Two Indian marketing leaders Shubhranshu Singh of Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Sumit Virmani of Infosys have been featured on Forbes’ ‘World’s Most Influential CMOs’ list for 2025. 

The list was announced at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The annual list celebrates top global marketing leaders who have demonstrated exceptional impact through brand innovation, data-led strategy, cultural relevance, and business growth. Virmani was ranked 24th and Singh placed 33rd, marking a significant milestone for Indian marketing professionals on the global stage.

Sumit Virmani, who leads marketing at Infosys globally, was recognised for aligning the company’s branding, communications and digital experiences with its wider business goals across more than 50 countries. Under his watch, Infosys rolled out a new brand platform that positioned the company as “AI-first, always ethical” a bold statement in a world where artificial intelligence is rapidly changing industries and raising questions around trust, according to Forbes report.

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But he didn’t stop there. Virmani also expanded Infosys’s reach in the sports world through high-profile partnerships with the ATP and the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One team. These tie-ups weren’t just for show, they came with AI-powered fan tools, immersive metaverse experiences and content that reinforced Infosys’s tech-forward image.

He also helped strengthen Infosys Springboard, the company’s digital learning platform, by making it a core part of the brand’s story. The platform is now seen as a symbol of Infosys’s commitment to upskilling in regions like India, Africa and the United States.

At Tata Motors, Shubhranshu Singh has been changing the game in how commercial vehicles are marketed. Instead of traditional campaigns, he shifted to an always-on model powered by AI and regional influencer content in 11 Indian languages. Backed by a customer data platform, the team built more than 150,000 unique customer profiles, making marketing more personal and effective.

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Singh also turned YouTube into a major storytelling platform for the brand. With the help of local creators, the channel crossed millions of subscribers and garnered millions of views, bringing emotional value and community connection to the company’s product lineup.

Another major win came with the rebranding of Tata’s electric vehicle division as Tata.ev. The move helped the company capture 70 percent of India’s EV market. In fiscal 2024, the commercial vehicles division also saw over 11 percent year-on-year revenue growth.

The top five marketing leaders on the Forbes 2025 list were Marian Lee of Netflix, Chris Davis of New Balance, Asmita Dubey of L’Oréal Groupe, Marcel Marcondes of AB InBev and David Sandström of Klarna.