Brands
India packs a punch at Smarties APAC 2025
MUMBAI: India did not just show up at the MMA Smarties APAC 2025 Awards. It showed off. In a year when creative firepower met tech muscle, Indian marketers turned the regional stage into their own victory ring, sweeping four major industry titles and pocketing an impressive spread of gold, silver and bronze wins.
Announced globally by the Marketing and Media Alliance, this year’s results underline India’s growing clout in consumer insight, digital innovation and business impact across the Asia Pacific region. The performance signals a market that is not only confident but shaping the future of marketing in the region.
Leading the charge were four coveted industry honours. Wavemaker India was named media agency of the year, Amazon Ads took home enabling technology company of the Year, Ethinos claimed independent agency of the Year and Colgate Palmolive’s Oral Health Movement secured the best in show title. Together, these wins place India at the forefront of strategic and creative excellence.
MMA CEO APAC and global head Smarties Worldwide Rohit Dadwal said India remains one of the most influential markets in the programme. He noted that Indian work stands out for combining creativity, technology and cultural intelligence while still driving business outcomes at scale. He added that this year’s industry wins reflect the country’s leadership across media, technology and independent agency craft.
India also delivered one of its strongest metal runs yet. Gold winners included campaigns from Hindustan Unilever’s Knorr with Mindshare India, UltraTech Cement, Hyundai Motor India with Havas Play, Mondelez India’s Oreo and Celebrations with Wavemaker India, Bajaj Auto’s Chetak with Amazon Ads and Colgate Palmolive with Wavemaker India.
Silver metals were awarded to Dove, Cadbury Oreo, Maybelline New York, JioCinema and the Oral Health Movement. Bronze honours went to Dove and a cluster of work from Rin, Wheel and Surf.
MMA Global India country head and board member Moneka Khurana said the results reflect the depth and evolution of India’s marketing landscape. She highlighted how work across CPG, auto, beauty and entertainment shows what future ready marketing looks like and praised the consistency and conviction of Indian agencies and brands.
Across the region, Smarties APAC recognised 107 winning entries including 25 gold, 36 silver, 32 bronze and 14 industry awards. India’s standout performance reinforces its status as a trailblazer shaping consumer behaviour and digital innovation in the Asia Pacific market.
Brands
Neeraj Jha named head of sports business – India and South Asia at Warner Bros. Discovery
From Eurosport to WBD, Jha charts a new course for sports in India and South Asia
GURUGRAM: Neeraj Jha has been appointed head of sports business for India and South Asia at Warner Bros. Discovery, marking an exciting new chapter in a career that has long been at the crossroads of sports, media, and live entertainment.
Jha’s journey in the world of broadcast and sports media spans over two decades, from producing live shows at Ten Sports to shaping content strategy at Zee, IMG, and Eurosport. Most recently, he served as director of content, programming and acquisition at Warner Bros. Discovery, where he drove year-on-year Ebitda growth and steered the network’s programming, satellite planning, and on-air promotions. His expertise ranges from content acquisition and marketing to broadcast operations and strategic partnerships.
Colleagues praise Jha for thinking outside the box. “When constraints are immense, he delivers results no matter what,” one senior executive remarked, highlighting his knack for sourcing compelling content and intellectual property for the South Asian market.
Beyond the boardroom, Jha co-founded SEEtalks, a live event series designed to inspire audiences with compelling stories, reflecting his passion for storytelling and community engagement.
From launching daily sports news shows to localising global content like WWE Wrestling for Indian audiences, Jha’s career has been a blend of creativity and operational excellence. As he steps into this new role, the sports broadcasting landscape in India and South Asia is set for a fresh and dynamic chapter.
