Sandeep Goyal Named AAAI President for 2026-27

Dr. Sandeep Goyal, Chairman and Managing Director of Rediffusion Brand Solutions Pvt. Ltd., has been elected President of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) for the 2026-27 term. The election was held during the association’s Annual General Body Meeting in Mumbai.

Jaydeep R. Gandhi has been elected Vice President of the association.

Goyal’s appointment marks a change in leadership following Srinivasan K. Swamy’s one-year term as AAAI President. Swamy, who will continue as an ex officio member of the AAAI Board as Immediate Past President, had returned to the position for 2025-26, marking his fourth stint as head of the association.

Leadership Change Follows Dispute Over AAAI Matters

The leadership transition comes after a public disagreement between the Goyal and Swamy camps during the latter part of Swamy’s tenure. The dispute initially centred on the process surrounding the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award and subsequently extended to Swamy’s nomination to the BARC India board.

Tanya Goyal, Dr. Goyal’s wife and an AAAI board member, had raised questions about aspects of the award selection process, including the availability of score sheets, selection guidelines, conflict-of-interest declarations and recusal requirements. The matter led to public statements from both the AAAI and the Goyal camp.

Focus Areas for the New Presidency

According to media reports, Goyal is expected to focus his tenure on several key issues facing the advertising industry. These include the Competition Commission of India investigation, the impact of artificial intelligence and data technologies on advertising agencies, pressure on agency revenues and the need to refresh the Goafest platform.

The newly elected AAAI Board also includes Sam Balsara, Chairman and MD, Madison Communications Pvt. Ltd.; Priyanka Chatterjee, Director, Standard Publicity Pvt. Ltd.; Tanya Goyal, Director, Everest Brand Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; Santosh Kumar, COO, Innocean Worldwide Communications Pvt. Ltd.; Kunal Lalani, MD, Crayons Advertising Pvt. Ltd.; Chandramouli Muthu, Executive Director, Maitri Advertising Works Pvt. Ltd., Cochin; K. Srinivas, Managing Director, Sloka Advertising Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad; and Ajit Varghese, Group CEO, Media & OOH, Platinum Advertising Pvt. Ltd.

Four Decades of Industry Experience

Goyal has been part of the advertising and media industry since 1984. He began his career with HTA, now VML, before moving through Trikaya Grey, now Grey Worldwide, and Mudra, now DDB.

He became President of Rediffusion in 1997 and subsequently served as Group CEO of Zee from 2001. From 2003 to 2011, he was the India joint venture partner and Chairman of Dentsu India & Middle East.

Goyal has also served as Chairman of the Advisory Board of Snapchat India and as Principal Secretary in the Punjab government. In 2021, he acquired Rediffusion and Everest.

Academic and Industry Contributions

Goyal holds an MBA from FMS Delhi, which he completed in 1984, and earned a PhD from the institution in 2017. In 2023, he received a DLitt from the University of Lucknow.

Over the years, he has served on the board of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) and the global board of MIP. He has also held positions with several industry bodies, including the ASCI governing council, IBF, AAAI, MRUC and the IBF-INS Joint Committee.

The AAAI, which represents advertising agencies and media buying houses across India, marked its 80th anniversary earlier this year. The association works with industry bodies including BARC, INS, IBDF, ISA, ASCI, MRUCI and ACIL.

With Goyal now taking charge for the 2026-27 term, the association enters a new leadership phase at a time when the advertising industry is navigating technological shifts, changing revenue dynamics and regulatory developments.