Jinu Ben Joins Creators & Marketers School By CDA Academy As Co-founder

Jinu Ben, former South Partnerships Lead at Meta, has joined CDA Academy’s Creators & Marketers School as Co-founder and Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer. With more than two decades of experience in media, content development, and the creator ecosystem, his appointment marks a new phase in the institution’s expansion into creative and strategic marketing education.

Jinu Ben’s professional background spans over 20 years, including an 8.5-year tenure at Meta, where he was responsible for creator and media partnerships across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp in southern India. He holds a first-rank degree from Madras University and has worked in diverse roles such as entrepreneur, radio jockey, show producer, anchor, voice artist, and actor.

Founded in 2019, CDA Academy ( https://cda.academy ) began as an agency-oriented digital marketing training institution in Kerala. The organization has trained more than 2,500 learners and focuses on workplace-integrated learning models. Building on this foundation, CDA has launched the Creators & Marketers School ( https://creatorsandmarketers.school/ ) in Calicut, Kerala, India’s first UNESCO City of Literature.

The school’s flagship offering is the Advanced Marketing Manager & Entrepreneurship (AMME) program—a 10-month, full-time, offline course designed to develop practical skills through real-world brand collaborations and mentorship from industry professionals. The learning model integrates hands-on project work with opportunities for learners to earn during the program, aiming to balance academic training with professional readiness.

According to the institution’s directors K.V. Hudaif. —Nidasha Aslam, T Dhanoop, N.V. Aslam, and Mehar Mahmood—the decision to establish the school in Calicut was influenced by the city’s cultural and literary heritage. They emphasized the city’s relevance as a setting that encourages creativity, expression, and community engagement.

Jinu Ben stated that his decision to join the school stemmed from a desire to contribute to the development of creative talent by applying his industry insights in an educational context. "This initiative is a continuation of my work in the creator economy and is intended to help build a strong foundation for aspiring professionals in the field," he said.

CDA Academy’s leadership team has indicated that the school will be supported by professionals from global agencies and consulting firms. This includes advisors with experience in brand strategy and digital transformation, who will contribute to the school’s mentorship ecosystem.

The Creators & Marketers School represents an extension of CDA Academy’s educational mission, focused on equipping learners with applied marketing and creative strategy skills relevant to today’s evolving digital economy.