MAM
Taboola names Krishan Bhatia as chief business officer
Digital ad veteran takes the reins to steer taboola’s global sales and AI growth
NEW YORK: Taboola has added Krishan Bhatia to its leadership team as chief business officer, signalling a bold push in global sales and partnerships.
Bhatia will spearhead revenue growth across Taboola’s full product suite, including its Realize performance advertising platform, publisher network, CTV performance, and generative AI offerings. He brings a proven record of driving growth at leading tech and media giants, including Amazon and NBCUniversal.
At Amazon, Bhatia launched and led the global video advertising business spanning Prime Video, Live Sports, Twitch, and third-party programmers as VP, global video advertising and partnerships. Prior to that, he served as president and chief business officer at NBCUniversal’s global advertising and partnerships division, overseeing digital, streaming TV, and advanced advertising.
“Krishan is joining Taboola at a pivotal moment in our journey,” said Taboola CEO Adam Singolda. “We are redefining performance advertising on the open web. Realize is gaining real momentum as advertisers look for scalable growth beyond search and social. DeeperDive is putting generative AI directly into publishers’ hands, helping them innovate and thrive. The opportunity ahead is massive.”
Singolda added that Bhatia’s experience in building global advertising businesses and executing at scale will complement Taboola’s growth. “We’ve built a strong foundation for long-term success, surpassing $2 billion in revenue under Eldad Maniv, our president and COO. With that momentum, I’m thrilled to welcome Krishan to the team to take our go-to-market execution to the next level.”
“Taboola has a bold vision, combining global scale and innovative technology to empower advertisers and publishers,” said Bhatia. “The launch of Realize has strengthened Taboola’s position as a leader outside search and social. With DeeperDive, generative AI, and a clear focus on partner success, there is a huge runway ahead. I’m excited to join the team at such a transformative time.”
With Krishan Bhatia on board, Taboola is all set to turn up the heat in performance advertising, blending global scale, AI innovation, and next-level partnerships to shape the future of the open web.
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.
