MAM
By the numbers Project Worldwide tries to solve marketing’s toughest sum
MUMBAI: Marketing has always loved big ideas. Now it is being asked to show its working. Project Worldwide has announced the launch of Math of Marketing, a proprietary intellectual property positioned as a long-term framework to decode marketing effectiveness and measurement in India. Debuting with what the group describes as India’s largest-ever study on marketing ROI, the initiative is designed not as a one-off report, but as a permanent strategic pillar for the network in the region.
The IP arrives at a moment when Indian marketing is wrestling with a familiar contradiction. CMOs are under constant pressure to deliver immediate returns, even as brands acknowledge the need to invest in long-term equity. Math of Marketing sets out to address that tension by creating a structured, evidence-led approach to how success is defined, measured and defended in boardrooms.
According to Project Worldwide global CEO Chris Meyer India represents a critical inflection point. He said the country’s next phase of growth will be unlocked by evidence-based marketing, adding that the new IP is intended to build a rigorous foundation for understanding how brand value and commercial outcomes truly connect in one of the world’s most dynamic markets.
At its core, Math of Marketing focuses on five pressure points shaping modern marketing decisions. These include proprietary metrics that link brand health directly to revenue, frameworks for balancing short-term performance with long-term brand building, and quantifying the ROI of customer marketing and loyalty. The initiative will also track how AI adoption, advanced attribution models and evolving technology stacks are influencing decision-making in 2026, alongside assessing how disciplined Indian organisations really are when it comes to experimentation and agility.
The first major output from the initiative will be a flagship report titled Math of Marketing: How Modern CMOs Measure What Matters, intended to act as a reference point for both B2B and B2C marketers. Beyond the data, the IP will be supported by an ongoing “brain trust” of senior marketers, analysts and industry experts, aimed at setting new benchmarks rather than reacting to old ones.
For the India business, the emphasis is on creating common ground. Project Worldwide chief growth officer for India and South Asia Rasheed Sait said the market no longer needs more dashboards, but a shared language for success. He noted that the IP is designed to give brands India-specific blueprints to optimise media mix, creative effectiveness and long-term investment decisions in an increasingly complex ecosystem.
Project Worldwide plans to activate Math of Marketing through a series of industry consultations, expert roundtables and collaborative workshops in the coming weeks, keeping the conversation rooted in real-world challenges rather than theoretical models.
In an industry where intuition has often outpaced evidence, Math of Marketing is a clear signal of where the debate is heading. Less guesswork, more grounding. And perhaps, for once, marketing might finally get full marks for its maths.
Brands
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.
