The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) has set up a Media Council, to be chaired by Kartik Sharma of Omnicom Media India. The move is part of AAAI’s 2026-27 agenda to strengthen specialist participation and give member agencies a bigger voice in shaping the industry’s future.
The Council will act as a forum for agencies to engage on issues affecting the media business, bringing together large networks, independent agencies and regional players. Its proposed priorities include audience research and measurement, transparency and accountability, evolving media trading practices, talent development, and the impact of technology on media planning and buying. It will also work with advertisers, media owners and research bodies, and encourage knowledge sharing as audience behaviour, platforms and client expectations change.
Sharma said he is grateful for the opportunity to lead the Council. He outlined plans to bring world-class learning systems to India through local and global knowledge partnerships, create a flagship annual platform for industry collaboration, and develop thought leadership and practical playbooks on areas such as CTV and cross-screen measurement. Sharma, CEO of Omnicom Media India, has over 30 years of experience across media strategy, analytics and technology. He sits on the AAAI Board and BARC’s Disciplinary Committee, and is a member of the Board of Governors of MRUCI.
AAAI president Dr Sandeep Goyal said the Council should be the industry’s adda and its university, where media’s best minds debate bold ideas, challenge old rules and pass on hard-won wisdom to the next generation.
