Conference | Networking

August 21, 2026 Fairfield by Marriott, Mumbai
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Overview

The media ecosystem is entering its most transformative phase yet. AI-led planning, commerce-driven discovery, fragmented consumer attention, retail media growth, creator-led influence, and evolving measurement frameworks are fundamentally reshaping how brands invest in media.

Today's marketers are expected to deliver precision targeting, measurable business outcomes, culturally relevant storytelling, and long-term brand equity — all while navigating an increasingly complex and privacy-conscious environment.

The afaqs! MediaQuest Summit 2026 brings together India's leading CMOs, media strategists, planners & buyers, agency leaders, digital innovators, platform specialists, and growth marketers to decode the next era of media planning and buying.

From AI-powered media intelligence and retail media networks to live sports, connected TV, creator commerce, and unified measurement frameworks — the summit will spotlight the trends, technologies, and strategic thinking defining the future of media investments.

Overview Graphic

What to Expect

01

Key Highlights

  • Visionary Keynotes from India's Leading Media & Marketing Leaders
  • Strategic Conversations on the Future of Media Investments
  • Deep-Dive Panels on AI, Retail Media, Commerce & Measurement
  • Real-World Brand Case Studies & Exclusive Fireside Chats
  • Networking with India's Top Advertisers, Agencies & Platforms
  • Insights into Consumer Attention, Culture & Content Ecosystems
02

Key Theme

  • AI-Powered Media Planning & Predictive Intelligence
  • Attention Metrics vs. Traditional Reach & Impressions
  • The Future of Measurement in a Privacy-First World
  • Creator Economy, Influencer Media & Community-Led Growth
  • Brand Building vs. Performance Marketing in 2026
  • Sports, Live Experiences & Culture-Led Media Investments
  • Hyper-Personalization Through Data & Automation
  • Media Fragmentation & Unified Consumer Journeys
03

Who Should Attend?

  • CMOs & Chief Growth Officers
  • Media Buying & Planning Leaders
  • Brand & Marketing Heads
  • Digital, Performance & Growth Marketers
  • OTT, Streaming & Platform Specialists
  • AdTech, MarTech & AI Solution Providers
  • Data, Analytics & Consumer Insights Team

SPEAKERS

Sam Balsara
Sam Balsara

Chairman

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Ankit Desai
Ankit Desai

Head - Media & Digital Marketing

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Niraj Ruparel
Niraj Ruparel

Creative Technology Lead

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Harshita Gaur
Harshita Gaur

Actress

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YB Kang
YB Kang

Chief Executive Officer

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Sahil Shah
Sahil Shah

Chief Executive Officer

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Anisha Iyer
Anisha Iyer

Chief Executive Officer

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Anita Kotwani
Anita Kotwani

Senior Partner Growth

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Prasad Shejale
Prasad Shejale

Founder & CEO

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Deepa Krishnan
Deepa Krishnan

Head of Marketing- Commercial Real Estate-

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Sajit Gopal
Sajit Gopal

Head of Media

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Suman Pal
Suman Pal

Head of Media, Analytics & Partnerships

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Gaurav Goyal
Gaurav Goyal

Chief Business Officer

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Shantanu Banerjee
Shantanu Banerjee

Head of Marketing

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Samar Kagalwalla
Samar Kagalwalla

Head – Brand & Marketing

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Mimi Deb
Mimi Deb

COO

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Pulak Narain
Pulak Narain

Head of Marketing

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Amandeep Malhari
Amandeep Malhari

Head of Marketing - White Cement and Paints

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Amit Sethiya
Amit Sethiya

Category - Head Brand and Marketing Communications - B2C

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Harmeet Singh
Harmeet Singh

Chief Brand Officer

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Somendu Singh
Somendu Singh

Chief Contributor

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Janaki Patel
Janaki Patel

AGM Marketing

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Ashok Shinde
Ashok Shinde

Managing Partner - Strategy

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Karan Taurani
Karan Taurani

Executive Vice President (Media, Retail, Consumer Discretionary & Internet)

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Pritee Tamhankar
Pritee Tamhankar

Head of Marketing

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Srishti Katiyar
Srishti Katiyar

Senior Business Director - Client Management

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Niyati Desai
Niyati Desai

AVP - Growth and Partnership

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Monica Gandhi
Monica Gandhi

Co-Founder & COO

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Shakir Jamil
Shakir Jamil

Head of Marketing

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Praveen Nair
Praveen Nair

Executive Director, Brand Health Tracking,

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Vishal Sharma
Vishal Sharma

Head Media Sales

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Siddharth Dabhade
Siddharth Dabhade

Chief Business Officer

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Sreekant Khandekar
Sreekant Khandekar

Co-Founder and CEO

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Satrajit Sen
Satrajit Sen

Chief Operating Officer - Events

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Shreyas Kulkarni
Shreyas Kulkarni

Associate Editor

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Benita Chacko
Benita Chacko

Associate Editor

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AGENDA

09:00 - 10:00 hrs

Registration and Networking

10:00 - 10:05 hrs

Lucky Draw

10:05 - 10:10 hrs

Welcome Address by afaqs!

Satrajit Sen
Satrajit Sen

Chief Operating Officer - Events

afaqs!
10:10 - 10:30 hrs

Keynote Address: The Ever Evolving Scene For Demand Creation

Sam Balsara
Sam Balsara

Chairman

Madison World
10:30 - 10:50 hrs

Interview: The AI-Led Media Buyer: What Changes Next?

Ankit Desai
Ankit Desai

Head - Media & Digital Marketing

Marico
Sreekant Khandekar
Interviewer
Sreekant Khandekar

Co-Founder and CEO

afaqs!
10:50 - 11:10 hrs

Role of Fandom in Media: Understanding Fans, Communities & the Power of Engagement

Shakir Jamil
Shakir Jamil

Head of Marketing

CREX
11:10 - 11:25 hrs

MQS Quiz

11:25 - 12:05 hrs

Leadership Panel: Where Will the Next ₹1000 Crore of Media Spend Go?

Sahil Shah
Sahil Shah

Chief Executive Officer

Dentsu Creative Isobar
Anisha Iyer
Anisha Iyer

Chief Executive Officer

OMD India
Anita Kotwani
Anita Kotwani

Senior Partner Growth

Zoo Media
Prasad Shejale
Prasad Shejale

Founder & CEO

LS Digital Group
Mimi Deb
Mimi Deb

COO

Madison Media Plus
YB Kang
YB Kang

Chief Executive Officer

KRAFTON Ad Platform India
Benita Chacko
Moderator
Benita Chacko

Associate Editor

afaqs!
12:05 - 12:15 hrs

India’s Next Core Audience Is Playing: Understanding Gamers and Unlocking the Gaming Opportunity

YB Kang
YB Kang

Chief Executive Officer

KRAFTON Ad Platform India
12:15 - 12:30 hrs

Networking Break

12:30 - 13:00 hrs

Panel Discussion: Creators, Communities & Commerce: The New Media Flywheel

Sajit Gopal
Sajit Gopal

Head of Media

Dominos
Harshita Gaur
Harshita Gaur

Actress

Vishal Sharma
Vishal Sharma

Head Media Sales

CREX
Niyati Desai
Moderator
Niyati Desai

AVP - Growth and Partnership

Socioclout
13:00 - 13:30 hrs

Panel Discussion: Retail Media Networks: The Fastest Growing Ad Economy

Shantanu Banerjee
Shantanu Banerjee

Head of Marketing

Dollar Industries
Sahil Shah
Sahil Shah

Chief Executive Officer

Dentsu Creative Isobar
Siddharth Dabhade
Siddharth Dabhade

Chief Business Officer

Lemma
Praveen Nair
Moderator
Praveen Nair

Executive Director, Brand Health Tracking,

Ipsos India
13:30 - 14:15 hrs

Lunch

14:15 - 14:45 hrs

Case Lab: Building an Intelligent Brand: Where Media, Data & AI Converge

Niraj Ruparel
Niraj Ruparel

Creative Technology Lead

WPP & WPP MEDIA
14:45 - 15:00 hrs

MQS Quiz

15:00 - 15:30 hrs

Panel Discussion: Beyond Media Metrics: How Modern Marketers Drive Growth

Gaurav Goyal
Gaurav Goyal

Chief Business Officer

Canara Robeco Mutual Fund
Deepa Krishnan
Deepa Krishnan

Head of Marketing- Commercial Real Estate-

Edelweiss Alternate Asset Advisors
Samar Kagalwalla
Samar Kagalwalla

Head – Brand & Marketing

CSB Bank
Pulak Narain
Pulak Narain

Head of Marketing

Titan Company Limited
Amit Sethiya
Amit Sethiya

Category - Head Brand and Marketing Communications - B2C

Polycab India
Harmeet Singh
Harmeet Singh

Chief Brand Officer

The Body Shop Asia South
Monica Gandhi
Monica Gandhi

Co-Founder & COO

Nians
Shreyas Kulkarni
Moderator
Shreyas Kulkarni

Associate Editor

afaqs!
15:30 - 16:00 hrs

Panel Discussion: Connected TV, OTT & the Battle for Premium Attention

Suman Pal
Suman Pal

Head of Media, Analytics & Partnerships

Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting
Amandeep Malhari
Amandeep Malhari

Head of Marketing - White Cement and Paints

JK Cement Limited
Somendu Singh
Somendu Singh

Chief Contributor

CTV Scale
Srishti Katiyar
Srishti Katiyar

Senior Business Director - Client Management

dentsu X
Benita Chacko
Moderator
Benita Chacko

Associate Editor

afaqs!
14:00 - 15:00

The Second Screen Effect: How Brands Can Capitalize on Dual Viewing Experiences

Shantanu Banerjee
Shantanu Banerjee

Head of Marketing

Dollar Industries
Amandeep Malhari
Amandeep Malhari

Head of Marketing - White Cement and Paints

JK Cement Limited
Janaki Patel
Janaki Patel

AGM Marketing

Havmor Ice Cream
Karan Taurani
Karan Taurani

Executive Vice President (Media, Retail, Consumer Discretionary & Internet)

Elara Capital
Pritee Tamhankar
Pritee Tamhankar

Head of Marketing

Hell Energy
Srishti Katiyar
Srishti Katiyar

Senior Business Director - Client Management

dentsu X
Shakir Jamil
Moderator
Shakir Jamil

Head of Marketing

CREX
Vishal Sharma
Moderator
Vishal Sharma

Head Media Sales

CREX
*Note: The timings of this agenda are subject to change.