BW Top 100 Marketers 2025: Inside India’s Marketing Power List
BW Businessworld and BW Marketing World have unveiled the Top 100 Marketers 2025, an annual editorial initiative that crowns India’s most influential marketing leaders.The 2025 edition reflects both continuity and change. Established categories such as auto, BFSI and tech continue to dominate, showing their scale and competitive intensity, while healthcare and wellness show steady growth as consumers prioritise lifestyle and assurance. Newer technology-led categories, from proptech to wearables, are finding a firmer foothold, expanding the scope of what marketing leadership means today.
Women leaders now account for more than a quarter of the list, a sign of the growing parity in boardrooms and a powerful signal of the sector’s inclusive future.
The Grandmasters
Acknowledging leaders who have transcended the boundaries of traditional marketing roles, taking on mandates that blend business leadership, sales, and corporate stewardship, the BW Top 100 Marketers 2025 celebrate the ‘Grandmasters’. Their presence on the list signals how marketing today is inseparable from overall business strategy.
In auto, Partho Banerjee of Maruti Suzuki shows how marketing leaders are entrusted with sales and operations mandates, reiterating that in mobility, brand strategy and business execution are inseparable. What truly sets Banerjee apart is his resolve to infuse purpose and hyperlocal digital agility into Maruti’s massive sales and marketing engine, shifting the brand from just top-of-mind awareness to one that meets consumers where they live, think, and drive. His presence defines why the Grandmasters stand apart on this year’s list.
Also in the list are Tarun Garg of Hyundai Motor India and Hardeep Brar of BMW Group, representing how auto leaders demonstrate the natural progression from consumer connect to enterprise leadership.
At the heart of FMCG, Harman Dhillon of Hindustan Unilever carries the responsibility of executive director across beauty and wellbeing, showing how category stewardship requires both commercial and cultural influence.
The list also includes Chandrika Deb of Canva, whose remit as Country Manager for India extends beyond marketing into driving the platform’s growth.
FMCG Marketers Not Missing A Beat
The FMCG sector once again leads the BW Top 100 Marketers 2025, with its brand custodians proving that scale and creativity can coexist.
From Akash Banerji of Marico and Gunjit Jain of Colgate-Palmolive India to Kanika Kalra of Reckitt South Asia and Kavita Chaturvedi of ITC, the sector reflects a mix of established voices and agile innovators. Mukta Maheshwari of Procter & Gamble India, Nitin Saini of Mondelez India, and Prasanna Rai of Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting represent categories where competition is intense, but consumer loyalty is won by consistent storytelling and innovation.
The FMCG landscape also shows strength in local and heritage brands. Priyancka Puri of Hygienic Research Institute and Rajeev Jain of DS Group signal how Indian companies are scaling by balancing traditional strengths with contemporary consumer needs. Rajiv Dubey of Dabur India and Saurabh Jain of Reckitt Hygiene South Asia stand out for steering brands through cluttered categories with strategic clarity.
This year’s list also highlights digital innovation within FMCG. Shuvadip Banerjee of ITC, Shweta Dalal of Beiersdorf, and Siddharth Gupta of Britannia demonstrate how brand communication is evolving with platforms and consumer journeys. The category further expands with global chocolate and confectionery leaders Zoher Kapuswala of Ferrero India, Greishma Singh of Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia, and Tushar Malhotra of Bisleri International, shaping consumer moments that go beyond transactions.
The food and beverages story is incomplete without stalwarts like Chandan Mukherji of Nestlé India, Gunjan Khetan of Perfetti Van Melle India, Saakshi Verma Menon of PepsiCo, and K. Ganapathy Subramaniam of LT Foods. Their efforts demonstrate how iconic brands continue to refresh themselves for younger audiences while retaining their core trust.
Auto & Mobility Dominate
The auto sector continues to be one of the most visible stages for marketers, with new launches, electric mobility, and brand differentiation driving its narrative.
Virat Khullar of Hyundai Motor India shows how trusted auto companies are making sure they remain aspirational through innovative communication and engagement.
Aniruddha Haldar of TVS Motor Company and Abhinav Sinha of Renault India show how legacy players are balancing tradition with modernity. Their work demonstrates the role of marketing in sustaining consumer relevance for well-established brands in both four-wheelers and two-wheelers.
The new mobility wave is led by Geetika Bisla, formerly Hero MotoCorp and now Ola Electric and Siddhant Vora of Greaves Electric Mobility. The list also features Shakti Upadhyay, now at Bajaj Auto and Ipshita Chowdhury of Valvoline Cummins India.
Fierce Finance Fight
Banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) once again contribute a significant share to the BW Top 100 Marketers 2025, as the sector undergoes a major transformation.
Jaswinder Sodhi of HSBC India and Abhinav Iyer of Muthoot Finance highlight how customer experience and digital integration have become central to financial brand building.
Insurance and health protection are represented strongly this year. Nimish Agrawal of Niva Bupa Health Insurance, Pritika Shah of HDFC Life, and Rahul Talwar of Axis Max Life Insurance exemplify how category leaders are positioning insurance as not just a product but a lifestyle assurance. Puneeth Bekal of HDFC Securities brings in the investment perspective, underscoring the importance of consumer education in wealth-building journeys.
The rise of digital and alternative finance is seen through leaders like Sai Narayan of Policybazaar, Prashant Verma of CoinDCX, and Amit Doshi of PhonePe, who show how fintech is redefining access, convenience and consumer engagement.
Darshana Shah of Aditya Birla Capital and Ashish Mishra of Acko reflect how established financial institutions and digital-first players are both vying for consumer trust.
From the banking side, Shreepad Shende of IDFC First Bank and Srikrishna Moorthy of Kotak Mahindra Bank reinforce the role of brand in differentiating financial offerings in an intensely competitive marketplace.
The Tech Titans
Technology continues to redefine consumer engagement in India, and marketers in this space are at the forefront of bridging innovation with everyday life.
IT services see strong representation this year with Abhinav Kumar and Amit Tiwari of TCS, both driving global narratives. Akash Deep Batra of HP Inc. and Mayuri Saikia of Dell Technologies India highlight the vital role of consumer and small business engagement in the technology hardware ecosystem.
Digital-first platforms also dominate the list. Anuradha Aggarwal of Amazon India and Aruna Daryanani of Amazon MX Player showcase how content and commerce continue to converge. Arjun Bhatia of Matrimony.com reflects the growing importance of niche platforms in connecting with evolving consumer segments.
Enterprise and digital transformation leaders such as Anuradha Sehgal of Coforge, Peeyush Dubey of Tech Mahindra, and Rahul Singh of SAP represent the business-to-business side of technology, where brand trust is central to long-term relationships.
Tech-enabled services outside pure IT also shine. Prasun Kumar of Magicbricks demonstrates the power of proptech in shaping consumer journeys, while Raj Rishi Singh of MakeMyTrip illustrates how travel-tech brands are moving beyond transactions to experiences. Shekar Khosla of Google India adds heft, pointing to how the world’s largest digital platforms are localising to engage Indian consumers.
Consumer Electronics & Durables Show Up
Consumer electronics and durables continue to be a dynamic space in India, where marketing is critical to differentiation in a crowded, fast-changing market. The leaders in this category showcase how technology, lifestyle, and trust intersect to drive consumer preference.
Anil Gurnani of TTK Prestige and Pragya Bijalwan of Voltas represent the home appliances and consumer durables space, where brand equity is tied closely to functionality and everyday relevance. Girish Hingorani of Blue Star brings attention to how Indian consumers are aligning with brands that combine efficiency with premium positioning.
Global electronics players highlight the sector’s competitive intensity. Aditya Babbar of Samsung MX Division, Shivam Ranjan of Motorola, and Chandrika Jain of Lenovo India demonstrate how multinationals continue to tailor strategies for Indian audiences. Puravansh Maitreya of Lava International adds a homegrown counterpoint in the fiercely contested mobile handset space. Also in the list is Sunil Narula of Panasonic Life Solutions India.
Wearable and connected lifestyle categories are also gaining ground. Utsav Malhotra of Noise exemplifies how Indian startups are carving a share in the fast-growing wearables market, proving that agility and deep consumer insight can challenge established giants.
Puneet Gulati of Sheela Foam shows how comfort and lifestyle brands are positioning themselves in a way similar to consumer durables, widening the definition of the category.
Industrial & Construction Mavericks
The industrial and construction sector may not always command the same consumer visibility as FMCG or tech, but its marketers are pivotal in shaping trust and scale in categories that form the backbone of India’s economic growth.
Tarun Jha of JSW Steel reflects how industrial giants are increasingly investing in marketing to connect with stakeholders beyond B2B, building equity around innovation and sustainability. Also among the top marketers is seasoned marketer Ajay Dang.
Rohit Talwar of JSW Paints shows how adjacencies in construction and home solutions are being driven by fresh storytelling, where aesthetics and consumer aspirations are at the centre of category growth.
Rajat Abbi of Schneider Electric India highlights how global leaders in energy management and automation are positioning themselves in India’s growth narrative.
In categories such as chemicals and adhesives, Sandeep Tanwani of Pidilite Industries demonstrates the power of marketing in creating brand love for products that are otherwise functional.
Healthcare & Wellness Grows
Healthcare and wellness continue to gain ground in the BW Top 100 Marketers 2025, reflecting the category’s expanding role in consumer lives.
Abhiroop Chatterjea of Cipla Health and Abhishek Kumar Srivastava of Piramal Consumer Healthcare represent Indian pharma-backed consumer healthcare companies that are widening access with product innovation and credible branding. Manoj Gadgil of Kenvue, Deepali Naair of Biocon Biologics and Kartik Johari of Nobel Hygiene are also in the list.
Retail & Fashion Battle
Retail and fashion continue to evolve as one of the most consumer-facing sectors, where brand love and trust are built as much on emotion as on product quality.
In textiles and apparel, Himanshu Khanna of Raymond reinforces how heritage brands remain central to India’s fashion story. His leadership shows that even in a crowded apparel market, authenticity and craftsmanship continue to drive consumer loyalty.
Avi Kumar of FNP (Ferns N Petals) illustrates how homegrown retail brands are scaling by blending tradition with contemporary consumer needs, creating a category that is as much about experience as it is about product. Maneesh Krishnamurthy of Titan Eyewear demonstrates how lifestyle brands are reinventing themselves to appeal to a new generation of consumers without losing their premium positioning.
Conglomerates & Groups Step Up
Group-level marketing roles continue to play a critical part in steering brand identity across diverse portfolios. These leaders not only shape individual businesses but also create overarching narratives that reflect the credibility and values of the conglomerates they represent.
Ajay Kakar of Adani Group exemplifies the responsibility of corporate branding at one of India’s largest and most diversified business houses. His role highlights how storytelling and reputation management are becoming as important as product campaigns for large groups operating across multiple sectors.
Asha Kharga of Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India demonstrates how customer-centric strategies can cut across group verticals, reinforcing the Mahindra ethos of trust and innovation. Her leadership shows how group brands must remain agile while still maintaining a consistent cultural thread.
The Outliers
Beyond the dominant categories, the BW Top 100 Marketers 2025 also includes leaders from sectors that are smaller in number but significant in influence. From aviation, Siddhartha Butalia of Air India Express and from real estate, Karan Kumar of Hero Realty feature in the list.
Finally, globally celebrated leaders such as Shubhranshu Singh and Roshni Das are also in the list, showing the deep connection between marketing excellence and industry stewardship, ensuring that creativity and effectiveness remain benchmarks for the profession.
Curated after months of research, analysis and industry consultation, the BW Top Marketers list celebrates those who are redefining the role of marketing as the engine of business growth. This year, the list features 90 leaders, including the Top Marketers and Grandmasters. Together, they highlight how marketing in India has become the very pulse of business, consumer culture and growth.
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