Avinash Pandey, CEO of ABP Network, has won the ‘Media Person of the Year’ award at the 9th edition of ‘IAA Leadership Awards for Excellence in Marketing, Advertising and Media.’

The felicitation ceremony took place on July 25 in Mumbai.

The International Advertising Association (IAA) Leadership Awards are given annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to the marketing, advertising, and media industry and have helped their organisations to drive outstanding successes.

Pandey has been honoured for his outstanding leadership and commitment to excellence in media. He is a strong advocate for responsible journalism and has been instrumental in setting high standards for the news industry in India.

He is presently serving as the Vice President of News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA). He has also been a member of several committees, including Media & Entertainment Committee of FICCI and Chairman of the National Council on Entertainment and Media, Assocham.

He has been with the ABP Group since 2005 in various roles.

Pandey donned the mantle of CEO of ABP Network in January 2019. He steered the transformation of the channel from Star News to ABP News in 2012, along with the rebranding and repositioning in 2020, the company said in a statement.

Additionally, he has led the charge in advancing the Indian regional languages, particularly on digital platforms.

With over 26 years of experience in the media sector, he is a true industry specialist who has made immense contribution in people’s perception of news as his body of work was synonymous to ethical journalism. His path breaking innovations in the media broadcasting domain has provided top notch content that received overwhelming response from the audiences and industry experts alike.

Commenting on this recognition, Pandey said: “Running a media business is no less complex and challenging than any other large businesses. We are lucky to see tectonic shifts in technology and media consumption habits. With the change in the way media is consumed, we are on our toes all the time, not to race for the rating but to serve our audiences in a way that makes this country much better than what we inherited. It is a great honour for me to be recognised as the Media Person of the Year by IAA. This award is a recognition for the team ABP Network that I am proud of.”

Among many other honours, Pandey is also a recipient of the Business Leader of the Year – 2018 Award, The News Television CEO of the Year – 2019 Award, and enba Best CEO Award 2022.