MAM
Pradeep Hejmadi quits Nick, to head Tam’s S-Group
MUMBAI: Nickelodeon director business and operations head Pradeep Hejmadi, who was re-designated as MTV Networks India research head only recently, has decided to call it a day at the company.
Hejmadi, who will be joining Tam Media Research’s S-Group as head, put in his papers last week.
Tam India CEO L V Krishnan confirmed the development to Indiantelevision.com citing that Hejmadi will be joining the company next week.
He said, “S-Group has brought in some wonderful insights for the industry over after its inception three years back. Many of this division’s contributions have propelled Tam to newer heights, even internationally. For the future, I do see a new trajectory of growth in the field of Broadcast Management. I am very pleased to announce that Pradeep Hejmadi will be joining us to spearhead the S-Group division in the area of Broadcast Management. He brings huge amounts of value additions to the table as he has been associated with a wide variety of assignments in the domain of media planning and broadcast management. He has launched numerous pioneering research projects that has not only benefited the organizations he has worked for but has also given a new dimension of thought for the entire media industry.”
In the wake of this new appointment, the agency will be shortly announcing a new role for Tam India vice president Atul Phadnis, who currently heads S-Group, AdEx India and Eikona PR Track.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Hejmadi said that he had put in his papers at Nick last week and would be leaving the kids channels by the end of this week.
Hejmadi came on to MTV from Turner in June last year. In his four year stint at Turner he was research director and was responsible for CNN, CNN.com, Cartoon Network and Cartoonnetworkindia.com.
He began his career with Times FM in 1994 and moved to media planning and buying with the media buying unit of HTA. He then moved to Discovery Communications in 1997, before joining Turner.
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.
