Mumbai / Global – March 13, 2026
Coherent Market Insights (CMI) is proud to have served as the Official Research Partner for the Marketing Communication Excellence Awards 2026, one of India's most authoritative platforms celebrating excellence in marketing and corporate communications, held on 13 March 2026 at Sahara Star Hotel, Mumbai.
Mr. Mohit Shrivastava, AVP – Research & Consulting at CMI, took the stage to present the research methodology underpinning this year's awardee selection — a rigorous, evidence-based framework examining leadership effectiveness, integrated communication maturity, innovation adoption, and long-term stakeholder impact across India's most competitive marketing and communication ecosystem.
About the Marketing Communication Excellence Awards 2026
Organised by Team Marksmen, the Marketing Communication Excellence Awards 2026 is built on the defining theme of Influence with Intent and reflecting the growing imperative for marketing and communication leaders to exercise their influence with clarity, credibility, and purpose.
The 2026 edition brought together a distinguished gathering of Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs), corporate communication heads, brand strategists, and PR leaders from across India's corporate landscape. The event served as a platform for forward-looking discussions on AI-driven marketing, data-led storytelling, and brand impact while recognising organisations and leaders who are shaping the future of marketing and communications in India.
The platform encompasses organisations across a wide spectrum of sectors, including:
- Retail & E-commerce
- Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare
- Telecommunications & IT
- Consumer Goods & BFSI
- Manufacturing, Automotive & Infrastructure
- Hospitality & Tourism
Spanning large enterprises with established national presence, high-growth organisations with strong category influence, and future-ready organisations demonstrating scalable, innovation-led growth, the platform ensures that recognition is defined by impact, leadership, and communication maturity and not size alone.
CMI's Research Methodology: The Science Behind Communication Excellence
The evaluation process was designed by CMI as a rigorous, end-to-end research exercise prioritising objectivity, sectoral breadth, and independently verifiable performance indicators at every stage.
Eligibility Screening & Profiling
Organisations were screened across four parameters such as operational scale (annual turnover exceeding INR 500 Cr with three years of stable performance), integrated communication framework, market positioning and brand strength, and governance and compliance standards. Each qualifying organisation underwent desk-level validation using annual reports, regulatory filings, media coverage, and digital sentiment signals.
Scoring Framework & Weight Distribution
Shortlisted profiles were scored across two tiers: organisation-level parameters (25%) covering financial stability, communication maturity, ESG practices, and crisis preparedness; and business leader-level parameters (75%) covering strategic influence, AI and data adoption, reputation ownership, narrative leadership, and long-term industry contribution. This weightage guarantees that leadership influence dominates over the organisational scale.