Surej Salim Elected President of The Advertising Club Madras for 2025–2026

Club announces new Executive Committee with a vision to strengthen the advertising community, build stronger industry connections and champion creative excellence

The Advertising Club Madras has announced the election of Mr. Surej Salim, Co-Founder & COO of Digitally Inspired Media, as its 46th President for the year 2025–2026, at the Club’s Annual General Meeting held on Friday, 24th October 2025.

Surej, who previously served as the Secretary of the Club, has been associated with the advertising and marketing fraternity for close to two decades and brings with him a deep passion for creativity, collaboration, and community-building.

As a mark of respect, the Club observed a minute of silence in memory of Mr. Piyush Pandey, one of India’s most iconic and inspirational advertising leaders. This was followed by a tribute speech in his honor, celebrating his immense contribution to the creative industry. Black ribbons were also distributed to members as a symbolic gesture of remembrance and respect.

Speaking on his appointment, Surej Salim said,

“It’s an honour to lead a legacy institution like the Advertising Club of Madras, which has been the heartbeat of the advertising and marketing community for nearly seven decades. My vision is to strengthen our community, celebrate creativity, and create more opportunities for learning and collaboration. With the collective energy of our members and the dynamic new committee, I’m confident we can make this a truly inspiring year for the Club.”

Secretary Ms. Kavitha Srinivasan added,

“I am delighted to be elected as Secretary of the Advertising Club of Madras. With a talented team and enthusiastic members, we are poised to make a significant impact in the industry. I look forward to working collaboratively to deliver engaging events, insightful discussions, and valuable networking opportunities”

Office Bearers and Executive Committee Members (2025–2026)

Name	Designation	Organization
Mr. Surej Salim	President	Digitally Inspired Media
Mr. Umanath V	Vice President	MediaNews4U.com
Ms. Kavitha Srinivasan	Secretary	Coeus Communications India LLP
Mr. Stalin Periasamy	Joint Secretary	Presto Advertising
Mr. Murugan K	Treasurer	Jaya TV
Mr. S Balasubramanian	Immediate Past President as Ex Officio	Dinamalar
Mr. Chockalingam S	Executive Committee Member	OPN Advertising Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. L.V. Navaneeth	Executive Committee Member	The Hindu Group
Mr. John Justin	Executive Committee Member	The Hindu Group
Mr. Ramkumar Singaram	Executive Committee Member	Catalyst Public Relations Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. M. Ramalingam	Executive Committee Member	Ontwikkel Advertising Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Siluvai Amalan	Executive Committee Member	Mr. A Brand Works
Mr. N. Upendran	Executive Committee Member	Ayatiworks Technologies LLP
Mr. Rakesh	Executive Committee Member	Deepsense Digital Solutions Pvt Ltd.
Mr. Ravindran Solomon	Executive Committee Member	Soloverse
Ms. Baatul Turab	Executive Committee Member	The Raven Claw

The Past Presidents, Mr. Karthic Moorthy (Elegant Publicities), Mr. Anbuchezhian K, Mr. M. M. Charly,

Mr. P. Shree Prakash (Feswa), and Mr. Paul Anthony (Luminas India Associates) are Co-opted Members of the committee.  Mr. Saravana (PSG Institutions) has been newly appointed as a Co-opted Member.

Key Initiatives of The Advertising Club Madras

·       MADDYS: The Club’s flagship awards show celebrating creative excellence in advertising and communication.

·       Student Chapters: Partnerships with leading educational institutions to nurture young talent through mentorship and industry exposure.

·       PG Diploma in Advertising (PGDA): A professional program offering practical knowledge through expert-led workshops and seminars.

·       InsightView Series: Curated webinars bringing together experts to decode the latest shifts, insights, and opportunities in advertising and marketing.

·       AdTalks: Interactive in person talks bringing together top professionals from across India to share ideas, inspire learning, and drive dialogue within the community.

·       Events, Workshops & Sports: From Pub Quiz to sports tournaments, the Club offers opportunities for members to learn, compete, and connect.