Babita Baruah, CEO, VML India, bagged the 'Creative Leader of the Year', while Kartik Sharma, group CEO, Omnicom Media Group India, bagged the 'Media Leader of the Year' at the 2026 edition of the IAA India Chapter's Leadership Awards.

Neeraj Roy, founder and CEO, Hungama Digital Media, was inducted into the 'Hall of Fame'. 

Dilip Shanghvi, managing director, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, bagged the 'Business Leader of the Year'.

The 'Force for Good' award was won by Sam Balsara, chairperson, Madison World, for work done on Tanya Computer Centre (TCC), a venture by his daughter Tanya Balsara. TCC is a network of digital literacy centres for the visually impaired founded by Tanya.

The 'Brand Endorser of the Year' was bagged by Siddharth Malhotra.

Rahul Kanwal, CEO, and editor-in-chief, NDTV, was awarded the 'Media Person of the Year'.

Other winners on the night were: 

FMCG food: Jayen Mehta, Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (Amul)

Auto (Passenger Vehicles + EV + UV): Nalinikanth Gollagunta (Mahindra and Mahindra)

Pharma (Consumer Health): Mohit Malhotra, Dabur India

Mutual Funds: Nimesh Shah, ICICI Prudential AMC

OTT: YouTube India

E-Commerce: Zomato 

FMCG Beverages: Sunil Dhar, Red Bull India

Banking: Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, State Bank of India

FMCG Home Care: Reckitt

Consumer Durables: Anil G Verma, Godrej & Boyce 

Auto (Two Wheelers + EV): Aniruddha Haldar, TVS Motor Company