Top 35 Women Leading the Marketing and CX Change
Martechvibe shares its top picks of the femme force –35 unstoppable women transforming the marketing and CX landscape in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region.
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It’s the era of empowered women who changed the mindset of the world, standing ablaze in their respective industries. Some became the innovative brains behind the revolutionary revenue-generating models in their firms. Others led exceptional campaigns to resonate with their brand ethos among target audiences. A few of them introduced unconventional gender diversity policies, encouraging a healthy work culture for their female employees.
Based on their remarkable achievements, here are our top 35 women leaders transforming the market dynamics in the ME and APAC regions.
Some Trendsetters in the Indian Economy
Designation: CMO, Pizza Hut, India Subcontinent
Anandita Datta has encapsulated various marketing strategies at Pizza Hut since the day she joined. One of her latest campaigns on Valentine’s Day, in collaboration with Tinder, gained impressive traction, connecting the GenZ audiences. Before joining Pizza Hut, she served Unilever for over 9 years as the Global Brand Manager, where she was responsible for positioning the company’s innovation roadmap and communication development.
Designation: Co-Founder at Zomato
Amongst the youngest entrepreneurs, Akriti plays an essential role in Zomato’s success so far. Embarking her journey as Zomato’s Senior Manager of Finance and Operations in 2011, Akriti’s decision has surely transformed the company’s operational efficiency. Zomato’s IPO in 2021 was a major turning point in her career, where she earned INR 149 crore in ESOPs.
Designation: Head of India and SEA Originals at Amazon Prime Videos
An innovative mind behind Amazon Prime’s blockbuster and revenue-generating shows, Aparna Purohit is known for encouraging positive work environments. It was lauded that she provided a variety of compelling content that transcended linguistic and geographical boundaries in 2023. The latest to the list are Rainbow Rishta and India Police Force.
Designation: Chief Marketing Officer, Mama Earth
With her 2 decades of experience in brand management, innovation strategy and sales, Anuja is an experimental spearhead behind the company’s marketing strategies. Her efforts have helped the brand to increase its revenue by 6.8% during the Q2 FY24. Previously, she has worked with brands like PepsiCo, and Godrej to streamline their marketing methods.
5. Bela Bajaria
Designation: Chief Content Officer, Netflix
The brain behind Netflix’s success formula, Bela Bajaria, has been weathering big storms in the online streaming industry since she took charge. The success of various popular shows on Netflix India has been etched under her name, and the company’s total income grew by 24.4% in FY23.
Designation: Group CMO, CarDekho
With an in-depth knowledge of integrated marketing campaign tactics, Charu has been handling various marketing roles at Cardekho.com since 2012. During her initial days, she curated effective content marketing strategies for the company that organically drove target audiences to the website.
Designation: Group CMO, CK Birla Group
Deepali, currently among the leading members of CK Birla Group’s marketing strategies, is an expert in her capabilities. Before joining CK Birla Group, she also led marketing, digital analytics and sales operations at Mahindra Holidays and Saffola, elevating the company’s revenue stream.
Designation: Founder & CEO, Nykaa
Falguni is a self-made entrepreneur who changed the dynamics of the Indian beauty industry with the launch of Nykaa in 2012. During her leadership, the brand has rapidly thrived both in terms of innovation and revenue. In December 2023, the company’s operational revenue reported a net growth of 22%, reaching Rs 1,788.80 crore.
Designation: Head of Marketing & GM, Brand, Media and Digital Socials, Raymond Ltd.
Madhu is a proficient brand marketer with over 24 years of experience, helping Raymonds to create compelling brand stories. Under her leadership, the brand also signed a synergy with Godrej Consumer Products in December 2023 that helped the company to ramp up its advertising ROI.
Designation: CXO, Business Growth, Meesho
Megha is responsible for planning the profitability management strategies at Meesho without compromising on customer experience. Initially, she joined Meesho as a Chief of Staff and then transitioned roles from VP of User Growth to CXO Business Growth within 4 years. Under her leadership, Meesho’s revenue has witnessed up to 77% growth for FY 2023.
11. Mukta Maheshwari
Designation: Chief Marketing Officer; Vice President & Category Head – Fabric Care, P&G India
Mukta has been serving the Procter & Gamble group for over 17 years, where she joined the company as an assistant brand manager. She plans and executes the company’s brand strategies, and it’s her commendable efforts that the company’s Indian market sales touched $ 2 billion in 2023.
Designation: Founder and CEO, Zivame.com
Richa made a revolution in the Indian intimate wear industry, where discussing lingerie was considered a taboo, by launching Zivame in 2011. Her over 10 years of experience in retail marketing, branding and operations is one of the reasons behind Zivame’s revenue of over INR 221.85 Cr in 2023.
Designation: Co-founder, Yatra.com
Sabina plays an essential role in building the foundation stone of Yatra.com, India’s popular online travel agency. Under her surveillance, the company has launched several marketing campaigns to enhance customer experiences. The #BindaasBookKar campaign was one of the latest additions to the list.
Designation: Vice President, Meta India
From introducing WhatsApp business integrations in India to launching GenAI-powered capabilities for advertisers, Sandhya is pushing endless possibilities with Meta. She envisions a mission to bring AI transformation in India, where over 3.1 billion users have already switched to at least one Meta app.
15. Shwetal Basu
Designation: Chief Marketing Officer at Shoppers Stop
With her proficiency in understanding consumer behaviour and building transformational loyalty programs, Shwetal spearheads Shopper stop’s online marketing strategies. She has launched several clutter-breaking campaigns for the company during her tenure. For instance, the ‘Live Epic’ campaign to promote the brand’s Fratini collection featuring Sanya Malhotra was one of its hits.
Designation: CEO at SUGAR Cosmetics
Shark Tank India’s popular jury and one of the innovative minds behind Sugar cosmetics’ innovative branding strategies, Vineeta surely deserves applause. Established in 2015, her brand stood out impressively in the highly competitive marketing by targeting Gen Z audiences.
Powerful Women Receiving A Round of Applause in Southeast Asia
Designation: Founder & Creative Director, Sans Faff
Brandy is the revolutionary mind behind building Sans Faff, Singapore’s first Waste Neutral Fashion label. Her brand stood out exceptionally in Singapore’s circular economy funnel, promoting a sustainability-first approach in the clothing industry. Before establishing Sans Faff, she also worked in various marketing roles for brands like Tiffany & Co, Marina Bay Sands, etc.
Designation: Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Resort Marketing, Marina Bay Sands
Irene holds the key responsibility of elevating the branding game of Marina Bay Sands, increasing its revenue by 55.6% for Q4 of FY 2023. Earlier, she has also crafted several out-of-the-box marketing strategies for Mariott International, Mandai Global, and Shangri-La Group, to name a few.
3. Jaslin G.
Designation: VP, Marketing APAC, FoodPanda
Jaslin has been recently trusted by FoodPanda, Asia’s popular food delivery platform, for her exceptional marketing proficiency and contributions in the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to joining FoodPanda, she spearheaded the rebranding of PayMe, making it Hong Kong’s credible payment wallet.
Designation: Head of Marketing Campaign, Shoppe Indonesia
Lourine has been leading the marketing campaign strategies at Shoppe, a Singapore-based ecommerce website, for over 6 years. She has played an essential role in amping up the live-streaming game of the platform to engage with and convert teenager audiences across the Southeast Asian region.
Designation: President of ecommerce, Tokopedia
With over 11 years of service at Tokopedia, Melissa created a benchmark impact in the brand’s digital transformational journey. From teaming up with TikTok Shop to sharing her insights into AI-powered digitalisation in Indonesia’s ecommerce industry, she has been a strong brand voice for the company.
Mastermind Women Entrepreneurs Transforming the Middle East Market
Designation: Marketing and PR Director, Audi Volkswagen Middle East
With her specialisation in topics like campaign management, brand activation and omnichannel customer engagement, Anja is responsible for crafting the company’s overall marketing strategies. Besides that, she is a board member of The Marketing Society, a not-for-profit organisation inspiring, accelerating and uniting the world’s most senior marketers.
Designation: Group Chief Executive Officer, First Abu Dhabi Bank
Embedding her name as the first female CEO in FAB’s history, Hana Al Rostamani is an influential leader in the Middle East. She has been a powerhouse in making the First Abu Dhabi Bank one of the biggest lenders in the UAE.
Designation: Founder and CEO, Mitcha
Immensely popular as a game-changer in the fashion industry, Hilda is an epitome of talent and creativity. She launched Mitcha in 2019, and since its inception, the company has taken Egyptian fashion to its next stage. Besides that, she was the only woman who was a judge in Shark Tank Egypt 2023.
Designation: Vice President, Group Media and Social at Emirates NBD
Acknowledged for creating a digital buzz in Emirates NBD’s social media channels, Mai surely inspires many women. Throughout her journey of 16 years, she helped the company achieve its milestones, from strengthening its online presence to transforming the customer journey.
Designation: CEO & Founder at izil Beauty
Mouna is a brand communication and marketing expert, besides being the founder of izil Beauty, an all-natural beauty brand. In 2023, her brand onboarded Nora Fatehi as its global ambassador, fostering its initiative to connect with her fans. Additionally, her brand launched its subsidiary venture, the Aker Fassi Poppy Lip Trio, under her leadership.
Designation: Chief Marketing Officer, KFC MENAPAKT & CIS
Ozge is responsible for executing various marketing synergies and initiatives at the KFC MENA region. Under her leadership, the brand created PLAY KFC, its ultimate platform for uniting communities, igniting passions and unveiling talents. It was a part of the brand’s three-year partnership with the Saudi Esports Federation to empower female gamers.
7. Saachi S.
Designation: Vice President of Brand Marketing, Noon
Saachi S. is among the trendsetters and innovators at Noon, the Middle East’s ecommerce giant, who keeps introducing out-of-the-box marketing strategies. During her tenure, Noon also acquired Namshi, a shopping platform, to expand its digital ecosystem.
Designation: Senior Marketing Director, Africa Middle East South Asia, PepsiCo
Despite Saakshi’s recent entry into PepsiCo India, her marketing initiatives have already begun to eloquently showcase her contributions. For instance, Pepsi Middle East’s rebranding to a human-centric approach received an impressive shoutout. She also worked as a General Manager at the Coca-Cola company for 5 years.
Designation: President, Eurasia Middle East Operating Unit, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa
Joined as the board member of Cola-Cola Beverages Africa in 2023, Sedef has been serving the company under various roles for over 16 years. During the initial days of her career, she also worked with Procter & Gamble as a brand manager.
Designation: Chief Marketing Officer, Majid Al Futtaim
From shaping purpose to executing strategies, Sheila is a dynamic leader who has reflected the transformative journey of the company. She is a strong representative of sustainable consumerism and was also among the keynote speakers at the Sustainable Consumer panel at COP28.
Designation: Founder, Apparel Group
Sima has been serving the Apparel Group for over 29 years, and the firm saw a drastic revolution under her leadership. In January 2024, she was also a keynote speaker for the World Woman Davos Agenda, a collaborative, multi-stakeholder initiative that reshapes women’s roles globally.
Designation: Digital Channel Sales Lead, Apple
Sonja creates and optimises result-driven marketing strategies for catalysing the company’s digital sales. She is a transformational leader who has helped the brand gain a competitive edge in an ever-changing business environment. Previously, she has helped brands like Majid Al Futtaim, Careem, and Noon to maximise their organisational profits.
Designation: Head of Marketing, LEGO MEA
From spilling the spirit of Ramadan’s enthusiasm with thought-provoking employee engagement activities with Campaign ME to making LEGO’s Instagram content popular, Ula has always surprised the industry. She holds a strong track record in the consumer goods industry and her work has previously echoed the branding strategies for Procter & Gamble.
14. Wejdan Yamani
Designation: Director of Sales, HSMAI ME
Wejdan is a member of the advisory board at The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, lifting the branding goals of the ME hospitality industry. She is a certified digital marketer and has worked with hotel chains like Sheraton Jeddah, The Ritz-Carlton, and Park Hyatt.
