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Axis Bank appoints Yatin Ashtekar as senior vice president
MUMBAI: Axis Bank has brought in Yatin Ashtekar as senior vice president and head of technology risk, betting on deep audit muscle as banks race to secure increasingly digital balance sheets.
Ashtekar takes charge at a moment when technology risk has moved from the back office to the boardroom. His remit spans enterprise-wide technology risk management, regulatory compliance and the secure adoption of emerging technologies, with oversight of IT risk assessments, KRIs, RCSAs and remediation across the bank.
With over 25 years in technology, audit and cyber security, Ashtekar arrives with a resume built for scrutiny-heavy environments. Most recently, he was group executive vice president at Yes Bank, where he helped shape audit strategy, internal audit policy and risk-based audit plans, and drove digitisation of audit processes using automation, AI and data analytics.
Earlier stints include vice president roles at Kotak Mahindra Bank, where he presented risk-based audit plans to board committees, and leadership positions at RBL Bank and AGS Transact Technologies, where he served as ciso and group head for risk and compliance. His career also spans consulting at KPMG and large-scale infrastructure programme delivery for global clients at HP.
Ashtekar’s technical credentials mirror his operational depth, with certifications across information security, risk, audit and project management, including cissp, cciso, ceh and iso lead auditor qualifications. At Axis Bank, he is expected to build and mentor a high-performing technology risk team while ensuring alignment with RBI master directions, CERT-In, NPCI and global standards.
As banks push harder into digital products, cloud infrastructure and automation, Axis Bank’s appointment signals a clear message: growth may be digital, but trust is built on control. Ashtekar’s mandate is simple and unforgiving — keep the system resilient, the regulators satisfied and the risks firmly in check.
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Bajaj Consumer Care FY26 profit rises to Rs 193.7 crore
Revenue climbs to Rs 1,092 crore as profit grows 49 per cent YoY
MUMBAI: Hair today, growth tomorrow Bajaj Consumer Care Limited seems to have found its shine again, posting a sharp jump in profitability even as it doubled down on brand spends and expansion. The company reported a net profit of Rs 193.7 crore for FY26, marking a strong 49 per cent rise from Rs 130.1 crore in FY25. Revenue from operations also grew to Rs 1,092.2 crore, up from Rs 942.8 crore a year earlier, signalling steady demand momentum across its portfolio.
For the March quarter, profit stood at Rs 64.1 crore, compared to Rs 31.5 crore in the corresponding period last year, while revenue rose to Rs 308.3 crore from Rs 243.5 crore.
The performance came despite a notable increase in spending. Advertising and sales promotion expenses climbed to Rs 168.3 crore in FY26, up from Rs 137.8 crore in FY25, reflecting continued investment in brand building. Other expenses also rose to Rs 151.3 crore from Rs 134.2 crore, indicating a broader push towards growth.
Operating efficiency, however, held firm. Profit before tax increased to Rs 234.8 crore in FY26 from Rs 157.7 crore a year earlier, supported by disciplined cost management across materials and inventory.
On the balance sheet, the company’s total assets expanded to Rs 959.1 crore as of March 31, 2026, compared to Rs 931.9 crore a year earlier. Other equity rose to Rs 780.3 crore, reinforcing a stronger financial base.
Cash flow from operations saw a significant uptick, reaching Rs 196.9 crore in FY26, nearly three times the Rs 67.9 crore recorded in FY25, highlighting improved working capital management.
However, the year also saw aggressive capital allocation. The company spent Rs 190.2 crore on share buybacks, contributing to a net cash outflow of Rs 196.5 crore from financing activities. Cash and cash equivalents stood at Rs 6.8 crore at the end of the year, down from Rs 25.6 crore.
Even as investments in subsidiaries and assets continued, the numbers suggest a company balancing growth ambitions with shareholder returns keeping one eye on expansion and the other on efficiency.
With margins improving and revenue steadily climbing, Bajaj Consumer Care appears to be combing through the competition with renewed confidence.
