MAM
Publicis Groupe announces top management rejig at BBH India
Mumbai: Publicis Groupe India on Tuesday announced that it has appointed Dheeraj Sinha as chairman of BBH India, in addition to his existing mandate as Leo Burnett South Asia CEO and CSO. Partnering with Sinha will be Russell Barrett as BBH India CEO and chief creative officer. Subhash Kamath moves into an advisory role for the group on other strategic initiatives.
Russell Barrett has been with BBH for 12 years now and has been instrumental in making BBH India a creative powerhouse, winning several accolades including Cannes Lions, One Show Pencils, Andys, Spikes, D&ADs and London Internationals. Dheeraj Sinha comes in with 22 years of experience and under his leadership, Leo Burnett India has become one of the most recognised and awarded agencies on the world stage, said the agency in a statement. The new appointments signify the Group’s focus and investment on its creative brands.
“I would like to thank Subhash for his leadership and contributions to BBH. Today BBH India is synonymous with truly world-class advertising,” said Publicis Groupe South Asia CEO Anupriya Acharya. “We will further accelerate the agency’s spectrum of capabilities and creative product to deliver unmatched value to clients. Dheeraj comes with an impeccable track record on growth, and this is also a testament to the strong leadership talent we have.”
“It’s been a fantastic journey of 13 years, having founded this agency from scratch in India,” Subhash Kamath commneted. “It’s an agency built on a very strong people’s culture with creative excellence & strategic thinking at its very core. But I’ve been doing this for a very long time and as I enter the twilight of my 35-year career in advertising, I believe it’s time to hand over the baton to the next generation of leadership as I transition into an advisory role for Publicis Groupe. I’ve known Dheeraj for many years, and I know his passion for strategy & creativity. Along with Russell and Sanjay and many of the talented ‘black sheep’ in the organization, I know I’ll be leaving BBH in very safe hands.”
“BBH is a dream brand amongst creative agencies. The brand has always believed in great work powered by sharp thinking,” said Dheeraj Sinha. “I have been a great admirer of its philosophy and the work that BBH has done globally. I am very excited with this opportunity. We have some great work, clients, and teams at BBH. Our goal will be to be one of the topmost agencies in the BBH network globally, creating work for our clients that brings them growth and glory.”
Russell Barrett added, “BBH is an amazing brand, and this is an exciting new chapter in the exceptional story that has been scripted so far. I’ve enjoyed an enriching partnership with Subhash, Sanjay and Arvind, as we’ve done some proper black sheep work together. I now look forward to partnering with Dheeraj, who I’ve worked with before, and I can say from experience, that he brings a lot of energy and dynamism to every interaction and piece of work he touches.”
Brands
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.
