BW Marketing World, in association with BW Businessworld successfully hosted the second edition of the BW Momentum Conference and the BW Merit Awards 2025 on 27 May 27 at Novotel, Andheri East, Mumbai, bringing together the sharpest minds in marketing, technology and communications to decode the ever-evolving narrative of modern marketing.
The day-long conference and awards were a confluence of thought leadership, strategy exchange and celebratory recognition of marketing excellence. The conference began with a compelling opening address by Dr Annurag Batra, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld, and Founder, exchange4media, setting the tone for a day of rich dialogue.
The conference featured seven high-impact panel discussions, two headlines and one standalone keynote, and the prestigious BW Merit Awards Ceremony. The panels brought together CXOs, marketing leaders, and digital pioneers from across sectors to explore the intersection of creativity, technology and consumer behaviour.
Visionary Perspectives
The conference witnessed an inspiring keynote session by Mainak Dhar, Managing Director, McCain Foods India, sharing a visionary perspective with “Marketing 30 Saal Baad”, offering a narrative on the evolution of brands and consumers over the next three decades. "Technology has enabled real-time data on the performance of campaigns and their success,” said Dhar at the BW Momentum Conference 2025.
Shubhranshu Singh, CMO of Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles delivered a masterclass on “Storytelling in Seconds”. “We live in an algorithmic world; everything gets algorithmically fixated, and at the bottom of the algorithm is a lever. Therefore, attention has become the most scarce commodity. Moreover, the multiplier has happened at the content end. 500 hours of video content get uploaded on YouTube every 60 seconds, whereas 60,000 audio units are added on Spotify every day,” he said. Singh outlined how brands can thrive in the short-form content era without compromising creativity.
Ajay Dang, President and Head – Marketing, UltraTech Cement (Aditya Birla Group), delivered a solo session on 'Navigating the New Era of Storytelling with Content Marketing.' He highlighted how content is becoming the creative engine even for traditional sectors like cement, emphasising the importance of authenticity, trust, and emotional resonance. “People decide emotionally and justify rationally,” Dang said, stressing the necessity for marketers to listen carefully to consumer insights before crafting narratives.
Confluence Of Modern Marketing Tactics
Highlights from the agenda included subjects such as MarTech in 2025, AI & Gen AI Transforming Content Creation, Influencer Marketing, Shopper Marketing, Navigating the New Era of Storytelling with Content Marketing, Experiential Marketing & AR/VR" and the Evolving Media Landscape" unpacking strategies for navigating the dynamic balance between traditional and digital platforms.
The speakers at the conference included Rohit Talwar, Vice President & Head Marketing, Castrol; Shwetal Basu, Sr VP, Head - Brand & Marketing, Polycab India; Shruti Kaushik, AVP, Tata Realty; Amandeep Malhari, Head Marketing, JK Cement; Tushar Malhotra, Director- Sales and Marketing, Bisleri International; Himanshu Khanna, CMO, Raymonds; Somesh Surana, Joint President- Digital Business Group & Marketing, HDFC ERGO General Insurance; Yatnesh Pandey, VP - Marketing, Greenply; Puneet Dua, CMO and Co-founder, SportsBaazi; Jyoti Kumar Bansal, Chief Brand & Communication, Tata Power; Smita Singla, General Manager – Marketing, VIP Industries; Aditya Basu, Head – CX Strategy & Advisory, APAC, Tech Mahindra (BORN, XDS); Neha Plasterwala, Head - Marketing & Communications, Lockton India; Samyukta Iyer, Former CMO Sephora, Baskin Robbins, Kaya | CEO & Founder, The Simple Thing; Tarun Khanna, President & Head – Digital Business, Marketing & Strategy, Reliance General Insurance; Shirin Rai Gupta, Director Marketing, upGrad Enterprise; Shrinivas Khanolkar, Head - Digital, Marketing & Corporate Communication, Mirae Asset Investment Managers; Abhishek Kumar Srivastava, VP Marketing, Piramal Consumer Healthcare; Nimish Raut, Global Head Esports: Partnerships & Special Projects, Nodwin Gaming; Atul Pujar, Head - Marketing, Matches and Agarbati Division, ITC; Tarandeep Singh Sekhon, CBO, Kidzania; Siddhartha Laik, Founder & Editor In Chief, IWMBuzz Media; Ritesh Dwivedi, Head - Marketing Vision Care, ZEISS India; Anagha Bhojane, Director - Integrated Brand Experience, Colgate-Palmolive India; Geetanajali Chugh Kothari, Chief Marketing Officer, Future Generali India Life Insurance and Jiteen Aggarwal, CMO, Hettich India.
Following the conference, the second Annual BW Merit Awards Ceremony honoured trailblazers in marketing innovation, brand storytelling, consumer engagement, and social impact campaigns. The evening celebrated individuals and teams who are redefining the marketing playbook in India.
