MAM
Dwight ‘Mitch’ Barns will be new Nielson CEO
MUMBAI: World known media measurements and ratings company Nielson has found a replacement for current CEO David Calhoun who is set to step down on 1 January 2014. Dwight ‘Mitch’ Barns will take over the reins from Calhoun who will take the role of executive chairman. Barns is currently global client service president.
 |
Barns has been in the company from the past 16 years while Calhoun has been CEO since 2006 when he joined the company. Prior to this Calhoun had been with General Electric for 26 years. As exec chairman he will be a guide to Barns and other executives. He will also remain a substantial owner of Nielson equity purchased and earned by him while he was the CEO.
Barns has held positions of Nielson’s US TV ratings business and president of greater China region. Before Nielson, he was with Proctor & Gamble for 12 years. Calhoun helped Nielson turn from a privately held firm to a publicly traded company overseeing its IPO (Initial Public Offer) in 2011.
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.
