MAM
Giri to head O&M Mumbai as Suri moves to Shanghai
MUMBAI: Ogilvy & Mather Mumbai is getting a new head with the current president Nishi Suri moving to Shanghai, China in September to take on the position of managing partner – International Clients.
Ogilvy Activation country head J C Giri will head the Mumbai operations, with full responsibility for Ogilvy’s 360 services.
Suri joined O&M in 1997 and headed O&M’s flagship Mumbai office in 2001. As president of O&M Mumbai, she led the city agency through the most challenging phase of the industry to deliver consistent top-line and bottom-line growth, states an official release. She has gained Indian and International recognition for the success of her leadership on Kodak and Goli ke Hamjoli, a US funded social marketing programme.
Giri began his career with Ogilvy Chennai and consistently moved up since then. He introduced Outdoor Media AOR in the country way back in 1995, moved to Country Head Ogilvy Landscapes and then Country Head, Ogilvy Activation. He has played a key role in driving true 360 within the Activation units and strategically merging some of the Activation units with the WPP network in India, the release states. His leadership has helped Activation India showcase and export its learnings to International markets apart from consolidating Ogilvy’s position in India on key accounts like HLL, Hutch and more recently LG, it adds.
Commenting on this new move, Giri said, “I look at this opportunity as a challenge and look forward to maximising the strengths of a great team built by Nishi over the last four years, to drive Ogilvy’s 360 capabilities. I also wish Nishi all the very best and feel certain that she will continue to do Ogilvy India proud.”
O&M India chairman Piyush Pandey commented, “It is not only a reflection of the splendid job done by Nishi as the Head of the Bombay Office, but the impact she has made on the Ogilvy & Mather International fraternity at every forum. J.C. Giri, who has done a marvelous job with Ogilvy Activation, takes over from Nishi, to keep the flag flying, and infuse adrenalin in an office which sets its own standards.”
Ogilvy CEO in South Asia John Goodman added, “This is the best vindication of the strengths of our organisation I can imagine. One of our heroes gets to display her skills in the challenging Chinese market – probably the most volatile in the world right now. Another demonstrates that when we talk 360, we mean it, moving from the amazing Activation division to head up the largest city unit in the country.”
Brands
Nestlé India posts 14.9 per cent sales growth, profit rises in FY26
FMCG major sweetens returns with dividend as strong domestic demand leads
NEW DELHI: Nestlé India has reported a strong financial performance for the year ended 31 March 2026, with sales and profits rising steadily on the back of robust domestic demand.
The company posted total income of Rs 231,949.5 million for FY26, up from Rs 202,645.5 million in the previous year, marking a growth of 14.9 per cent. Domestic sales remained the key driver, increasing 14.6 per cent to Rs 221,187.0 million, while exports contributed Rs 9,527.6 million to the overall tally.
The final quarter of the financial year added extra momentum, with total sales rising 23.4 per cent compared to the same period last year. This helped lift the company’s annual profit to Rs 35,446.0 million, up from Rs 33,145.0 million in FY25.
Shareholders are set to benefit as the board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 5.00 per equity share. This comes on top of the interim dividend of Rs 7.00 per share paid in February 2026. The record date for the final dividend has been fixed as 10 July 2026, subject to shareholder approval at the 67th Annual General Meeting scheduled for 3 July 2026. If approved, the payout will begin from 30 July 2026.
During the year, the company’s paid-up equity share capital doubled to Rs 1,928.3 million following a 1:1 bonus share issue, strengthening its capital base. The results were also supported by a Rs 1,207.8 million credit from exceptional items, including a Rs 2,023.2 million writeback from resolved income tax litigation, partially offset by restructuring costs and expenses related to new labour codes.
On the cost front, material costs rose to 44.8 per cent of sales for the full year, compared to 43.6 per cent in the previous year, reflecting ongoing input cost pressures. Despite this, the company maintained solid profitability, with EBITDA coming in at Rs 53,060.6 million.
Overall, Nestlé India’s performance underscores its ability to balance growth and margins in a challenging environment. With steady demand, disciplined cost management and consistent shareholder returns, the company appears well placed to carry its momentum into the next financial year.
