MAM
Click, craft, conquer DMEA 2025 crowns digital’s brightest game-changers
MUMBAI: If digital were a sport, last night’s contenders didn’t just raise the bar they rewired it. The Digital Media Excellence Awards 2025 turned into a masterclass in clicks, craft, creativity, and clever engineering, celebrating the boldest work across India’s ever-evolving digital landscape. From automobile showstoppers to AI-powered wizardry, the winners’ circle sparkled brighter than a freshly optimised dashboard.
This year’s edition doubled down on what the industry does best: blending imagination with impeccable execution. Brands, agencies, creators, technologists, and strategists collided in a showcase of originality, proving once again that digital excellence isn’t a moment, it’s a mindset.
The evening kicked off with a turbocharged win for MiQ Digital Commercial Pvt Ltd, whose Gamified EV Experience for Bajaj Chetak cruised to Gold in the Automobile category. Schbang followed close behind with a Silver for its gripping campaign Grip That Never Lets Go.
Consumer electronics roared with Digixpressions Media Pvt Ltd clinching Gold for its ASUS India campaign showcasing a staggering 182 per cent jump in non-brand clicks. Healthcare and wellness saw mCanvas lift Gold for Bright Health Radiance Serum, while real-estate storytelling sparkled with Taboola’s Gold-winning Ashiana Swarang Senior Living Campaign.
Esports also had its victory lap with Max Level crowned Best Esports and Gaming Agency of the Year, scripting an epic win in the booming gaming universe.
This year’s campaign categories delivered a parade of hits.
RVCJ Digital struck Gold with Auto Expo 2025 under Branded Awareness, while Schbang picked up Silver for Bodysync by Enamor.
Purpose met performance as mrj India bagged Gold for Switch to Fluoride Free in both Public Awareness and Influencer Marketing, making it one of the night’s biggest multi-category winners.
CTV dominated conversations with mediasmart sweeping the space Gold for Voltas x Havas and Silver for Maybelline x Wavemaker, proving screens big and small can coexist (and convert).
Cross-channel excellence belonged to mediasmart again for its MG x IPG Mediabrands multi-screen strategy (Gold), with Disney Channel’s charming Doraemon Birthday Bash taking Silver.
Regional storytelling shone with RVCJ Digital earning Gold for Airtel – India’s first spam-fighting network, while the brand-new frontiers of OTT saw MiQ Digital win Gold for rural-marketing dynamo Swaraj Tractors Driving Rural Visibility.
Performance-driven brilliance lit up the second half.
In Content Marketing, mrj India took Gold again, while Digixpressions’ ASUS work landed Silver.
Data-driven mastery came from mediasmart with Gold for Glenfiddich x DDB Mudra, and Taboola earned Silver for its Philips Home Appliances campaign.
Festive cheer turned award-worthy thanks to Haldiram Snacks, crowned Gold for its festival campaigns, and RVCJ Digital’s iconic 5-Star “Do Nothing” snapped up Gold for Instagram Marketing.
MarTech, mobile, and moment marketing were a three-way triumph for mediasmart and mCanvas, with multiple Golds across categories from Voltas x Havas to Woodland: Itinerary Generator and Aditya Birla Sun Life: Investor Education.
Schbang turned waterproofing into social magic with Gold for Waterproofing ka Baap hai Dr. Fixit, while MiQ Digital and mediasmart shared honours for programmatic and performance marketing excellence.
Creativity stole the show as MiQ Digital picked up Gold for Streamed Ads Innovation, and mediasmart added a Silver for its MG multi-screen mastery.
Tech-driven campaigns had their own spotlight. Schbang secured Gold for AI/Gen-AI wizardry with Grip That Never Lets Go, while Nick India took Gold for Best Chatbot with its quirky Bittu Bahanebaaz WhatsApp Chatbot.
SEO supremacy belonged to Digixpressions Media, honoured with Gold for building BlinkX from scratch.
Website excellence saw Art-E Mediatech win Gold for its Crompton redesign, with Amura Marketing Technologies taking Silver for Amuratech.com.
The night also saluted individuals and teams rewriting the rules of digital.
Agency Head of the Year: Prady Kumaar, NP Digital India
Digital Personality of the Year: Saurabh Khattar, Integral Ad Science
Young Achiever of the Year: Prady Kumaar (doubling up with another win)
Agency Team of the Year: Concept PR – BFS Vertical
Exceptional performance from agencies resulted in RVCJ Digital taking home Digital Agency of the Year – Small, while Trinity Gaming was crowned Emerging Digital Agency of the Year.
DMEA 2025 wasn’t just an awards event, it was a reminder. A reminder that campaigns today are not built on platforms but on purpose, performance, precision, and personality. The winners didn’t merely adapt to the digital age; they shaped what it becomes next.
With categories expanding, creativity accelerating, and competition intensifying, one thing is certain, the digital story is only getting bigger, bolder, and brilliant by design.
And judging by this year’s winners, 2026 better buckle up.
Brands
Magnum Ice Cream Netherlands takes control of Kwality Wall’s India from Unilever
61.9 per cent stake transfer reshapes ownership as Unilever exits promoter role
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited has entered a new chapter, with The Magnum Ice Cream Company HoldCo 1 Netherlands B.V. acquiring a controlling 61.9 per cent stake from a clutch of Unilever PLC-led entities, marking a significant shift in ownership.
The transaction, completed on March 30, 2026, follows a share purchase agreement signed in June 2025. The incoming promoter picked up over 145 crore equity shares, effectively taking control of the company and being formally classified as its new promoter under regulatory norms.
As part of the deal, the outgoing promoter group, including Unilever Group Limited and its affiliated entities, has fully exited its shareholding in the company. They have now been reclassified from promoter to public shareholders, closing a long-standing association with the ice cream business in India.
The board of Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited took note of the ownership change and approved a series of leadership updates alongside it. Ritesh Tiwari stepped down as director, while Abhijit Bhattacharya was appointed as chairperson and additional non-executive director. Tahir Toloy Tanridagli also joined the board as an additional non-executive director.
The reshuffle signals a broader strategic reset as the Magnum-led entity looks to steer the brand’s next phase of growth in India. The transition has been carried out in line with regulatory requirements, including disclosures tied to the open offer and reclassification norms under market regulations.
With Unilever stepping back and Magnum stepping in, Kwality Wall’s India is effectively getting a fresh scoop of leadership and direction. The coming months will reveal how the new promoter plans to scale the brand in one of the world’s most competitive ice cream markets.
