MAM
Balsara elected president of International Advertising Association India chapter
MUMBAI: Madison Communications chairman and managing director Sam Balsara has been elected as the new president of the India chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) at its recently concluded annual general meeting held in Mumbai.
Balsara has been elected president for the year 2005-06.
The new managing committee has includes: Pradeep Guha as vice president, Mukul Upadhyaya as secretary, Ashok Nerkar as treasurer and M G Parmeshwaran, Goutam Rakshit, Ramesh Narayan, Ishan Raina as members. Hormusji Cama has been made co-opted member and Roger C.B. Pereira and Pheroza Bilimoria are special invitees.
Spread over 93 countries and with over 6,000 members worldwide, the IAA champions advertising as a force for growth in all free market societies. Advertising revenues ensure an independent, pluralistic, affordable media with competing channels of information for consumers, which are the foundation of democracy itself.
The IAA is uniquely positioned to recognise emerging cross-border trends before they become obvious, and provide marketing communications professionals with an international, multi-industry forum for the global exchange of knowledge, best practices, professional development, experience and ideas.
The India Chapter was initiated over 20 years ago with a view to foster a healthy environment for the growth of globalisation in the communications industry. It has a membership of around 40 members and membership to IAA is by invitation only.
Balsara said, “With the presence of such strong industry associations like Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), Indian Newspapers Society (INS) and Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) and Clubs like The Advertising Club, Bombay; the IAA India Chapter needs to identify the unique and distinct role that it can play in the advertising and marketing fraternity. Probably it will be in the area of global practices, exploiting its global reach across 93 countries, and access to 6000 key decision makers.”
The major item on the agenda of the IAA in the current year is the holding of the IAA World Congress in Dubai from 20 – 23 March, 2006 and the IAA , India Chapter hopes to play a key role in taking a large delegation from India to this Congress.
Also on the cards is a series of dinner meetings exclusively for the IAA members and their guests to be addressed by “International Indians”. The first guest in this series will be Harish Manwani, earlier marketing director of Hindustan Lever and currently president Asia, Africa, Middle East and Turkey, based in London.
The Dubai Chapter, which is one of the largest chapters of IAA has lined up a rich fare in terms of global speakers and relevant topics and the Congress would also give Indian professionals an opportunity to check out the opportunities available in Dubai because of rapid and unbelievable progress made by the country in the last few years. It is for the first time that the IAA World Congress is being held at a destination that is so close to India.
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.
