EFFIE ASIA PACIFIC APPOINTS MCCANN INDIA’S DHEERAJ SINHA AS HEAD OF JURY FOR 2026

Effie Asia Pacific has named McCann India CEO Dheeraj Sinha as Head of Jury for 2026. A transformative leader behind the rise of FCB India and Leo Burnett India, Sinha brings award-winning credentials, global recognition and deep strategic insight into the region’s evolving creative effectiveness landscape.

Effie Asia Pacific has appointed Dheeraj Sinha, CEO of McCann India, as Head of Jury for its 2026 awards, placing one of the region’s most influential agency leaders at the helm of one of the industry’s most respected effectiveness platforms.

Sinha’s appointment underscores his stature as a transformative force in Asian advertising. Over the past decade, he has led the reinvention of two global agency networks in India, driving accelerated growth, cultural renewal and a renewed focus on creative excellence.

At FCB India, Sinha presided over a period of extraordinary ascent. In 2025, the agency was ranked No. 1 in India, No. 2 in Asia and among the top eight agencies globally.

Beyond the boardroom and awards stage, Sinha is also an author and commentator on India’s rapidly evolving consumer landscape. His bestselling books, and , explore the shifting aspirations and behaviours of the Indian market. Consumer India is recommended reading at as part of its emerging markets curriculum, underlining his reputation as a strategist with both commercial and academic influence.

As Head of Jury for Effie Asia Pacific 2026, Sinha will be tasked with guiding deliberations that reward ideas delivering tangible business results — a mandate closely aligned with his own track record. His career has consistently demonstrated that creative ambition and commercial effectiveness are not competing priorities but complementary forces.

In a region defined by rapid economic growth, digital acceleration and cultural complexity, his appointment signals Effie Asia Pacific’s intent to foreground work that blends insight, innovation and measurable impact. With Sinha at the judging helm, the 2026 edition promises a rigorous and strategically grounded evaluation of the campaigns shaping Asia Pacific’s marketing future.