Leo India Crowned Agency of the Year; Nestlé India Secures Top Client Honour at 25th Effie India Awards

The 25th edition of the Effie India Awards concluded in Mumbai with leading marketers and agencies earning top distinctions for delivering measurable business impact through creative excellence.

Organised by the The Advertising Club, the milestone ceremony brought together more than 1,000 professionals from advertising, marketing, media, research and communications, reinforcing the awards’ reputation as a benchmark for effectiveness-driven campaigns.

Leo India and Nestlé India Lead the Rankings

Nestlé India was named Effie Client of the Year, recognising its sustained marketing performance and brand-building initiatives.

Leo India secured the coveted Agency of the Year title, highlighting its consistent ability to convert creativity into tangible results.

The Grand Effie — the competition’s highest recognition — was awarded to McCann Gurugram for its campaign for Nestlé India’s Maggi brand titled “Maggi: Why save the best for the last?” The agency also ranked among the top performers overall, followed by The Womb.

A Landmark Year for Marketing Effectiveness

This year’s edition marked a significant milestone, with participation from 89 agencies across India. Entries were evaluated by a cross-section of industry leaders, brand custodians and academic experts to ensure campaigns were assessed on both strategic insight and measurable business outcomes.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dheeraj Sinha, President of The Advertising Club and CEO of McCann India, noted that the awards have evolved into a defining platform for recognising marketing ideas that drive commercial success.

Mitrajit Bhattacharya, Chairperson of the Effie India Awards and Founder of The Horologists, highlighted the growing diversity of participating agencies, ranging from global networks to independent and specialist firms.

Pradeep Dwivedi, Co-Chairperson of the awards and Group CEO of Eros Media World, underscored the rising standard of entries, citing the integration of strategic discipline with bold creative thinking.

Industry Partnerships and Broader Impact

The event was supported by key category sponsors, including Adani Group for Integrated Advertising Campaign, Eco Media Solutions for Brand Experience, and Tata Communications for B2B.

Presented in association with News18 India and News18 Marathi, and powered by CNN-News18 and CNBC-TV18, the awards night reflected the growing strategic importance of effectiveness metrics in modern marketing.

Celebrating Ideas That Deliver Results

Over the past quarter century, the Effie India Awards have become a recognised standard for evaluating campaigns that combine creativity with measurable performance. The 2025 edition reinforced the industry’s shift toward accountable, impact-driven storytelling — where innovation is measured not only by imagination, but by business growth and brand equity.

As the awards enter their next chapter, the emphasis remains firmly on campaigns that demonstrate strategic clarity, executional excellence and demonstrable return on investment — setting the tone for the future of Indian marketing.