MAM
ASCI refreshes its management team
MUMBAI: The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), the self-regulatory organisation of advertising content and protecting the interest of consumers in India has announced the retirement of ASCI secretary general Alan Collaco, effective 30 May. Shweta Purandare has been named as the successor. She will start her new role from 1 June. The council has also announced the appointment of Ashutosh Geedh as its chief administrative officer.
Purandare has over 22 years of industry experience and was earlier associated with some of the eminent companies such as Cipla, Merind, P&G and L’Oreal. She has been actively associated with ASCI as the chief operations officer since the past one year. In her new role, she will continue to handle consumer complaints process. In addition, Purandare will be leading marketing, public relations and social media initiatives for ASCI.
Ashutosh Geedh who will be joining as chief administrative officer will take charge from 5 May. He has done his MBA from the Asian Institute of Management, Manila. His experience spans over 19 years in companies such as Patni Computers, LIC, Securex Capital Advisors and Towering Heights Telecommunications. In his new role, Geedh will broadly be responsible for administration, finance and accounts, HR, legal, I.T. and internal and external Communication. He will report to the secretary general.
ASCI chairman Partha Rakshit said, “Alan will be greatly missed by ASCI members for his tremendous commitment to excellence. While we are indebted to him for his exemplary service to ASCI’s mission, we are also confident that his successor, Shweta, will demonstrate strong leadership skills and analytical insights, further supporting the association’s vision and mission.”
“Also, the appointment of Ashutosh will further strengthen the association’s operations, thereby ensuring seamless functioning across various departments and external bodies,” added Rakshit.
“I am grateful to the ASCI team for offering me the desired platform to get associated with India’s largest self-regulatory voluntary organisation of the advertising sector. I am deeply honoured to have had the opportunity to be in the core team of ASCI, supporting the association’s vision of protecting the interests of the consumers,” concluded Collaco.
Brands
Prataap Snacks posts Rs 1.14 crore Q4 profit, EBITDA up 319 per cent
Yellow Diamond maker posts turnaround with Rs 1.14 crore profit, 10 per cent dividend proposed
NEW DELHI: Prataap Snacks Limited has staged a sharp turnaround in the fourth quarter of FY26, reporting a 319 per cent surge in operating EBITDA and a return to profitability after a challenging previous year.
The Indore-based company, known for brands such as Yellow Diamond and Avadh, posted income from operations of Rs 420.18 crore for Q4 FY26, marking a 5 per cent year-on-year rise. Operating EBITDA climbed to Rs 20.59 crore, while margins stood at 4.9 per cent.
Most notably, the company reported a profit after tax of Rs 1.14 crore for the quarter, reversing a loss of Rs 11.94 crore in the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share improved to Rs 0.48 from a negative Rs 5.00 earlier, signalling a steady recovery in performance.
For the full financial year, consolidated income rose 1 per cent to Rs 1,724.65 crore. Annual operating EBITDA grew 68 per cent to Rs 81.81 crore, while the company posted a net profit of Rs 9.72 crore, compared to a loss of Rs 34.27 crore in FY25.
Reflecting this improved performance, the board has recommended a dividend of 10 per cent, equivalent to Rs 0.50 per share on a face value of Rs 5.
Prataap Snacks Limited managing director Amit Kumat said the recovery was driven by sharper execution and data-led decision-making, including the use of Sales Force Automation analytics. The company also expanded its distribution network to over 5,000 distributors and strengthened its presence on quick commerce platforms.
Looking ahead, the company expects double-digit revenue growth in FY27, though it remains cautious about inflationary pressures on key inputs such as packaging materials and edible oil. Management plans to offset these through tighter cost controls and calibrated pricing strategies.
With profitability back on track and operations stabilising, Prataap Snacks appears to be regaining its footing in an increasingly competitive packaged foods market.
