MAM
Cannes Lions: DDB Mudra helps India get its second Gold
MUMBAI: India got its second gold at the Cannes Lions 2012, DDB Mudra Group being the winner in the Design Lions category for its work on The Hinglish Project for the Ministry of Tourism’s Incredible India initiative.
The entry scored a double whammy as it took home a bronze as well.
As part of the Hinglish Project, the agency developed a typeface that would make Hindi less intimidating and more approachable and friendly so that tourists to the country find it easier to read road signs.
The fusion-font design allows the reader to discern the phonetic sound of a Hindi character by looking at the corresponding English alphabet superimposed on it. This helped Incredible India create a typeface for foreigners to familiarise themselves with the native language.
Great work from Germany won the Grand Prix in this category. This proved that a dull subject like an annual report can also be designed interestingly. Agency Service Plan, Munich designed the colourless annual report for Austria Solar, using the innovative photo chromatic colour technology to print it. This, in effect, meant that the annual report could be read only in the sunlight.
A total of eight entries from India made it to the Design Lions shortlist of which six were from DDB Mudra Group. The other two agencies shortlisted were BBDO India and TBWA India.
Compared to last year, this edition’s performance may be called bleak as India won five metals in the category in 2011.
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.
