MAM
P&G India rejigs tech leadership as Nikunj Jain exits, Jai Pankaj steps in
MUMBAI — Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care has announced a top-level shuffle in its technology leadership. Nikunj Jain, the current head of information technology, will step down from his role at the close of business on 30 June 2025, as he prepares to relocate overseas for a new assignment within the P&G group.
Replacing him is Jai Pankaj, a P&G veteran with over 15 years at the company. He will assume the role of head of IT effective 1 September 2025, and relocate back to India.
Pankaj, a B.E. in chemical engineering from NIT Karnataka and an MBA from IIM Lucknow, is currently based in Indonesia. He serves as the chief information officer for P&G’s Indonesian business as well as its e-commerce operations across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Over the years, he has spearheaded critical IT initiatives, including Martech and data science for P&G India, and managed tech strategy across 15 markets, including Japan and Korea.
The leadership transition was formally communicated to the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange in accordance with regulatory disclosure norms.
With Jain’s departure and Pankaj’s homecoming, the FMCG major appears to be tightening its digital strategy amid an increasingly tech-driven consumer landscape.
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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.
