MAM
WATConsult appoints Mahesh Nazare as Director – HR and L&D
MUMBAI: WATConsult, the globally awarded hybrid digital agency from the house of Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN), has appointed Mahesh Nazare as its new Director – HR, Learning and Development (L&D).
In his new role, Nazare will oversee the HR vertical at WATConsult with a strong focus on L&D. He will also mentor the team to build and ensure a robust and great organisational culture within the agency.
Armed with more than 18 years of experience across the Indian and Asian diaspora, Mahesh specialises in leadership and management development, creative thinking, communication and effective team building.
A certified Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner, Nazare has built strong customer and delegate relationships with all his clients ranging from major multi-national companies to local SMEs. He has closely worked and trained mid-to-senior management teams across different industries and verticals.
Speaking on his appointment, Heeru Dingra, CEO, WATConsult said, "Our people are single-handedly the most critical assets and the key differentiator of the company. Their growth and wellbeing are of paramount importance to us, making human resources a vital strategic partner. We are glad to welcome Mahesh to our leadership team. He brings a unique combination of deep L&D experience along with well-honed strategic and business capabilities. I am certain that he will be the right custodian of our company culture and will develop robust strategies to ensure a healthy and engaging workplace.”
Talking about his new role, Nazare said, “I am elated about my new journey with WATConsult. My role is to introduce an agile and an innovative design approach to support the organisation in people development and engagement. Employee efficiency and personal growth is imperative. I am looking forward to interacting with the young and enthusiastic WATizens and create a knowledge sharing platform for them.”
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.
