MAM
Wavemaker India bolsters its North leadership team
Mumbai: Wavemaker India, GroupM’s most awarded agency, has announced key appointments to further strengthen its North leadership team. The agency has appointed Jasmine Sachdeva as managing partner and Dipika Bhasin as head for Team Reckitt.
The move is aimed at strengthening the agency’s position in the region and enhancing its capabilities to deliver impactful solutions to clients.
Sachdeva, a highly experienced media professional with over two decades of industry expertise joins back at GroupM after a short stint with Publicis Media. She is a skilled strategist with expertise in crafting integrated media strategies, audience planning, and designing ROI-focused campaigns. She has a remarkable track record of spearheading award-winning campaigns for brands such as Nestle, Haleon, MamaEarth, Hero Moto Corp, Google, and Airtel.
Bhasin, a media and marketing expert, has played pivotal roles across agencies including Dentsu, Omnicom Media Group and Carat. With over two decades of experience, she has successfully led media practices for renowned brands such as Apple, LG, Vivo, Royal Enfield, HP, Perfetti Van Melle, Maruti, Snapdeal, Nissan and many more.
Wavemaker CEO – South Asia Ajay Gupte said, “Wavemaker India is currently on a strong growth trajectory. Our goal is to drive positive provocation within the industry and continue to expand our reach across the landscape. I am delighted to welcome two highly experienced leaders to take on critical roles within the organization and drive further growth. Their unwavering focus on clients and people development is truly commendable.”
Commenting on the appointment, Wavemaker India chief client officer & office head – West, North & East Shekhar Banerjee said, “I am excited to welcome Jasmine and Dipika to the Wavemaker family. Their impressive industry experience and diverse skill sets make them a valuable addition to our organization. We are confident that their expertise will contribute significantly to our ongoing efforts to drive innovation, excellence, and transformation for our clients. We look forward to achieving great success together”.
In their new roles, both Sachdeva and Bhasin will be reporting to Banerjee.
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.
