Judges Category: Judges 2026

Kalpesh Parmar is General Manager for Mars Snacking Asia, overseeing operations across more than 20 markets. He leads the chocolate, gum, fruity confections, cereal and snacking portfolio, and pet nutrition in South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Previously GM of Mars Wrigley India, he brings over two decades of FMCG experience across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Since joining in 2020, he has driven growth through strategic execution, brand building and talent development. His career spans mature and emerging markets including South Korea, Singapore, Dubai, Turkey, Nigeria and India. Before Mars, he spent 12 years with Unilever earlier career.

Kaveri Khullar is a member of Mastercard’s Asia Pacific Marketing Leadership Team, driving Consumer Marketing, Sponsorships, and Gaming in the region.

Recognized on Campaign Asia’s Power 50 list, Kaveri is the recipient of the Women in Payments 2025 Innovation Award for building a first-to-world B2B loyalty platform anchored in the $200 billion gaming industry (MastercardGamer Exchange).

Kaveri’s 20-year career began in the fashion capitals of Paris and Milan, where she gained first-hand insights into the global luxury industry. Transitioning to the corporate world, she joined Virgin Records, immersing herself in music and pop culture as a sales and marketing executive.

Six years later, her passion for luxury and lifestyle drew her to Diageo Plc., where she played a pivotal role in launching and commercializing Diageo Reserve, the company’s ultra-premium portfolio, and later headed marketing in India for one of the company’s most iconic assets, the Johnnie Walker franchise.

In 2015, Kaveri relocated to Singapore to head Global Marketing Innovation for Johnnie Walker Super Deluxe, leveraging her expertise in affluent consumer insights across India, Southeast Asia, and China. In this role, she navigated a challenging industry landscape, accelerating premiumization and harnessing cultural trends to drive growth.

Recognizing the transformative power of technology in marketing, Kaveri joined Mastercard Asia Pacific in 2018, leading a team of digital and marketing experts to establish a meaningful brand presence in markets such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, where traditional payment companies were being challenged by wallets and alternative payment methods.

Kaveri has since continued to expand her leadership scope across Consumer Marketing and Sponsorships in Asia Pacific, advancing Mastercard’s business-driven marketing capability while also pioneering the company’s first-ever B2B gaming product—Mastercard Gamer Exchange. This innovative platform unlocks new revenue streams in the multi-billion dollar gaming industry while addressing critical challenges in loyalty and payments, delivering monetary value to both financial and non-financial institutions.

Beyond leading digital and experiential marketing for banks, merchants, and fintechs, Kaveri shapes Mastercard’s sponsorship strategy, guiding investments in world-class events like the Australian Open, McLaren, and the Cricket World Cup.

Kaveri and her team recently led the thinking on an AI-powered lifestyle and travel concierge that has debuted in India with a leading OTA.

Her influence extends beyond marketing. She plays a critical role in shaping Mastercard’s Asia Pacific Advisory Board discussions on macroeconomic trends, technological innovation, and sustainability.

Passionate about mentoring the next generation, she lectures on marketing innovation at Singapore Management University, equipping students with the tools to navigate technological disruption.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS & RECOGNITI

Winner Women in Payments Innovation Award 2025
Asia Pacific’s 50 most influential marketers Campaign Asia Pacific, Power 50
Jury President, Creative effectiveness & Strategy, 2020, Spikes Asia Pacific
Mentor & #WomenInTechnology Panelist, 2021, Campaign Leading Change Ambassador 2022, Cannes Lion
Creator of Mastercard Gamer Xchange, a revenue driving B2B gaming product
ASEAN Awards Committee member Women in Payments
Ambassador, Women in Gaming, 2024/2025

A seasoned Marketing Director with over 20 years of experience, she brings deep expertise in brand and business strategy, marketing transformation, and consumer-centric experience design. She has led iconic brands including Dove, Lifebuoy and Knorr/Royco, driving growth through insight-led, culturally relevant innovation.

With strong capabilities across media, digital, and marketing technology, she is known for translating strategy into impactful results at scale, with multiple awards across Indonesia and APAC. With a strong regional outlook and a passion for developing impactful ideas and talent, she brings a thoughtful, future-focused perspective to identifying and celebrating the industry’s next generation of leaders.