MAM
Cannes Lions launches Cannes Chimera competition
MUMBAI: The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has launched the fifth Cannes Chimera Competition, an initiative to engage the global creative industry in building public awareness and support for solutions to critical global development problems.
This year, the brief for the Cannes Chimera Competition calls for the development of a one-time brand activation that will attract massive public attention to the growing Global Citizen platform, and result in a surge of sign ups to the campaign, through email capture and Facebook.
Global Citizen, which recently launched its “Unlock your power” campaign to expand its global community, will create the largest, most effective platform in the world for people to share, communicate and take action on issues affecting the world’s poorest. Supported by major NGOs in the development space and a diverse group of corporate partners, it provides new ways for people to understand and follow issues they care about – from gender equality or health to water and sanitation.
Through content, campaigns, and events such as concerts and rallies, Global Citizen gives people a simple and easy way to use their voice to support global change. It builds on people’s desire for connection and their passion to do good, and shows them how their actions make a difference for people around the world.
“Being able to engage the global communications industry to lend their creativity to a campaign as worthwhile as Global Citizen is very special for us. It’s an innovative and large-scale project with an incredible ambition: to turn millions of us into global citizens that are willing to take action to help people living in the world’s poorest countries build a better life for themselves,” said Lions Festivals CEO Philip Thomas.
“We know there are millions of people out there who are willing to support global development issues, but they don’t know how to, or where to start. Global Citizen provides a forum where people can unlock their social power to take action on these critical issues, but we need creative ways to build awareness of the platform. We’re thrilled by the opportunity to partner with the Cannes Lions community to share this opportunity with the world,” added The Global Poverty Project CEO Hugh Evans.
The competition is free to enter and consists of filling out a one-page submission form. Open from 30 April, it closes on 27 May. A maximum of three winners will be chosen from the pool of entries, each receiving a contract for a maximum of $150,000 to make their winning activation a reality. All activations must then be executed between July and September 2015.
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.
