Shubhranshu Singh and Sumit Virmani in Global Most Influential CMOs list: Cannes Lions 2025
India's marketers made a significant mark on the global stage at
Cannes Lions 2025
. Two prominent Indian marketing leaders,
Shubhranshu Singh
, global
CMO
of
Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles
and
Sumit Virmani
of Infosys, are named in a prestigious Forbes compilation that records the 2025 list of the
World's Most Influential CMOs
.
The announcement, made at the ongoing Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, underscores the rising impact of Indian marketing leaders in redefining the modern CMO role through innovation, data-led strategies, and cultural resonance.
Singh's inclusion on this esteemed annual list highlights his significant contributions to building brand equity for Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles. He is particularly recognised for his deep cultural insights, category leadership, and an unwavering focus on national and business purpose. "Under his guidance, Tata Motors has executed transformative campaigns that have successfully positioned the company as a forward-looking and trusted name in commercial mobility," the report said.
Further solidifying his influence, earlier this week, Singh also joined the inaugural board of the Effie LIONS foundation. This global marketing apex organization, incorporated as a not-for-profit in New York, aims to educate and empower the next generation of marketing talent globally, with a particular emphasis on underrepresented communities.
Sumit Virmani, global chief marketing officer at Infosys, also features prominently on the Forbes list, a testament to his transformative leadership in the technology sector. Virmani is credited with significantly enhancing Infosys' global brand ambitions and helping it navigate into the league of the world's top 100 brands, evolving into one of the fastest-growing IT services brands globally. "His approach emphasises a creatively-driven, human-first strategy in B2B marketing, placing strategic priority on customer experience. Under his leadership, Infosys has made significant investments in global partnerships, notably in tennis, providing in-match analytics and insights to enhance personalized fan experiences, and more recently, expanding into Formula E Racing to illustrate mission-critical solutions to B2B customers. Virmani is also a staunch proponent of business's role in driving positive social impact, even amidst pushback on ESG and DEI efforts in some international markets," the report said.
The Forbes World's Most Influential
CMOs
List, now in its 13th year, is a rigorous evaluation of marketing leaders based on criteria such as digital engagement, campaign effectiveness, brand and community engagement, media visibility, and overall business impact. The presence of both Singh and Virmani on this global roster places them alongside some of the most impactful marketing voices from around the world.
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