SMARTIES India 2024: Celebrating innovative marketing excellence

 MMA Global India has proudly unveiled the winners of the 13th edition of SMARTIES India 2024 at a glittering gala event in Mumbai on 11 October, recognizing the country’s most impactful and innovative marketing campaigns. These campaigns have demonstrated exceptional creativity, strategic brilliance, and measurable business impact across various industries. With 87 total metals given including 10 most prestigious industry awards, SMARTIES India continues to set new benchmarks in marketing excellence.

SMARTIES winners are ranked on the Business Impact Index developed in collaboration with WARC, which highlight the top brands, agencies, publishers, media agencies etc per the true business impact they created through their campaigns. Winners are also now certified in partnership with RECMA, the leading media agency research organization, ensuring that they are recognized in globally acclaimed platforms. 

This year’s awards showcased outstanding work across diverse categories ranging from FMCG, OTT, retail, BFSI to technology, B2B and more. Among the top categories this year were AI Marketing, Connected TV, Creator/Influencer Marketing, Brand Experience and emerging tech categories all reflecting the industry’s rapid shift towards technology-driven and consumer-centric strategies.

Rohit Dadwal, CEO, MMA APAC & Global Head of SMARTIES, shared: "It’s always inspiring to see how creativity and data can come together to create truly remarkable campaigns. This year’s SMARTIES winners have done just that, embracing AI and new technologies to deliver results that speak for themselves. Congratulations to all the winners, and a big thank you to our jury chairs, jury and screeners for their hard work and dedication. As we recognize these achievements, I’m reminded of the critical importance of continually innovating and adapting in today’s fast-paced marketing landscape."

Grand Unveil of SMARTIES Musical Logo or ‘Mogo’ 

MMA Global India also established the sonic identity of SMARTIES worldwide by launching the official SMARTIES musical logo or ‘mogo’ at the Gala. It was unveiled with a delightful performance by the talented and renowned maestro Rajeev Raja, and the mind behind the MMA-member company BrandMusiq that helped create the mogo. Not only does the mogo have a catchy ring to it, but also strong resonance with the distinguished values that SMARTIES represents. It drives the SMARTIES ethos of marketing excellence back home, and was very well received by the audience with its dynamic and impactful launch. 

Key partners for the event included ShareChat & Moj, Silverpush, Glance Advertising, Blis, Hybrid, and Storyboard18, amongst more. 

10 Industry Awards Given

SMARTIES honored top performing brands, agencies and companies across categories recognising them as industry wins of the year. Congratulations to all the below winners of the top industry awards - 

• Grand Prix / Best in Show - Gatorade Turf Finder
• Most Resilient Brand of the Year - Olay
• Advertiser of the Year - Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd
• Brand of the Year - Cadbury Celebrations
• Publisher of the Year - Amazon Ads
• Media Agency of the Year - Wavemaker India
• Creative Agency of the Year - Leo Burnett India
• Digital Agency of the Year - Interactive Avenues & Performics India
• Holding Agency Company of the Year - WPP India

The jury was led by 3 esteemed jury chairs - Shailendra Katyal, Managing Director of Lenovo; Deepika Bhan, President - Packaged Foods, Tata Consumer Products; and Rohit Bhasin, MMA India Board Member; President, Head – Affluent, NRI, Business Banking and CMO, Kotak Mahindra Bank.

Deepika Bhan, President - Packaged Foods, Tata Consumer Products & SMARTIES Jury Chair said: "As a jury chair, it was a privilege to witness the extraordinary caliber of work submitted. In an era where innovation and consumer engagement are key, these campaigns showcased the true potential of creativity combined with data to drive significant business results in the FMCG sector.”

Key Trends Highlighted in SMARTIES India 2024:

• AI Marketing & Connected TV: These emerging categories saw a remarkable number of entries, indicating the industry’s growing focus on leveraging AI and new media to drive marketing innovation.
• Retail Media: As retail media continues to evolve, the winning campaigns demonstrated how brands are tapping into phygital experiences and omnichannel strategies to connect with consumers in meaningful ways. 
• Creator/Influencer Marketing: This category remained a magnet for creative excellence, with campaigns that effectively engaged niche communities and built authentic connections through influencers and celebrities.

Moneka Khurana, Country Head and BOD Member, MMA Global India, shared her thoughts:
"Congratulations to all the winners of SMARTIES India 2024. The campaigns we’re celebrating are truly shaping the future of marketing excellence. Each winner showcases the very best of not only creativity and innovation but true business impact. At MMA, we’re committed to a future proof showcase of campaigns that empower marketers and brands to continue driving digital maturity and transformation at scale in our rapidly evolving industry."

The gala was preceded by SMARTIES Unplugged to decode the future of marketing excellence witnessed within the work submitted at Smarties, a pre-gala conference that saw thought leaders discussing AI marketing, creative tech, and the evolving consumer mindset in the digital age. It was a day well spent with sessions and masterclasses that inspired attendees with actionable insights on shaping the future of marketing.

Jury Highlights

Shailendra Katyal, Managing Director, Lenovo & SMARTIES Jury Chair remarked: "Judging the SMARTIES entries this year reinforced the importance of integrating technology into every aspect of marketing. The winning campaigns stood out for their ability to seamlessly blend creativity and technological advancements, especially in categories like AI Marketing and Connected TV. These campaigns represent the future of marketing excellence and set high standards for the year to come."

The diverse pan-industry selection jury comprised leaders from Havas Media, Lionsgate Play, FCB, Jio, Domino’s, Abbott, Flipkart, WPP, Dentsu, Mindshare, Niti Aayog, Times Network, LoveChild by Masaba, Zee5, Genpact, amongst many. 

The final set of deliberations spread over a 3-day enriching jury meet to decide on the metals by our marketer-only jury comprising diverse categories represented by marketers from Myntra, Hindustan Unilever, Tata, HDFC, Marico, Aditya Birla Group, Pepsico, MakeMyTrip, Godrej, Castrol, Wipro, Nivea, Perfetti, Leela, Hershey, HP, amongst more; with Kantar, serving as the official jury observer, ensuring the highest standards in evaluation.

Presenting The Smarties India 2024 Winners :- https://www.mmaglobal.com/smarties-2024/finalists/winners/region:8