and expertise in marketing, it is likely that he will continue to make significant contributions to the industry in the future. We wish him all the best for his future endeavors.

Wavemaker Is The Best Media Agency Of The Year; Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd. Is The Best Media Client Of The Year

The Diversity Equality & Inclusion (DE&I) award presented by Google was awarded to Kinnect

The 23rd edition of the coveted EMVIES, presented by Google, co-powered by TV9 NETWORK and MiQ India Commercial, and in association with The Times of India, celebrating strategic, ground-breaking, and high-impact media campaigns by eminent media agencies concluded on Friday, 10th March, 2023 at Taj Lands’ End in Mumbai.

With a focus on Innovation, Strategy, Research, and seamless Integration, The Advertising Club (TAC), this year, received 1469 entries with around 26 agencies participating in the competition to win the country’s most prestigious media award. More than 1000 professionals from the Media, Marketing, Advertising, and Research fraternities, witnessed 29 Gold and 53 Silver EMVIE trophies being presented to worthy winners in addition to 55 Bronze winners receiving recognition.

Wavemaker with 630 points was recognized as ‘The Best Media Agency of the Year’ and Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd. was declared as ‘The Best Media Client of the Year’.

Wavemaker bagged the coveted Grand EMVIE for Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd.’s Cadbury Celebrations’ Not Just a Cadbury Ad – 2.

Mindshare with 340 points stood second and EssenceMediacom with 100 points stood third.

The Diversity Equality & Inclusion (DE&I) award presented by Google was awarded to Kinnect for Bausch & Lomb’s How Bausch + Lomb’s - #LookOfLove advocated for unbiased and unprejudiced love.

Partha Sinha, President Times of India group and President of The Advertising Club, said, “It is great to see this kind of energy at the EMVIEs. Each entry received was deserving and we encourage our industry folks to keep up this quality, which is par excellence. Many of the entries are of global standards and worthy of international acclaim. Many congratulations to all the winners for creating a mark at the Oscars’ of media awards once again.”

Aditya Swamy, Chairperson of EMVIE’s Committee said, “It is very exciting and encouraging to know that each year, the quality of entries received only surpasses the previous editions of EMVIEs. Big congratulations to all the winners. We urge them to continue to put their best work forward and keep raising the bar.”

The prestigious awards were presented by Google, co-powered by TV9 NETWORK and MiQ India Commercial, and in association with The Times of India.

Having established undisputed leadership in broadcast space, TV9 Network beefs up its digital editorial leadership team, ropes Panini Anand from India Today. Ajith Vijay Kumar also joins the team from Times Now Digital.

As the new Group Editor, Digital, HSM Properties, Panini will focus on www.tv9hindi.com and also drive additional offerings in the TV9 digital umbrella in other languages such as Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali and Punjabi. Ajith, in his capacity as senior Executive Editor, will take charge of the English website offering www.news9live.com

TV9 Network, India’s largest television news network, has further bolstered its editorial prowess in the digital space. With two senior level hires, the digital proposition is set to acquire a leading edge as TV9 Digital embarks on a massive expansion plan.

While Panini Anand will drive the Hindi offering alongside other regional digital text assets, including proposed launches in this space, Ajith Vijay Kumar will helm the English text digital platform. Panini Anand earlier served as the Executive Editor of Aaj Tak Digital, while Ajith Vijay Kumar was a senior News Editor of Times Now Digital.

With two decades of experience reporting on socio-political movements, Panini brings a wealth of editorial knowledge to his new role. He has worked for reputable media organizations such as Rajya Sabha TV, Outlook Magazine, BBC, and Rajasthan Patrika.

TV9 Network's Hindi news platform, tv9hindi.com, has quickly established its presence in the fiercely competitive space in just about three years of its existence. With a diverse range of content covering politics, business, education, careers, science, technology, farming, agriculture, entertainment, and viral news, the website now aims to take the leadership slot.

The recent launch of TV9 Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand digital channel has reinforced the network’s leadership position further, with it gaining fast currency among the most discerning audiences across the Hindi heartland.

news9live.com, the English digital service, is focused on thought-provoking stories from across the globe on topics ranging from latest news, politics, defence, finance, entertainment & sports to latest trends on social media, wellness, tech and the latest from the world of science. The platform is now being re-imagined with a view to offer readers a never before integrated news experience.

Ajith Vijay Kumar, who will spearhead News9 Live, is a veteran journalist with around two decades of experience in driving digital newsrooms. He has successfully transformed the digital news ecosystems of some of India's biggest newsrooms.

Commenting on the appointment of the two digital leaders, TV9 Network's MD & CEO Barun Das said, “TV9 Network has scripted a historical growth in the broadcast space leading to the Network achieving national leadership position. We aim to replicate the success in the digital space as well. We have lined up some out-of-box propositions including News9 Plus and Money9 as part of an aggressive digital growth strategy. We are now ready to embark on our journey for the next big leap."

"The current year boasts of a very busy news calendar leading up to the mega news event of 2024 when general elections are due in India. Panini’s valuable editorial experience will further elevate our editorial content. Ajith too is a seasoned induction. There will be further beefing up of our digital firepower,” Barun added.

Commenting on his appointment, Panini said, “TV9 Network has disrupted the news television genre beating legacy players. It’s phenomenal broadcast success is also mirrored in its ever-growing digital presence. I am happy to be part of this acclaimed turnaround story driven by the mission to create a new compelling digital experience for the ever demanding and politically alive HSM news aficionado.”

“I am elated to join TV9 Network, among the most successful news media companies that has not only bucked the trend but also set a new benchmark. I look forward to some learning and unlearning as News9 Live aims to be a truly distinct English news offering,” said Ajith Vijay Kumar.

Craig Elimeliah Leads World-Class Jury of Top Technologists; Latest Episode of NYF’s Content Series “Creativity From The Other Side” Features Craig Elimeliah

New York Festivals® Advertising Awards announced technology futurist and thought-leader Craig Elimeliah, CCO of Lippe Taylor as Chairman of “The Future Now” Executive Jury.

As Chair of the future-forward category group, Craig Elimeliah will lead the Executive Jury panel populated with cutting-edge trailblazers who will collectively and thoughtfully review the game-changing entries within “The Future Now” categories.

“We’re thrilled that this highly respected executive known for his technological foresight and ability to unlock growth through innovation will Chair “The Future Now” jury panel,” said Scott Rose, President, New York Festivals Advertising Awards Competitions. “Craig’s leadership ensures that inventive campaigns that creatively employ emerging technology effectively are recognized and awarded.”

“As I step into the role of Chair for the future-forward Executive Jury of the New York Festivals, I am humbled and elated. It is a rare opportunity to witness and recognize the best of the best in future-forward creativity, and I cannot wait to lead this group of industry experts towards that goal.

For me, creativity and innovation are not just about flashy campaigns or disruptive technologies. They must be grounded in a deep understanding of human behavior, culture, and business challenges. It is only then that we can apply innovation and creativity that are both familiar and differentiated, speaking to the hearts and minds of consumers in a way that is truly meaningful.

At the same time, we cannot forget the importance of earning trust through frictionless experiences. In today's world, attention is scarce, and consumers are more discerning than ever. We must strive to create human centered experiences that earn consumer’s attention and trust, putting their needs first and foremost.

So, let us celebrate the power of creativity and innovation, not just for their own sake, but for the good of humanity. I am honored to be part of this journey, and I cannot wait to see the amazing ideas and solutions that this year's festival will showcase,” said Craig Elimeliah, CCO, Lippe Taylor.

Craig Elimeliah brings nearly two decades of industry experience and an unrivaled passion for culture, technology, science, and data to “The Future Now” judge’s table.

As Chief Creative Officer at Lippe Taylor, Craig leads multi-talented teams with a vision to tackle complex challenges head-on, through the art of culture, design, and creativity and how they merge with creativity, craftsmanship, and storytelling.

With a focus on the future, he seamlessly blends new and unconventional approaches to connect brands with customers, resulting in captivating experiences that redefine categories, embed culture, and disrupt the status quo.

David Sable, host of NYF’s flagship content series “Creativity From The Other Side” sat down with Craig Elimeliah for an insightful discussion about his new leadership role at Lippe Taylor, exploring creativity at speed, teaching clients to embrace new technologies, orchestrating creative elements, and staying ahead of the curve, and more. View the riveting episode: HERE.

The 2023 NYF Advertising Awards Executive Jury and Grand Jury panel selection process is in progress.

The early bird deadline to enter the 2023 New York Festivals Advertising Awards is March 10, 2023. For more information on categories, rules and regulations, visit HERE.To enter your work into the 2023 Advertising Awards, visit HERE.

The New York Festivals Advertising Awards competition receives entries from more than 60 countries worldwide and is judged by an international jury of more than 400+ members of NYF’s Executive Jury and Grand Jury. NYF’s jury panels collectively cast their votes to select the year’s trophy-winning work.

About New York Festivals: New York Festivals® Celebrating the World’s Best Work since 1957