MAM
Isobar India ropes in Chandrashekhar Mhaskar as VP
MUMBAI: Isobar India has appointed Chandrashekhar Mhaskar as Vice President to drive the digital creative and services division nationally. Additionally, he will also handle the responsibilities for the West India region.
A computer engineer by qualification and having followed his heart, Mhaskar has been part of the digital advertising industry for more than two decades including international exposure in London and Singapore. He has had varied experience in heading Digital SBUs at renowned agencies such as Ogilvy One, Cheil Worldwide, and Maxus. He was also a successful entrepreneur before taking up the mandate at Isobar. His industry experience spans Television, Film, Internet, eCommerce, Mobile, Social, Online Media and New Technology; across industry verticals like FMCG, IT, Entertainment, BFSI, Education, and Telecommunications.
Big clients under his belt included Nokia, Cisco, British Airways, Perfetti, American Express, and Samsun. He brings with him a rich experience of integrating agency and client teams to collaboratively conceptualize award-winning digital advertising solutions and execute them to successfully tackle business challenges and drive ROI.
Mhaskar will also join Isobar India’s Leadership team, which includes Gopa Kumar, Vice-President; Anish Varghese, National Creative Director and Rahul Vengalil, Business Head (South), alongside Shamsuddin Jasani, Managing Director for Isobar India. Isobar India has emerged as a leader amongst the digital agencies in India, winning multiple awards including Campaign Asia’s Agency of the Year, and this appointment will further strengthen it.
Shamsuddin Jasani, Isobar India Managing Director, says: “We are happy to welcome Chandrashekhar on board with our amazing team. Over the last two years, we have clearly emerged as one the leading full service digital agencies in India of media buying and over 100 creative and technology professionals. Chandrashekhar brings a vast experience across all aspects of digital, especially creative services, which he will be heading nationally. We already have a very strong Creative services and Technology business, and with Chandrashekhar leading the way, we are looking at reaching even greater heights.”
Commenting on his appointment, Chandrashekhar Mhaskar, Vice-President, Isobar India, said: “I am immensely excited to join Isobar and be part of a team that is brimming with stupendous energy. Isobar is already in the fray of creating some cutting-edge creative and tech solutions which have garnered media attention. I am really looking forward to working with Shamsuddin and the senior management team to take Isobar to greater heights in India.”
Brands
Kwality Wall’s reports standalone losses following strategic HUL demerger
Ice cream major faces Rs 64 crore Ebitda loss amid commodity inflation and muted Q3 sales
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited (KWIL) has released its first set of financial results as a standalone entity, revealing a challenging start to its independent journey. Following its successful demerger from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on 1st December 2025 and its subsequent listing on 16th February 2026, the company is navigating a transition period marked by structural changes and high input costs.
For the quarter ended 31st December 2025, the company reported revenue of Rs 222 crores. Despite the revenue base, the bottom line was impacted by several factors, resulting in an Ebitda loss of Rs 64.2 crores. When calculated on a Pre-IND AS 116 basis, the Ebitda loss stood at Rs 83.8 crores.
Organic Sales Growth (OSG) declined by 6.5 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. Volume growth, however, saw a marginal increase of 1.2 per cent. The company reported a gross margin of 41.5 per cent. Additionally, exceptional expenses amounting to Rs 94 crores were recorded, primarily linked to non-recurring costs during the transition phase.
Performance across portfolios and channels was mixed. Within the impulse portfolio, brands such as Magnum and Cornetto recorded mid-single digit volume growth, indicating steady demand in on-the-go consumption. However, the in-home portfolio, which includes take-home packs, experienced muted consumption. The company is planning a relaunch of this category with improved offerings ahead of the 2026 season.
Quick commerce (Q-Com) continued to emerge as a strong growth driver, delivering robust double-digit growth during the quarter. Meanwhile, the company also expanded its physical distribution network by increasing the number of company-owned cabinets across markets.
Margin pressure during the quarter was driven by a combination of one-off factors and broader cost inflation. Gross margins were impacted by around 600 basis points due to trade investments made for stock liquidation. Additionally, cocoa price inflation contributed to another 400 basis points of pressure on margins.
Deputy managing director Chitrank Goel attributed the muted performance partly to prolonged monsoons and transitional challenges linked to the GST framework. Operating expenses also increased as the company invested in establishing its standalone supply chain, operational systems and corporate infrastructure following the demerger.
Looking ahead, the management remains focused on a volume-driven growth strategy. To restore profitability, the company has initiated a cost productivity programme aimed at reducing non-consumer-facing costs. It is also working on building regional manufacturing networks to optimise logistics expenses and improve operational efficiency.
The commodity outlook for the near term remains mixed. Dairy prices are expected to remain firm due to tight supply conditions and rising fodder costs. Sugar prices may also move higher following increases in the Minimum Selling Price (MSP). While cocoa prices have moderated recently, currency depreciation has offset some of the potential cost relief for the company.
