THE NEW ARCHITECTS OF INFLUENCE

At the start of 2026, hear from 26 of India's top marketing leaders on how fresh ideas are shaping the modern brand

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Marketing today is no longer about being the loudest voice in the room, but the most relevant one.

As platforms fragment, cultures shift faster, algorithms accelerate, and consumers grow more discerning, the role of the modern CMO is being fundamentally redefined.

In our inaugural 2026 issue, Exhibit brings together conversations with 26 of India's leading CMOs to understand how marketing leadership is evolving in real time. Across technology, mobility, luxury, consumer electronics, appliances, and deep tech, a clear pattern emerges: disruption is no longer performative; it is structural. Brands are moving beyond short-term visibility to focus on long-term relevance, rethinking distribution models, blurring category boundaries, and building ecosystems rather than isolated campaigns.

Experience-led storytelling, cultural participation, and seamless phygital journeys are becoming central to brand building, while complex technologies are being humanised through narratives that connect with everyday life. Artificial intelligence is accelerating insight, personalisation, and speed, but creativity, empathy, and cultural intuition remain deeply human strengths.