MAM
Carter Murray Named CEO of Draftfcb Worldwide
MUMBAI: The Interpublic Group (IPG) has named Carter Murray Draftfcb Worldwide CEO. He replaces Laurence Boschetto, who will remain with the agency through a transitional period and then serve as a Senior Advisor to IPG in a consulting capacity. Murray will be based out of New York.
Thirty eight year old Murray comes in from WPP’s Y&R, where he was president and CEO for North America and Y&R New York CEO. He has previously served as chief marketing officer and worldwide account director on Nestlé, as well as a member of the executive committee at Publicis Worldwide.
Murray began his career at Leo Burnett in Chicago and has held a number of posts at the agency, including stints in Germany and the United Kingdom. Howard Draft will continue in his role as executive chairman at Draftfcb.
IPG chairman and CEO Michael I Roth said, “We‘re very pleased to welcome Carter in this key role at an important time for Draftfcb. He understands consumer advertising and brands, has demonstrated the ability to motivate diverse teams and raise the quality of creative work, nurture client relationships and win global business. This combination of skills and experience in a dynamic new leader is what the agency needs in order to evolve its integrated model and drive growth.”
Roth added, “We thank Laurence for his contributions to our search for his successor and to the agency, including a consistent and high level of operational and financial delivery. We wish him well in his ongoing industry activity, particularly in the area of diversity and inclusion, where we will continue to work together.”
Murray said, “I am greatly looking forward to this opportunity. Draftfcb has outstanding people, clients and a commitment to putting together the best of brand advertising and accountable communications disciplines, such as digital, CRM and activation. That‘s a powerful promise we must make good on. When we do, the Draftfcb offer will be hard for clients to resist. Working with the strong leadership teams across the network and with Interpublic‘s continued support, I feel we can deliver on that vision and do something really special.”
Boschetto said, “Carter brings energy, a new perspective and range of talents that will take us to the next level. I‘ll do everything to help him step into the CEO role seamlessly and I know our senior teams will do so as well. I thank all of our nearly 9,000 people around the world for their support and I know the agency‘s best days are ahead. Moving onto the next chapter personally, in working to promote our industry and in particular to work for greater diversity among our ranks, is something to which I am very much looking forward.”
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.
