MAM
Tata Motors’ Shubhranshu Singh earns spot on Forbes’ 2025 list of world’s top CMOs at Cannes
MUMBAI: Some marketers chase trends.
Others shape them.
At the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Forbes tipped its hat to the latter by naming Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles CMO Shubhranshu Singh to its coveted World’s Most Influential CMOs list. Singh’s inclusion marks a high point in a career defined by strategic clarity, brand building, and sharp cultural insight.
Forbes announced the list this week, spotlighting global marketing leaders who go beyond campaigns to redefine culture, drive purpose, and deliver business impact. It assessed contenders on digital engagement, campaign effectiveness, media visibility, and community resonance—placing Singh among the likes of Apple’s Greg Joswiak, Google’s Lorraine Twohill, and L’Oréal’s Asmita Dubey.
“Being named to the Forbes World’s Most Influential CMOs List is more than an accolade—it is a recognition of marketing’s evolving role as a driver of business value, social relevance, and global reputation. CMOs on this list are not only architects of brand strategy but also leaders who influence culture, champion innovation, and create lasting business impact across industries and geographies”, Forbes noted.
Known for leading transformative brand campaigns at Tata Motors, Singh has positioned the commercial vehicle division as a symbol of trust and innovation. His digital-first approach and focus on aligning business goals with societal narratives have drawn industry-wide admiration. His leadership reflects the new breed of marketers—part strategist, part storyteller, and full-time change-maker.
“Shubhranshu Singh, stalwart marketeer, columnist and thought leader currently serving as chief marketing officer of Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, has been named to this year’s prestigious list, placing him among the most influential voices in global marketing today”, the announcement added.
Singh’s recent appointment to the inaugural board of the Effie Lions Foundation further signals his growing influence. The nonprofit, headquartered in New York, aims to nurture diverse marketing talent worldwide. As a board member, Singh will help shape the future of industry leadership with a lens on inclusivity and global impact.
“As a member of the board of directors, he will have a unique opportunity to: Have a voice in shaping the marketing industry’s future talent; Help ensure that the marketing industry attracts the diverse talent needed for its future success”, said the foundation.
Over the last decade, Forbes’ annual list has recognised the likes of Disney’s Asad Ayaz, Coca-Cola’s Manolo Arroyo, and Netflix’s Marian Lee—each redefining how brands connect with a fast-evolving world. Singh’s addition not only adds an Indian voice to that conversation, but underscores the rising global relevance of purpose-led marketing from the subcontinent.
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
