‘Industry broadly aligned on Abby awards process’: AAAI’s Arvind Sharma

From Swami Sukhabodhananda to Leo Burnett's Mark Tutssel to Ogilvy's Graham Fink, there's no dearth of variety in the line up of speakers at Goafest 2013. The client line up for the Advertising Conclave starting with the HUL CEO Nitin Paranjpe promises to enlighten delegates too.

As always, the maximum that's been written about have been the awards and controversies around them.

Despite some agencies staying away, and one pulling out midway through judging, the Creative Abbys continues to be the single biggest event at Goafest. For organisers AAAI and The Advertising Club, it's going to be it's business as usual this busy weekend. 

On non-participation of some agencies in the Creative Abby awards this year, Leo Burnett’s Arvind Sharma, president, AAAI, said, “In any year, some agencies will choose not to participate, while most agencies will choose to be a part of it. If anybody is raising concerns about what the awards stand for, and how it is being run, we would like to take that on board."

He clarified that this year, a majority of agencies were on board.

"We have a broad alignment across most agencies on the categories and jury selection process for the awards,” added Sharma.

The countdown had begun.