Girish Ahuja, Head of Marketing, H&R Johnson joins OAA 2024 Jury

Girish Ahuja, Head of Marketing, H&R Johnson joins the OOH Advertising Awards Jury as a distinguished member.

Prior to joining H&R Johnson, Girish had overseen the Cult brand ‘Milton’ along with other notable brands like Treo, Milton ProCook, Spotzero, Euroline, and Claro. With a rich background in marketing, he has held significant roles such as CMO at TVS Tyres (now Eurogrip Tyres) and Greaves Cotton. He also led the television business for Philips India. Over his 29-year career in the FMCG and Auto industry, Girish has demonstrated leadership across sales, marketing, and business domains.

When talking about creativity in the OOH landscape, Girish said, “The landscape of Indian Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising has seen a surge in creativity in the post-Covid period. Innovative campaigns, integrating offline and online platforms, have garnered attention, thanks to social media visibility. Despite this progress, there’s room for greater recognition of creativity in OOH advertising, given its traditional image. Embracing and celebrating innovative campaigns can further propel the industry’s growth and relevance in the evolving advertising landscape.”

“Organisations are increasingly recognising OOH’s value, with a focus on digital solutions and innovative approaches. Campaigns are no longer limited to traditional billboards but span various formats like transit media and outdoor cabs. Additionally, there’s a growing trend towards merging online and offline channels, leveraging technologies like CGI for immersive experiences. Overall, these shifts reflect a strategic embrace of innovation and digitalization in OOH advertising,” Girish added as he talked about how OOH is perceived and implemented in brand media planning strategies

When asked about how OAA is effectively highlighting exemplary works in the industry, Girish shared, “Having been a part of esteemed awards like OAA, I’ve witnessed first-hand how it effectively highlights exemplary works in the Indian OOH industry. The rigorous judging process ensures only the best receive recognition, motivating industry players to strive for excellence and achieve their goals. OAA’s role in elevating the profile of OOH advertising is crucial, inspiring continuous improvement and innovation.”

He commented that “as an OAA jury member, I’m excited to evaluate innovative OOH campaigns that capture consumers’ attention. I’m keen to see how brands are stretching their creativity and addressing challenges like measuring RoI in non-digital OOH. By participating in discussions, I aim to learn and contribute to the industry’s evolution, driving success for brands and advertisers.”

The OOA 2024 awards function will held at Hilton Garden Inn, Embassy Manyata Business Park, Bengaluru on July 27 evening.