#e4mExclusive:  AAAI calls board elections amid governance storm over Lifetime Achievement Award row

The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) has formally initiated elections for its 2026-27 governing board, setting the stage for a leadership contest that comes at a time when the industry's oldest trade body is grappling with one of the biggest governance controversies in its recent history.

The association has invited nominations for the post of President and 22 Board positions ahead of its fifth Annual General Meeting (AGM), even as it continues to face scrutiny over governance standards following the controversy surrounding its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award selection process.

The elections also coincide with the backdrop of the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) ongoing investigation into alleged cartelisation involving several advertising agencies, placing industry bodies such as AAAI under heightened focus over issues of transparency, accountability and institutional governance.

In a communication dated July 30, AAAI Secretary General Sudesh Kapoor informed members that the fifth Annual General Body Meeting, constituted under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, is due; the formal AGM notice and agenda will follow separately. The association has simultaneously circulated nomination forms, the electoral roll and the election rules governing the process.

The election assumes added significance as it comes barely days after AAAI announced that it had engaged an independent professional institution—described only as one of India's leading consulting firms—to audit the selection process for its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award.

The move marked the association's first concrete institutional response after the award process triggered widespread criticism over governance standards within the advertising fraternity.

The controversy erupted after advertising executive Tanya Goyal recused herself from the award selection jury, citing the absence of a documented evaluation framework, objective scoring methodology and formal conflict-of-interest safeguards. Her decision sparked an industry-wide debate over governance practices within advertising associations.

Responding to the criticism, AAAI defended its selection process, maintaining that the Lifetime Achievement Award has always followed a structured qualitative evaluation process rather than a numerical scoring system. According to the association, nominations are assessed on parameters including leadership, contribution to advertising, ethical conduct, innovation, social impact and professional standing before the jury deliberates on the final shortlist.

AAAI also disclosed that it had appointed an external professional institution to audit the award process to determine whether any jury member had a vested interest in favour of any nominee. However, the association declined to identify the consulting firm or disclose the scope and timeline of the audit.

The decision marked a departure from the association's earlier stance of defending the existing process without external review and has been viewed by many in the industry as an attempt to restore confidence in one of Indian advertising's most prestigious honours.

Against this backdrop, the upcoming board elections are expected to draw close attention from member agencies, with governance, transparency and institutional credibility emerging as key issues.

Board composition

According to the election papers circulated among members, the new governing board will comprise 23 elected members, including one President.

The Board will consist of:

• One President
• Eight representatives from Full Service Agencies
• Four representatives from Creative Agencies
• Four representatives from Media Agencies
• Three representatives from Digital Agencies
• Three Zonal Representatives from Full Service Agencies

The Immediate Past President will continue as an ex-officio member for the 2026-27 term.

AAAI has also made it mandatory for all nominated candidates for President and Board positions to possess a valid Director Identification Number (DIN), failing which their nominations will not be considered. Nomination papers must reach the Secretariat by 5:00 p.m. on August 17, 2026.

Category-wise representation

The association has retained its existing representative structure, under which elections to the Board are conducted separately across agency categories and membership groups.

While the President may be elected from any category or membership group, Board seats are filled category-wise across Full Service, Creative, Media, Digital, Events, Outdoor and PR agencies. Zonal representatives can only be elected from Full Service agencies located within the East, North and South zones.

Each member agency will have one vote, exercisable through its nominated representative or an authorised proxy. Only representatives whose names appear in the association's membership register are eligible to contest elections.

Ballot in case of contest

The election rules provide that Board elections will be conducted through ballot wherever there is more than one candidate.

Members will cast their votes by marking an "X" on the voting paper, with candidates securing the highest number of votes declared elected, subject to provisions governing the composition of the Board.

Where only one valid nomination is received for a position, the candidate will be declared elected unopposed.

Electoral roll and nominations

The election papers include an electoral roll listing member agencies, their representatives, categories, groups and zones, which forms the basis for determining voting and contesting eligibility.

The Secretary is required to provide a minimum of ten days' notice inviting nominations. Nomination papers may be rejected if they are incomplete, if candidates propose or second themselves, or if prescribed instructions are not followed. However, the Board, Working Committee or appointed Scrutineers may unanimously overlook technical deficiencies that do not affect the substance of a nomination.

Candidates are also permitted to withdraw their nominations before the election. If all nominations are withdrawn or no nominations are received, AAAI may invite fresh nominations with a shorter notice period where necessary.

Scrutineers and voting eligibility

The Board is required to appoint at least two scrutineers to oversee the election process. In exceptional situations, including the resignation or dissolution of the Board, the remaining directors or the President are empowered to appoint scrutineers to ensure continuity.

The election rules further state that accidental non-receipt of election notices or voting papers will not invalidate the election, while all election-related communications may be sent by post or email.

Members with outstanding subscription dues as on April 1 or any other dues payable to the association will not be eligible either to vote or contest the elections, nor participate in the affairs of the association until their dues are cleared.

With nominations now underway, the election will be closely watched not only for who takes charge of the industry's apex trade body but also for the direction the incoming leadership intends to take on governance reforms.

The new Board will inherit an association facing heightened expectations from members to strengthen transparency, conflict-of-interest safeguards and institutional accountability following the recent Lifetime Achievement Award controversy.