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
Eternal posts Rs 54,364 crore revenue, up 168 per cent in FY26
Q4 profit rises to Rs 174 crore as firm streamlines District business
NEW DELHI: Eternal Limited reported a sharp surge in scale for FY26, with consolidated revenue rising 168 per cent year-on-year to Rs 54,364 crore, underscoring strong growth across its core businesses.
The company’s growth was mirrored in its bottom line, with a total annual profit of Rs 366 crore. The fourth quarter was particularly strong, contributing Rs 17,292 crore in revenue and Rs 174 crore in profit, a sharp rise compared to the Rs 39 crore profit recorded in the same period last year.
Key financial metrics from the report include:
- Total assets: Increased to Rs 40,736 crore from last year’s Rs 35,623 crore.
- Delivery charges: The company collected Rs 9,065 crore in delivery and related charges over the year.
- Employee costs: Staffing and benefit expenses amounted to Rs 3,536 crore.
- Liquidity: The firm maintains a cash balance of Rs 996 crore, supported by Rs 632 crore generated from operating activities.
On the strategic front, the company has approved the transfer of its District platform’s technology stack to its wholly owned subsidiary, Wasteland Entertainment Private Limited. The deal, valued at Rs 24.19 crore, will be completed in cash and is expected to close by May 1, 2026, along with the transition of select employees. The move is aimed at consolidating its entertainment and ticketing operations under a focused entity.
From a regulatory standpoint, statutory auditors Deloitte Haskins & Sells issued an unmodified opinion on the financial results. However, they flagged an ongoing show cause notice related to GST on delivery charges, which the company continues to contest, citing a strong legal position.
With robust revenue growth and ongoing structural tweaks, Eternal is clearly sharpening its playbook as it expands beyond its core into a broader consumer services ecosystem.
