Sameer Satpathy, Shailendra Katyal & Deepika Bhan among jury for Smarties India 2024

Delhi: MMA Global India announced the 13th edition of the Smarties Awards.

Smarties 2024 has introduced the AI Marketing category, sponsored by Google. This category aims to recognise innovations in AI-Powered Audience Engagement, Innovative Use of AI in Advertising, and AI-Driven Creative Excellence. 

Alongside this, the Connected TV category has been added to the Emerging Tech category, highlighting advancements in digital media and its impact on marketing strategies.

Smarties India 2024 has announced the jury chairs which include Shailendra Katyal, Managing Director, Lenovo, Deepika Bhan, President - Packaged Foods, Tata Consumer Products, and Sameer Satpathy, Divisional CEO, Personal Care Products, ITC. 

The panel also includes MMA Global India Board, AI Advisory and Members like Raj Rishi Singh of MakeMyTrip, Rohit Bhasin of Kotak, Girish Kalra of Tata AIA, Ruchira Jaitley of Diageo, Ankit Desai of Hershey, Om Jha of PepsiCo, Deepa Krishnan of Hyatt, Gunjan Khetan of Perfetti Van Melle, and Arun Neelakantan of HUL, amongst others. 

Katyal, Managing Director, Lenovo commented, "In an era where digital transformation is at the forefront of every industry, the ability to leverage technology to enhance consumer engagement is paramount. The Smarties Awards highlight the most innovative strategies that seamlessly integrate digital tools to create meaningful connections with consumers. As jury chair, I look forward to discovering how marketers are harnessing the power of technology to not only meet but exceed their business goals. The depth of creativity and strategic thinking showcased in the entries is truly inspiring and indicative of the future direction of our industry."

Smarties India 2024 has partnered with RECMA, a global research organisation that evaluates media agencies' performances. 

Winners will be featured in industry rankings like WARC 100 and the MMA SMARTIES Business Impact Index.

Satpathy said, “With consumer communication and the purchase funnel increasingly becoming non-linear, the marketing industry is at a fascinating juncture where traditional strategies are merging with cutting-edge technology. Marketing across segments is witnessing an interesting play between creativity, media and commerce. It is an honour to chair the Smarties jury and evaluate entries that not only showcase creativity but also deliver on business objectives. This blend of innovation and impact is what makes the Smarties Awards so significant. The new AI categories will surely garner a lot of interest."

Participants are encouraged to submit entries across markets across APAC, LATAM, EMEA and Global. 
MMA Global has also debuted a comprehensive CustomGPT built for Smarties for any queries or specific recommendations to help craft entries.

Reflecting on the success of 2023, the top categories that receive most traction included:
Impact Media: With a focus on Creator, Influencer, and Celebrity Marketing.
Emerging Tech Marketing: Highlighting Data Insights and Contextual Marketing.
Marketing Impact: Featuring campaigns that excelled in Brand Experience.

Khurana, Country Head and BOD Member, MMA Global India, remarked, "The landscape of marketing is continuously evolving, with AI playing a pivotal role in shaping the future. Our new AI Marketing category not only celebrates these advancements but also aligns with MMA's commitment to empowering marketers with the tools and insights needed to navigate this digital transformation. I am proud to be part of an initiative that fosters such impactful innovation in our industry."

For submissions, a discounted rate is available for entries submitted by July 12, and post July 24, submissions will incur a late fee.