“They don’t make people like him these days. Forthright, never into any

“They don’t make people like him these days. Forthright, never into any frivolous conversation, he is known as a no-nonsense man in the industry.”

That is how Shashi Sinha, chief executive officer, IPG Mediabrands and Lodestar UM, described Anil Kapoor, chairman emeritus, Draftfcb+Ulka group, who was felicitated with the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) Lifetime Achievement Award on Friday evening at an event, befittingly, attended by top ad industry officials and senior advertisers.

Accepting the award, Kapoor said, “There is never a dull moment in advertising. For me, it was simply a passion. I strongly believe advertising agencies are solution providers and not suppliers of creativity.”

Making his opening remarks, AAAI president Arvind Sharma said Kapoor is a huge influence on the industry.

Kapoor was appointed chairman emeritus of Draftfcb+Ulka in 2010, after a 22-year stint with the company and its associated agencies. He is a past president of the AAAI, chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulation of 2007-08 and was also on the management board of the National Readership Survey and the Television Audience Measurement Research. In May 2002, Kapoor was also inducted into the Foote, Cone & Belding’s Worldwide Board.

Before joining Draftfcb+Ulka, Kapoor was with Boots for 14 years, where, as marketing director, he launched a string of brands, all of which went on to become market leaders. Before that, he was with the legendary agency MCM. He graduated in English literature from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and then did his MBA from IIM, Ahmedabad.

“One thing that defines him is his ‘Never Say Die’ attitude. Anil Kapoor, who was seen as an outsider in the industry, was soon accepted as an equal and may be as a ‘more than an equal’,” said M G Parameswaran, executive director and CEO, Draftfcb+Ulka.

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