MAM
Atul Agrawal takes charge as CEO of Indian Society of Advertisers
MUMBAI: The Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA), the country’s top voice for advertisers for more than 70 years, has appointed Atul Agrawal as its new chief executive officer. He took charge on January 2, 2026.
With nearly four decades of experience across some of India’s most admired corporate names, Agrawal brings both gravitas and perspective to the role. His career spans FMCG and corporate leadership, with deep roots in brand building, media strategy and corporate communications.
Calling the role both an honour and a responsibility, Agrawal said the timing could not be more significant. Marketing and media, he noted, are in the middle of a profound reset driven by changing consumer behaviour and rapid technological shifts.
He said his focus would be on promoting responsible, effective and efficient marketing by working closely with advertisers, agencies, broadcasters, media owners and other stakeholders. Strengthening ISA’s work on media transparency, measurement and accountability will be a key priority.
An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, Agrawal has previously worked with Hindustan Lever and at the Tata Group headquarters, where he was involved in corporate brand marketing, youth engagement initiatives, media buying and large sponsorship programmes. He has also served on ISA’s executive committee representing Tata Services and has contributed internationally as a jury member for the World Federation of Advertisers’ Global Marketer of the Year award.
Welcoming the appointment, ISA Chairman Sunil Kataria said Agrawal’s long association with the organisation and his leadership experience make him well placed to steer ISA at a critical moment for the industry.
Kataria added that with ISA leading initiatives such as the Media Charter, brand safety, viewability standards, first-party data frameworks and cross-screen measurement, Agrawal’s leadership would help turn intent into impact.
With its new CEO at the helm, ISA says it remains committed to working with the wider ecosystem to drive efficiency, accountability and sustainable growth for advertisers across India.
Brands
Sapphire Foods FY26 revenue rises to Rs 3,125 crore, posts loss
Q4 revenue at Rs 792 crore, FY26 loss at Rs 32 crore amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: If growth is on the menu, profitability seems to have taken a brief detour. Sapphire Foods India reported a steady rise in topline for FY26, even as rising costs weighed on profitability. Revenue from operations grew to Rs 3,125 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, up from Rs 2,882 crore in FY25. However, the company swung to a loss, reporting a net loss of Rs 32 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 17 crore in the previous year. Total income for the year stood at Rs 3,153 crore, while total expenses climbed to Rs 3,167 crore, reflecting pressure across key cost heads.
In the March quarter, revenue came in at Rs 792 crore, compared to Rs 711 crore in the same period last year. The company reported a quarterly net loss of Rs 13 crore, against a profit of Rs 2 crore a year earlier.
Cost pressures remained visible across operations. Material costs rose to Rs 995 crore for FY26, while employee expenses increased to Rs 428 crore. Other expenses, the largest component, stood at Rs 1,229 crore, underscoring the impact of store operations and expansion-related spends.
Depreciation and amortisation expenses also climbed to Rs 392 crore for the year, reflecting continued investments in store infrastructure and growth.
At the operating level, the company reported a loss before tax of Rs 37 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 23 crore in FY25. Exceptional items added Rs 24 crore to the cost burden during the year.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 3,256 crore as of March 31, 2026, up from Rs 3,041 crore a year earlier, indicating ongoing expansion. Net worth stood at Rs 1,389 crore.
Despite profitability pressures, operating cash flow remained resilient at Rs 507 crore, highlighting underlying business strength and demand stability.
The numbers paint a familiar picture in the quick-service restaurant space, growth continues to be served hot, but margins are still finding their footing.
