MAM
BOD Consulting onboards Dr PV Ramana Murthy as an expert advisor
Mumbai: BOD Consulting, one of the leading strategy and design consulting firms, has onboarded Dr PV Ramana Murthy to its team. Dr Murthy, a seasoned HR practitioner, distinguished lawyer, and bestselling author brings over three and a half decades of experience and expertise to BODHI, its knowledge collective.
BODHI boasts of experts from around the globe, each with niche specializations and decades of rich experience. BOD Consulting collaborates closely with these expert advisors to conduct knowledge-sharing sessions and deliver value to its clients.
As a renowned leader in his field, Dr Murthy has held pivotal roles across prestigious Fortune 500 and global companies, including EVP at Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) and executive director of human resources at The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC), and has global exposure across Asia, Europe, and the USA.
Dr Murthy’s diverse background uniquely equips him to counsel clients on various challenges and opportunities in organizational development. His expertise extends beyond conventional HR functions, encompassing leadership development, culture enhancement, and talent management. His guidance will be pivotal in assisting clients to cultivate resilient and future-ready institutions.
“I am delighted to welcome Dr. PV Ramana Murthy as an Expert Advisor at BOD. Dr. Murthy’s wealth of experience and innovative approach to problem solving will bring fresh perspective to the cultural transformation initiatives, for both our clients and employees. We are eagerly looking forward to the transformative impact Dr Murthy will have on BOD’s fast-paced journey ahead.” said BODHI chairman and BOD Consulting senior partner Mukesh Mathur.
The knowledge collective of BOD Consulting also includes Dr Ajay Kohli, Anil Kejriwal, Bhaskar Pramanik, Manoj Agarwal, J Suresh, Thomas Varghese, and Dr Raman Kumar. Together, they form a formidable team of strategic thinkers dedicated to helping BOD Consulting’s clients build organisations they are truly proud of.
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.
