MAM
Hansa Customer Equity names Neeraj Pratap Sangani as COO
MUMBAI: Hansa Customer Equity Pvt Ltd, part of the R K Swamy Hansa Group, has appointed Neeraj Pratap Sangani as the chief operating officer.
Sangani is an alumni of UCLA Anderson School of Management and a keen proponent of behavioural economics having completed his professional certifications from the Institute of Data & Marketing, London and the Rotman School of Management, Toronto.
Hansa Cequity co-founder and CEO S Swaminathan said, “Neeraj is a big believer of the Hansa Cequity vision and has been working relentlessly to drive thought leadership, client-centricity culture, execution focus and process excellence. He has more than 25 years’ experience in business and marketing consulting, brand building, strategic marketing, and digital marketing. He has strong domain knowledge of Customer Experience Management, having developed and executed data-driven marketing programs, data integration projects including customer life cycle management, customer segmentation and customer engagement programs for clients across different verticals.”
RK Swamy Hansa group CEO Shekar Swamy said, “Neeraj moved to Hansa Cequity three years ago from R K SWAMY BBDO. We have seen him grow in professional capability for 20 years. He is well placed to execute the Group vision of the emerging convergence of technology, analytics, digital and marketing services for brands and companies. With his energy and focus, Hansa Customer Equity will continue to serve clients well.”
Observed Sangani on his appointment, “With strong investments in analytics, technology and marketing consulting teams, Hansa Customer Equity is a leader and innovator in the data-driven marketing space. The company has deep partnerships with leading technology companies to assist clients on their technology and digital transformation plans. As a part of the R K SWAMY HANSA group that has built depth across varied disciplines, we are uniquely placed to provide clients with a multi-discipline approach with focus on results.”
Sangani is an avid theatre enthusiast who writes, directs, and acts in Hindi plays. His Play 'Kashmir. Hum Kya Chahte?' has been performed across Mumbai including the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in 2017. His next play – The Apostrophe in my Life – has been well received and was playing in theatres till currently.
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.
