MAM
FCB Ulka Advertising promotes Nitin Karkare as CEO
MUMBAI: FCB Ulka Advertising COO – Mumbai & Bengaluru Nitin Karkare has been elevated as CEO.
Speaking on his new role, Karkare said, “From starting out as a management trainee at Ulka Advertising to becoming the CEO of FCB Ulka Advertising, it has been an exhilarating journey. FCB Ulka has been built on the foundation of long term partnerships with its clients and its people. I would like to build on this legacy while infusing a new creative energy into the system.”
Karkare has been with FCB Ulka since 1986, when he joined the agency as a management trainee.
FCB Ulka Group chairman and CEO Rohit Ohri added, “My first priority in my new assignment is to ensure that we have the right people in the right leadership roles. Nitin’s passion for advertising, his love for the company, his deep bonds with our clients and, of course, his charming, and affable work style make him the right person for the position of CEO, FCB Ulka Advertising. He has an impressive track record of building some of India’s most loved brands. His commitment to our clients is true testimony to FCB’s spirit of partnership. I’m confident that Nitin will lead FCB Ulka Advertising to new heights and will be a great partner to me in realising our vision for the Group.”
IPG Media Brands India CEO Shashi Sinha added, “I have worked with Nitin from 1986 and am thrilled that he will lead FCB Ulka Advertising – he knows the clients, the people and more importantly the culture. This is true testimony to growth from within.”
Brands
Bajaj Consumer Care FY26 profit rises to Rs 193.7 crore
Revenue climbs to Rs 1,092 crore as profit grows 49 per cent YoY
MUMBAI: Hair today, growth tomorrow Bajaj Consumer Care Limited seems to have found its shine again, posting a sharp jump in profitability even as it doubled down on brand spends and expansion. The company reported a net profit of Rs 193.7 crore for FY26, marking a strong 49 per cent rise from Rs 130.1 crore in FY25. Revenue from operations also grew to Rs 1,092.2 crore, up from Rs 942.8 crore a year earlier, signalling steady demand momentum across its portfolio.
For the March quarter, profit stood at Rs 64.1 crore, compared to Rs 31.5 crore in the corresponding period last year, while revenue rose to Rs 308.3 crore from Rs 243.5 crore.
The performance came despite a notable increase in spending. Advertising and sales promotion expenses climbed to Rs 168.3 crore in FY26, up from Rs 137.8 crore in FY25, reflecting continued investment in brand building. Other expenses also rose to Rs 151.3 crore from Rs 134.2 crore, indicating a broader push towards growth.
Operating efficiency, however, held firm. Profit before tax increased to Rs 234.8 crore in FY26 from Rs 157.7 crore a year earlier, supported by disciplined cost management across materials and inventory.
On the balance sheet, the company’s total assets expanded to Rs 959.1 crore as of March 31, 2026, compared to Rs 931.9 crore a year earlier. Other equity rose to Rs 780.3 crore, reinforcing a stronger financial base.
Cash flow from operations saw a significant uptick, reaching Rs 196.9 crore in FY26, nearly three times the Rs 67.9 crore recorded in FY25, highlighting improved working capital management.
However, the year also saw aggressive capital allocation. The company spent Rs 190.2 crore on share buybacks, contributing to a net cash outflow of Rs 196.5 crore from financing activities. Cash and cash equivalents stood at Rs 6.8 crore at the end of the year, down from Rs 25.6 crore.
Even as investments in subsidiaries and assets continued, the numbers suggest a company balancing growth ambitions with shareholder returns keeping one eye on expansion and the other on efficiency.
With margins improving and revenue steadily climbing, Bajaj Consumer Care appears to be combing through the competition with renewed confidence.
