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UniAcoustic names Manasi Bharadwaj as head of design and development
INDIA: UniAcoustic has brought in workplace design veteran Manasi Bharadwaj as head of design and development, sharpening its push to build a globally benchmarked, design-led acoustic solutions portfolio for commercial environments.
The appointment signals a deeper strategic shift at the company, which is positioning design as a core differentiator, not just in product performance, but in how acoustic solutions are experienced, specified and integrated across large workplaces.
Bharadwaj will oversee UniAcoustic’s design direction across products, applications and workplace settings, with a mandate to create scalable, specification-ready solutions for enterprise and multinational clients as the company expands its global footprint.
With more than 18 years of experience in corporate workplace design and integrated design-and-build environments, she brings a blend of design strategy, standardisation and execution expertise critical for large-scale commercial projects.
Over her career, Bharadwaj has worked with firms including CBRE, JCTPL Design, Team One Architects and Edifice Consultants, delivering regional design programmes and complex workplaces for global organisations such as Kaiser Permanente, Schaeffler, Syngenta, AkzoNobel, Broadcom, UPS, Finastra, Emerson and Capgemini.
At UniAcoustic, she will focus on building a future-ready design ecosystem aligned with global benchmarks, ensuring consistency, performance and clarity across diverse commercial environments. A key part of her role will involve strengthening collaboration between design, technical and delivery teams to support efficient execution without diluting design intent.
UniAcoustic managing director Shabbir Rajkotwala, said design leadership was central to how performance, material innovation and sustainability converge in the company’s next phase of growth.
“As we continue developing advanced acoustic products across applications and industries, Manasi’s experience will help strengthen how our solutions are designed, specified and aligned with evolving environmental standards,” he said.
Bharadwaj said UniAcoustic’s ambition to create a design-first acoustic portfolio set it apart in the Indian market.
“The opportunity to build thoughtful, high-performance products rather than work within existing templates is what excites me most about this role,” she said.
UniAcoustic is positioning itself at the intersection of design, sustainability and next-generation acoustic technologies. Through its strategic collaboration with Vicoustic, the company is introducing globally recognised acoustic systems tailored for modern Indian spaces, with a focus on customisation, performance and aesthetic integration.
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Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
