Brands
Fino Payments Bank ropes in Pankaj Tripathi as brand ambassador
Mumbai: Fino Payments Bank Ltd (FPBL) has brought on board actor Pankaj Tripathi as brand ambassador.
During the two-year engagement effective 1 September, Tripathi will be the face of FPBL’s marketing campaigns across various platforms. He will work with the brand in promoting its products and services, said the statement.
“This is Fino’s first-ever opportunity to have a brand ambassador, a milestone in itself,” said FPBL MD and CEO Rishi Gupta. “Pankaj’s personality resonates our brand values and we believe the association will go a long way in not only achieving the desired top-of-the-mind brand recall but also in bringing about a paradigm shift in consumer behaviour towards the adoption of digital banking.”
FPBL’s target segment, the emerging Indian customer is someone who has low levels of financial literacy, technology use, lacks financial inclusion and typically does not have access to basic banking services. On this front, the actor’s rich repertoire of rustic, familiar, and relatable characters across Hindi and regional films ring a bell, said the company in a statement.
“The most important step on who would personify the brand, is the match between the brand’s attributes and those of the celebrity,” stated FPBL CMO Anand Bhatia. “Tripathi brings to the table a pan India connect and an appeal that is in sync with Fino Payments Bank’s values of being grounded, real, sincere, honest, competent, and hardworking. He is a self-made man, just like our self-made bank.”
“When I heard about Fino’s ‘Fikar Not’ approach I was instantly connected to it as that is how I have lived my life,” said Pankaj Tripathi. “I owe my success perhaps to this way of thinking and that’s why I immediately agreed to associate with the brand.”
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.
