Brands
Shashwat Sharma to assume role of managing director and CEO at Airtel
GURGAON: Shashwat Sharma will take over as managing director and chief executive officer of Airtel India from January 1, 2026, closing a year-long succession process designed to ensure continuity at one of India’s largest telecom operators. Having served as ceo-designate over the past year, Sharma has worked closely with the senior leadership team to prepare for the transition.
In his new role, Sharma will lead Airtel India’s operations and drive its next phase of growth in a fiercely competitive telecom market, where scale, customer experience and capital discipline increasingly determine winners.
Sharma brings nearly two decades of leadership experience across telecom, consumer brands and large-scale business operations. Over the past seven years at Bharti Airtel, he has held a series of senior positions, including chief operating officer, director for consumer business and ceo of the DTH unit, and chief marketing and brand officer. Across these roles, he played a central part in pushing customer-led growth, sharpening the brand and scaling operations.
Before joining Airtel, Sharma spent more than 13 years at Hindustan Unilever, where he held leadership roles across sales, regional and global brand management and category leadership. His tenure included leading the oral care and ayush businesses, giving him deep exposure to mass and premium consumer segments alike.
The appointment reflects Airtel’s preference for continuity over disruption. By grooming a ceo internally, the company has signalled confidence in its existing strategy while betting on a leader with a strong blend of operational rigour and consumer insight.
As India’s telecom market enters its next chapter, marked by consolidation, data-led services and rising customer expectations, Airtel is placing its future in familiar hands.
Brands
Hindustan Unilever clocks 8 per cent Q4 growth, revenue hits Rs 16,207 crore
The FMCG titan maintains its sparkle with calibrated pricing and savvy cost-saving
MUMBAI: Hindustan Unilever Limited has rounded off its financial year with a refreshing performance, posting an 8 per cent climb in revenue for the March quarter. Despite navigating a landscape of shifting commodity prices and geopolitical wobbles, the consumer goods giant proved it still has the magic touch in the Indian market.
For the quarter ending 31st March 2026, the company’s consolidated turnover reached Rs. 16,207 crores, a solid step up from the Rs. 14,955 crores seen in the same period last year. This momentum was mirrored in its annual figures, with full-year turnover for continuing operations rising to Rs. 63,763 crores. The board celebrated these results by recommending a final dividend of Rs. 22 per share, bringing the total yearly payout to a handsome Rs. 41 per share.
Profitability remained resilient even as the company tightened its belt. Quarterly Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 6 per cent to hit Rs. 3,841 crores. While the EBITDA margin saw a slight dip of 50 basis points to 23.7 per cent, the company’s underlying volume growth of 6 per cent suggests that shoppers are still reaching for their favourite household brands.
Hindustan Unilever Limited chief executive officer and managing director Rohit Jawa noted that the company is “navigating these headwinds through disciplined savings” and “calibrated pricing actions”. He added that the firm is well-positioned to handle a volatile environment, backed by “strong brands, robust financial position and operational agility”.
The year was also marked by strategic reshuffling. The company completed its takeover of Zywie Ventures Private Limited, snapping up the remaining 49 per cent stake for Rs. 824 crores. On the flip side, it bid farewell to its minority stake in Nutritionalab Private Limited, a move that netted a neat profit of Rs. 256 crores.
Across its diverse portfolio, the Home Care segment led the charge with annual revenue of Rs. 23,672 crores, followed closely by Beauty & Wellbeing at Rs. 14,990 crores. Even in the face of currency volatility and commodity fluctuations, the company managed to keep its consolidated profit after tax for the year largely steady at Rs. 10,652 crores.
As Hindustan Unilever Limited looks toward the next financial year, the focus remains firmly on “strengthening the consumer franchise while delivering sustainable and competitive growth”. With its supply chain showing grit and its brands maintaining their lustre, the company appears ready to clean up in the quarters to come.
