MAM
Hakuhodo Percept appoints Jayanto Banerjee as national planning director
MUMBAI: Hakuhodo Percept has appointed Jayanto Banerjee as national planning director.
Banerjee will be working closely with agency leaders across all major brands and clients handled by the agency.
Based at the agency‘s Delhi office, he will be responsible for guiding the planning function, as well as spearheading “I-HPPL discovery”, the consumer knowledge and centre that focuses on understanding youth in India.
Hakuhodo Percept executive director Elvis Sequeira said, “At Hakuhodo Percept, we place huge emphasis on multi-talented, versatile professionals. And Banjo is a shining example of someone who can partner our clients brilliantly. Apart from his planning experience Banjo also brings with him the experience of heading agency offices, the experience of starting a digital and PR set up from scratch and the experience of having worked across five cities in India and Middle East. With Banjo‘s arrival and several key talented people in place, Hakuhodo Percept‘s transformation into a powerhouse of knowledge, strategy and creativity is now complete.”
Banerjee has over 19 years of experience in senior management, strategic planning and client servicing across Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Dubai and Muscat. He has been the regional planning director of Euro RSCG in the Middle East, and headed integrated agency offices in Dubai, Muscat and Delhi.
He started his career with Lintas in 1993. He has also worked with Euro RSCG and Bates 141 for FMCG, automotive, consumer durables, airline, banking, insurance, retail, technology, hospitality and pharmaceutical brands.
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.
