India
Advertising Club Madras Appoints New Board Members for 2025–2026 Term, Led by President Surej Salim: The Advertising Club Madras has announced the appointment of its new board members for the 2025–2026 term, marking a fresh chapter of leadership and innovation within one of India’s oldest and most respected advertising associations.
At the Club’s Annual General Meeting held on October 24, 2025, Surej Salim, Co-Founder and COO of Digitally Inspired Media, was elected as the 46th President. Bringing nearly two decades of experience in advertising and marketing, Surej’s leadership emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and community growth.
He succeeds S. Balasubramanian of Dinamalar, who now serves as the Immediate Past President (Ex Officio).
Newly Appointed Office Bearers (2025–2026)
- President: Surej Salim – Digitally Inspired Media
- Vice President: Umanath V – MediaNews4U.com
- Secretary: Kavitha Srinivasan – Coeus Communications India LLP
- Joint Secretary: Stalin Periasamy – Presto Advertising
- Treasurer: Murugan K – Jaya TV
- Immediate Past President (Ex Officio): S Balasubramanian – Dinamalar
The Executive Committee for 2025–2026 includes:
Chockalingam S (OPN Advertising Pvt. Ltd.), L.V. Navaneeth (The Hindu Group), John Justin (The Hindu Group), Ramkumar Singaram (Catalyst Public Relations Pvt. Ltd.), M. Ramalingam (Ontwikkel Advertising Pvt. Ltd.), Siluvai Amalan (Mr. A Brand Works), N. Upendran (Ayatiworks Technologies LLP), Rakesh (Deepsense Digital Solutions Pvt. Ltd.), Ravindran Solomon (Soloverse), and Baatul Turab (The Raven Claw).
Co-opted Members include:
Past Presidents Karthic Moorthy (Elegant Publicities), Anbuchezhian K, M.M. Charly, P. Shree Prakash (Feswa), and Paul Anthony (Luminas India Associates), with Saravana (PSG Institutions) joining as a new member.
During the meeting, members paid tribute to the late Piyush Pandey, a creative icon of Indian advertising, with a minute of silence and heartfelt messages celebrating his legacy.
Speaking after his election, President Surej Salim said,
“It’s an honour to lead a legacy institution that has been the heartbeat of the advertising and marketing community for nearly seven decades. Together, we will focus on strengthening our network, celebrating creativity, and fostering collaboration and learning.”
Secretary Kavitha Srinivasan added,
“With an energetic team and enthusiastic members, we aim to create meaningful experiences and conversations that advance our industry and inspire future leaders.”
Continuing Legacy and Initiatives
The Club will continue to build on its flagship programs:
- MADDYS Awards – Celebrating creative excellence.
- PG Diploma in Advertising (PGDA) – Offering professional learning.
- Student Chapters – Mentoring young talent.
- AdTalks & InsightView Series – Industry dialogues and trend insights.
- Events, Workshops & Sports – Encouraging camaraderie and networking.
With this new board, the Advertising Club Madras reaffirms its mission to inspire creativity, nurture talent, and strengthen the advertising and marketing ecosystem in South India.
