Elevating outdoor advertising excellence at OOH Phoenix Awards & Summit 2025

The Founder Media | B2B Market Media (TFM | B2B) hosted the inaugural OOH Phoenix Awards & Summit 2025 in Mumbai on 26^th February. The occasion saw more than 200 industry pioneers who came together to explore the transformative fusion of technology, creativity and strategic innovation in Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising. Under the theme “Elevating Outdoor Advertising Excellence,” the summit brought together creative directors, media strategists, digital innovators and thought leaders to express their insights on the way brands connect with audiences. Engaging panel discussions, inspiring presentations and collaborative conversations paved the way for a forward-thinking vision, setting the stage for a future where technology and creativity drive impactful and audience-centric campaigns.

Dr Anupam Gupta, Co-Founder and Director, TFM | B2B, welcomed the audience to the summit. In his address, he said, “We are thrilled to bring together visionaries, innovators and pioneers from the OOH advertising industry to celebrate excellence and shape the future of the sector. Today, we recognise the transformative power of OOH advertising—how it continues to evolve, innovate and engage audiences in impactful ways.”

Following this, Dr Ashish Srivastava, Co-Founder and Director, TFM | B2B, introduced The Founder magazine (OOH-special edition) to the audience.

“From traditional billboards to cutting-edge digital displays, the OOH space is evolving, and this magazine captures that transformation. Each story is a reminder that great ideas can spark big changes. This magazine honours the passion and innovation that light up our cities and lives,” he said.

Following his address, the magazine was unveiled in the presence of Fahim Batliwala, Founder, Simca Advertising (who has been featured on the cover page), his team members, Dr Gupta and Akanki Sharma, Founding Editor, The Founder magazine.  

While unveiling the magazine, Batliwala said, “I would like to thank The Founder Media, Dr Ashish Srivastava, Dr Anupam Gupta and my whole team. Without you guys, this wouldn’t have been possible. Where we started from, and where we reached today, it’s all the hard work that has paid off.”

The summit saw a fireside chat between Deepa Gupta, Vice President | Regional Head-West and South, MOMS Outdoor and Harshita Hemnani, Deputy Vice President, Bharti AXA Life Insurance on “Intelligent OOH for BFSI: How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Insights Drive Consumer-Centric Campaigns.” The two explored how AI’s predictive analytics and financial brands can tailor campaigns to consumer behaviour, reaching audiences more effectively and creating personalised experiences.

Thereafter, Ankur Garg, Associate Vice President (VP), Rapport, presented his thoughts on “From Static to Smart: The Rise of Interactive and Responsive OOH.” He expressed his thoughts on the shift from traditional OOH to dynamic, digital formats, and how, with technology like AI, sensors and mobile integration, OOH now delivers personalised and real-time engagement.

Following this, there was another fireside chat between Kaushik Chakravorty, Business Head (Retail and Trade Marketing), Interspace Communications and Mohd Ujaley, Consulting Editor, TFM | B2B on “The Impact of e-commerce on OOH Advertising Strategies.” The duo discussed how the rise of e-commerce is reshaping OOH advertising, focussing on driving online engagement.

Then, there was a keynote session by Jayesh Yagnik, CEO, Madison India, on “The Digital Transformation of OOH: Blending Tradition with Technology.” He explained how digital transformation of OOH advertising is reshaping the landscape by integrating traditional media with advanced technologies.

There was also a panel discussion on “Sustainable Practices in OOH: Innovations and Challenges” wherein the panellists Dipankar Sanyal, CEO, Platinum Media; Rajat Sikder, Director, Walk The Talk; Pratik Lalani, Founder, Craywingz; Mangesh Shinde, Co-Founder and Managing Director (MD), OSMO and Shahid Hakim, Founder, Wallop Advertising, deliberated on the sustainable practices in OOH advertising that focus on eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient technologies and responsible waste management. The session was moderated by Ujaley.

Post the panel discussion, Saibal Gupta, Founder, Xperia, expressed his views on “The Future of DOOH in Smart Cities” and how leveraging data and connectivity can help to deliver targetted and context-aware messages.

After Gupta’s address, there was another panel discussion on “Cultural Relevance and Localisation: Crafting OOH Campaigns for Diverse Markets.” The panel was moderated by Promita Saha, VP-Marketing, Karukrit Advertising, and the fellow panellists involved Nikhil Shrikhande, Head-Brand Partnerships, Mancunianz; Jaikishin Chhaproo, Head – Media and Brand PR, ITC; Ishika Sharma, Associate Director, Bliss Club; Mohd Asghar, Co-Founder and CEO, BrandOnWheelz and Madhu Dutta, Head—Marketing, Raymond.

Finally, the OOH Phoenix Summit 2025 powered-by Wallop saw a closing keynote session by Haresh Nayak, Founder and CEO, Connect Network, who spoke on “Future Trends: What’s Next for OOH Advertising?” He talked about increased digital integration, real-time data utilisation and enhanced interactivity through technologies like Augmented Reality (AR), along with personalised, context-driven campaigns that will dominate, leveraging AI for audience insights.

As the sun set, the highlight of the evening arrived—the OOH Phoenix Awards 2025. In a ceremony brimming with excitement and pride, outstanding contributions in creativity, strategy and execution were recognised. Award recipients were lauded for their exceptional campaigns that have not only elevated brand messaging, but also set new benchmarks in the OOH space.

There were over 200 award nominations in eight categories with 81 subcategories, and the award winners were decided by a jury comprising renowned veterans in the OOH industry. They were awarded with Gold, Silver and Bronze metals.

The summit concluded on a high note, with attendees leaving inspired and energised to drive the next wave of innovation. The OOH Phoenix Awards & Summit 2025 wasn’t just a celebration of past achievements—it was a launchpad for future endeavours that will continue to transform the world of OOH advertising.

editor@thefoundermedia.com