MAM
Bates CHI & Partners strengthens Bangalore ops with two news hires
MUMBAI: Bates CHI & Partners, a joint venture between Bates and CHI & Partners formed this month, has strengthened its Bangalore operations by roping in two creative directors, Mukund Sharma and Devesh Desai.
Mukund and Devesh will spearhead the creative teams of Bangalore as executive creative director and senior creative director respectively and will focus on creating and strategizing innovative campaigns reflecting the ‘changengage’ philosophy.
Both will report to Sagar Mahabaleshwarkar, the national creative director of Bates India.
CHI & Partners GM and Bangalore Head K Vasantha commented, “Our Bangalore office has been one of the most strongest performing branches for the agency. We are growing at a rapid pace, gaining good traction overall on the business as well as the creative front. Mukund and Devesh, are both young, energetic and raring to go with fresh ideas, and I am excited to welcome them onboard as a part of the process to strengthen the Bangalore team at bates CHI & Partners.”
Mukund Sharma has close to two decades of experience, including stints at JWT and Ogilvy. He joins Bates from Rediffusion Y&R, where he was creative head of the Bangalore office. At Rediffusion, he was associated with the launch of Arrow New York, Signature and Reliance Jewels, among others. He has worked on a diverse mix of categories including beer (Kingfisher, Foster’s), apparel (Levi’s, Van Heusen, Arrow) and IT (IBM).
Devesh has had 20 years of experience in advertising stints at SSCB Lintas, Contract advertising, Everest Brand solutions, etc and is most known for his contribution to Anti-smoking poster that saw nominations at Cannes in 2001.
Commenting on the new hires, Bates CHI & Partners India CEO Sanjay Thapar said, “Bates CHI & Partners in India continues to grow at a good pace with some new appointments, new partnerships and client wins. Mukund and Devesh‘s appointment is a key step in strengthening our commitment to deliver big and bold creative ideas that solve a client/brand‘s business problems. Bangalore is an important market for us and given their expertise and well-proven track record, I am confident that both Mukund and Devesh will help take our work and relationships to the next level of creativity.”
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: 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.
