IAA Leadership Awards 2026 – Event Overview
On 7 August 2026, the International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter hosted the 13th edition of its Leadership Awards in Mumbai. The ceremony attracted more than 250 senior leaders from advertising, marketing, media, entertainment and related business sectors, and was inaugurated by Shri Jishnu Dev Varma, the Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra, who served as the Chief Guest.
Key Awards and Honourees
- Business Leader of the Year 2026 was conferred on Dilip Shanghvi, Founder, Managing Director and CEO of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, recognizing his role in building one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.
- Brand Endorser of the Year 2026 was awarded to Actor Sidharth Malhotra, citing his strong brand associations and influence among younger audiences.
- Hall of Fame induction went to Neeraj Roy, Founder of Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Ltd, for his sustained contribution to advertising, digital and creative industries.
- Media Person of the Year was presented to Rahul Kanwal of NDTV.
- Creative Agency Head of the Year went to Babita Baruah of VML, while Kartik Sharma of Omnicom Media received the Media Agency Head of the Year award.
- Force for Good Award was bestowed on Sam Balsara for contributions beyond the marcom industry.
Sector‑Specific Leader Awards
- Auto Passenger Vehicles (EV + UV) – Leader of the Year: Nalinikanth Gollagunta, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
- FMCG (Food) – Leader of the Year: Jayen Mehta, Managing Director, Amul (GCMMF).
- Consumer Durables – Leader of the Year: Anil G. Verma, Godrej & Boyce.
- Pharma (Consumer Health) – Leader of the Year: Mohit Malhotra, Dabur India Ltd.
- Auto (Two Wheelers + EV) – Leader of the Year: Aniruddha Haldar, TVS Motor Company.
- FMCG (Beverages) – Leader of the Year: Sunil Dhar, Red Bull India.
Jury and Organizational Remarks
The awards were evaluated by a jury chaired by Prabha Narasimhan, Managing Director and CEO of Colgate‑Palmolive (India) Limited. Jury members included Jayant Acharya (JSW Steel), Kavita Chaturvedi (ITC Limited), Pradeep Dwivedi (Eros Media World), Gurmit Singh (Quora India), Himanshu Chakrawarti (Stellaro Brand), Atul Shinghal (Scripbox Wealth Managers) and Sanjay Jain (PDS Limited).
Statements from Organisers and Honourees
- Governor Jishnu Dev Varma highlighted the role of advertising in shaping aspirations, driving innovation and contributing to economic growth, while emphasizing the need for truthfulness, transparency and ethics.
- Nandini Dias, Chairperson of the IAA Leadership Awards, stressed that leadership today requires balancing opposing truths, making decisive choices and building enduring success.
- Abhishek Karnani, President of IAA India Chapter, noted the focus for the year on helping the industry understand and use artificial intelligence, building new skills for the next generation of marketers, and creating platforms for critical industry conversations.
- Dilip Shanghvi expressed gratitude, stating that success stems from effective teamwork, talent attraction, retention and valuing contributions.
- Sidharth Malhotra thanked the IAA, the brands that trusted him and his fans, emphasizing the special relationship between brand stories and everyday lives.
Overall Significance
The ceremony celebrated leadership across a broad spectrum of sectors, underscoring the intersection of creativity, technology and business performance. By recognising individuals and corporate leaders from pharmaceuticals, FMCG, automotive, media and advertising, the IAA highlighted the multi‑sector impact of effective brand communication and strategic leadership in India’s evolving economic landscape.