It is that time of the year when the Indian media, marketing and advertising industry chooses the one inpidual, who made the most significant IMPACT on the industry and who stimulated a game-changing paradigm shift in business dynamics and deeply influenced its constituents. And this coveted recognition, IMPACT Person of the Year (IPOY) this year, has gone to none other than the catalyst, who took a bold step that has changed the face of television in India – Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from Punjab, Ambika Soni, who until recently was the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India.
The other esteemed nominees for the 8th edition of IPOY awards were: Man Jit Singh (CEO, Multi Screen Media), Punit Goenka (Managing Director and CEO of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited), Sanjay Gupta (CEO of Jagran Prakashan Limited), Vikram Sakhuja (CEO-designate of Maxus Worldwide) and Vineet Jain (Managing Director of Bennett, Coleman & Co, and the group’s chief strategist, marketing visionary and editorial architect). The IMPACT Person of the Year 2012 title was awarded to Ambika Soni for leading the landmark shift to digitisation of Television in India and her relentless and path-breaking work in the media and entertainment domain. Soni quoted at the impact person of the year while accepting the award "It is a great honour to receive this recognition and the place for this award is in the I&B Ministry to serve as a reminder that the job is yet unfinished and needs to be completed."
Annurag Batra, Chairman and Editor in Chief, exchange4media Group that publishes IMPACT, said, “IMPACT Person of the Year today defines the game changer of the media, advertising and entertainment industry and has become a true recognition of leadership in our fast changing industry. IMPACT Person of the Year 2012 exemplifies this thought and philosophy. In a tough year, Ms. Ambika Soni has led from the front and made an outstanding contribution on many fronts in an industry whose health can help improve the health of the nation.”
COLORS, a leading general entertainment channel from Viacom18 Group, has associated with the IMPACT Person of the Year 2012. Speaking on the occasion, Raj Nayak, CEO, COLORS, said, “IMPACT Person of the Year is not just an IMPACT and exchange4media award; it has become an industry standard and we are proud to be associated with it. This year’s winner Ms Ambika Soni is a political leader and the first woman to win it. Given her contribution to the industry, she is a true game changer.”