MAM
Mukerjea, Khanna, Sameer Nair win awards at India Brand Summit
MUMBAI: The India Brand Summit held from 30 September – 1 October in Mumbai honoured the best of the brains in the business with Awards for Brand Excellence.
While J Walter Thompson Emeritus chairman Mike Khanna won the lifetime achievement award, Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea was conferred with the Media Person of the Year Award. The Creative Professional of the Year prize went to Star India COO Sameer Nair.
In the organisation level, the awards for brand leadership were won by Titan (Consumer Products), Nokia (Durables) and Infosys Technologies (IT).
The complete list of winners:
Macro Awards (Organization Level)
I) Award For Brand Leadership in:
(a) Consumer Products – TITAN
Ms. Priya Sanghvi – Brand Manager
(b) Hospitality & Services Industry – APOLLO HOSPITALS
Ms. Preetha Reddy – Managing Director
(c) Durables – NOKIA
Mr. V Ramnath – Head Nokia – Western Region
(d) Information Technology – INFOSYS TECHNOLOGIES
Mr. N R Narayana Murthy – Chairman & Chief Mentor
II) Campaign of the Year – HUTCH
Mr. Sandip Das, Mr. Harit Nagpal & Mr. Naveen Chandra
III) Agency of the Year – OGILVY & MATHER
Mr. J .C Giri
IV) Award for Social Marketing – SHRI. MAHILA GRIHA UDYOG LIJJAT PAPAD
Ms. Jyoti Naik & Ms. Kamal Dandore
Individual Awards
I) Creative Professional of the Year
Sameer Nair, Chief Operating Officer, Star India
II) Media Person of the Year
Peter Mukerjea, Chief Executive Officer, Star India
III) Marketing Professional of the Year
Girish Aggarwal, Director, Dainik Bhaskar
IV) Brand Builder of the Year
Kishore Biyani, Chief Knowledge Officer, Pantaloon Retail India Ltd.
V) CEO of the year
A.K. Purwar, CHAIRMAN, State Bank of India
VI) Lifetime Achievement Award
Mike Khanna, Chairman Emeritus, J Walter Thompson’
Brands
Nykaa eyes majority stake in Deepika Padukone’s 82°E brand
Deal could help scale premium label as Nykaa sharpens its beauty play
MUMBAI: Nykaa is in advanced discussions to acquire a majority stake in 82°E, the premium skincare label founded by Deepika Padukone, according to media reports.
The proposed deal signals Nykaa’s intent to deepen its House of Nykaa portfolio while giving 82°E the scale it has struggled to achieve independently. Padukone is expected to retain a minority stake if the transaction goes through.
For Nykaa, the play is both strategic and timely. With a customer base of over 42 million, the company is betting on its strong distribution, logistics, and repeat purchase ecosystem to revive the brand’s momentum. The two sides already share a working relationship, with Padukone serving as Nykaa’s global brand ambassador since September 2025.
Launched in late 2022, 82°E entered the market with a premium positioning but has faced headwinds. The brand reported revenue of Rs 14.7 crore in FY25, down 30 per cent year on year, alongside losses of Rs 12.26 crore. Industry observers have pointed to steep pricing, a somewhat diffused brand identity, and intense competition from digital-first labels as key challenges.
The potential acquisition also reflects a broader shift in India’s beauty and lifestyle space, where celebrity-led brands are increasingly partnering with larger corporates to unlock scale. Alia Bhatt’s Ed-a-Mamma, for instance, sold a majority stake to Reliance Retail, while Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty has emerged as a standout success within Nykaa’s portfolio, clocking Rs 132.4 crore in FY25 revenue.
Nykaa itself has been on a strong growth trajectory. Its parent, FSN E-Commerce Ventures, reported a 156 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 68 crore in the December 2025 quarter, with revenue reaching Rs 2,873 crore.
Nykaa has been steadily building its portfolio through acquisitions such as Dot & Key, Earth Rhythm and Nudge Wellness, signalling a clear push to own and scale homegrown brands.
If the 82°E deal materialises, it could mark a fresh chapter for the label, blending celebrity appeal with corporate muscle. For Nykaa, it is another calculated step in staying ahead in an increasingly crowded beauty aisle.
