The ET Shark Awards 2025 roared into the spotlight once again with its seventh edition, bringing the who’s who of Indian marketing under one roof to celebrate groundbreaking campaigns, bold brand narratives, and the leaders shaping the future of advertising. Held with all the prestige and pageantry that this flagship event is known for, this year’s edition proved why the Shark is not just a trophy but a symbol of sharp thinking and fearless creativity.
Tata Salt swept in to win Campaign of the Year for The Unforgettable Salt, a powerful piece of storytelling presented by Tata Consumer Products and Wavemaker India. The campaign not only connected with audiences on an emotional level but also stood tall for its societal relevance. In a year where cause based narratives became cluttered, this one stood out by staying true to its roots while making a national impact.
Swiggy took home the prestigious Brand of the Year award. In an ecosystem saturated with food delivery platforms, Swiggy continued to differentiate itself through sharp customer insights, playful yet consistent communication, and tech powered user experience. Whether it was meme marketing or solving last mile delivery challenges, Swiggy’s all round domination made this win feel inevitable.
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Agency of the Year was awarded to Ogilvy Group India. Known for blending creativity with culture, Ogilvy’s work across categories and clients in 2025 showcased both narrative boldness and brand sensitivity. Whether they were building equity or rewriting old rules, their campaigns reminded everyone why Ogilvy remains a creative force.
Axis Bank was named Disruptive Brand of the Year (Silver) for its Devanagari PIN initiative. The campaign, executed by AutumnGrey, proved that small innovations can create deep emotional resonance. By letting users create PINs in Devanagari script, Axis made a statement about inclusivity that felt fresh, local, and empowering.
The awards also shined a spotlight on individual brilliance. Anoop Manohar of Axis Bank and Siddharth Gupta of Britannia were both crowned Marketer of the Year, a testament to their ability to steer legacy brands into bold, modern terrains. WPP Media’s Prasanth Kumar was named CEO of the Year for Network Agency, while Harshil Karia of Schbang claimed the title in the Independent Agency category.
Falguni Nayar, the visionary behind Nykaa, received the Lifetime Achievement of the Year award. Her contribution to building one of India’s most successful digital first brands remains unmatched. The honor felt both timely and well deserved.
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The Rising Star of the Marketing World award was presented to Savio Cerejo, whose early work already shows the marks of someone destined for greatness. His fresh take on digital storytelling and creative strategy was applauded by the Grand Jury as a glimpse into the future of Indian branding.
Behind the scenes, the judging process was robust and inclusive. PwC, the awards’ knowledge partner, conducted deep evaluations of all shortlisted entries across three cities. Over one hundred CMOs, creative heads, and brand leads formed the primary jury pool. The Grand Jury, chaired by Nestlé India’s Suresh Narayanan, brought final clarity and conviction to the winners list. From social impact campaigns to cutting edge product innovations, the entries reflected the diversity and creativity currently defining Indian marketing.
As Shivam Puri of Cipla Health noted, the winning entries showed how digital has seamlessly fused into our everyday marketing DNA. Nivea India’s Geetika Mehta echoed that sentiment, highlighting the rising creative energy in social campaigns. And Pantaloons CEO Sangeeta Pendurkar summed it up best when she said that this year’s work offered a stunning view of just how vibrant and inventive Indian brand building has become.
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