MAM
PR & advocacy firm SPAG appoints Abhinav K Srivastava as COO
MUMBAI: SPAG, South East Asia’s one of the leading healthcare firms, has appointed Abhinav K Srivastava as chief operating officer – India. He will be reporting directly to SPAG co-founder and managing partner Aman Gupta.
This association aligns Abhinav’s strategic direction and leadership skills with SPAG’s vision for growth and its expansion plans. Over the years, the firm has established itself as a leader in the healthcare communications sector and this move expands the organisation into a new horizon.
“Abhinav brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role at SPAG,” said Aman Gupta. “His skills are an amalgamation of strategy, operations and growth across digital, social and traditional communications. In this role, he will focus on providing strategic leadership in the planning and implementation of projects across India.”
As COO – India, Abhinav Srivastava will be the firm’s India Lead and work out of the Mumbai office. He will, thus, oversee all business operations in India. He will be closely working with the SPAG leadership to provide strategic insights and drive impact & outcomes for clients while acting as a stimulus to the company’s growth plan.
“At SPAG, we strive to deliver meaningful and real communications that define narratives for a better world. Abhinav’s experience in the field of communications adds value to our proposition and is a testimonial to SPAG’s long-term potential and opportunity,” added Aman Gupta.
On being appointed Abhinav stated: “I am thrilled to have been offered the opportunity to lead SPAG at such an important time in its development. SPAG has a great global connect, specialised healthcare offering, market capability and a strategy that has seen us grow solidly in recent years. I am looking forward to building on this success whilst simultaneously ensuring we remain focused on delivering the very best quality and service to our existing & potential clients. The pace of change in today’s communication market is exceptional; I am committed to ensuring that we not only stay at the forefront of this change, but we continue to innovate and lead the market as we have always done.”
Abhinav Srivastava joins SPAG from Avian WE where he was the Group Business Director, managing integrated marketing and communications strategies across sector clients and handling the firm’s business priorities in India. He has previously been a part of leadership teams at Edelman India, Comma Consulting and Rediffusion Y&R in a career spanning nearly two decades with enriched experience of public affairs, business development, corporate strategy, CSR, financial & investor relations, crisis management and marketing & digital communications across sectors.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â 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.
