MAM
BBC Advertising appoints Alistair McEwan as SVP Asia & ANZ
MUMBAI: BBC Advertising has appointed Alistair McEwan as SVP commercial development Asia & ANZ.
McEwan will be responsible for the delivery of profitable advertising sales revenues from the Asia-Pacific region on BBC World News, BBC.com, BBC World Service, Top Gear, BBC Good Food and BBC Worldwide Channels.
Reporting to BBC Advertising EVP Carolyn Gibson, McEwan will also remain part of the ANZ leadership team under BBC Worldwide ANZ managing director Jon Penn, and join the Asia leadership team under EVP & GM Asia David Weiland.
He will play a strategic role in integrating the regional advertising teams and optimising opportunities across BBC Worldwide and BBC Global News Ltd’s portfolio, while building the business’ profile across Asia-Pacific. He will also provide sales and business leadership to his senior management team of sales vice presidents, whilst further developing the capabilities of the high calibre sales team across the region.
This builds on the announcement last September that BBC Worldwide is boosting its ad sales team in Asia to make the most of growth opportunities in the region. VPs John Williams and Katy Xu will continue to run sales and day to day line management of their teams in ASEAN & India and Greater China & North Asia respectively, while both reporting to McEwan. The current ANZ Ad Sales and Brand Partnerships team will continue to report to McEwan.
The role takes effect on 1 July, 2015 and McEwan will work from both the Singapore and Sydney offices.
Gibson said, “For this expanded, strategic role, which is responsible for the whole of BBC Worldwide and BBC Global News Ltd’s portfolio across the region, we were looking for someone who can lead and integrate the teams and drive new commercial opportunities. With his knowledge from working in markets across Asia and ANZ, as well as a mix of print, TV and digital experience, Alistair will be an excellent asset to the BBC Advertising leadership team.”
McEwan added, “Asia-Pacific is a dynamic and very important region for BBC Worldwide, where we are increasingly building audiences with our world-class content and services in both mature and fast growth markets. I’m incredibly excited by the scope of business opportunities across the region, fostering new and existing partnerships and leading a highly talented sales team.”
A key area of focus for McEwan will be driving opportunities around BBC.com and BBC World News. Sustained investment has resulted in an enhanced offering across TV, radio and online, run from a new 24-hour newsroom in London and supported by an extensive network of bureaux and correspondents around the world.
McEwan joined BBC Worldwide in July 2013 as VP for BBC Advertising ANZ. In 2014 he was appointed director of advertising sales & brand partnerships where he has been leading a cross media commercial department for BBC Worldwide ANZ, responsible for multi-channel advertising and sponsorship revenues for the portfolio of media brands and platforms in Australia and New Zealand. Additionally he has been managing the BBC Worldwide joint venture interest with Bauer Park Publishing for Top Gear Australia magazine and its website.
He joined BBC Worldwide from multi-screen media and marketing agency Modaliti and prior to this he was National Group Advertising Director at News Ltd. Before moving to Australia in 2010, he was international advertising director at The New York Times, with his first 12 years in media being with Paris based newspaper the International Herald Tribune where he worked in various commercial roles in Singapore, Johannesburg, London and Paris.
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.
