MAM
Havas Worldwide India strengthens strategy team with three new appointments
Mumbai: Havas Worldwide India has strengthened its strategy team by appointing Dhananjoy Ray, Aniruddh Subramanian, and Jahan Nargolwala as associate vice presidents – planning & strategy. All three will report to Havas Creative Network India’s Chief Strategy Officer, John Thangaraj and will be based in Gurgaon.
John Thangaraj commented, “I am thrilled to welcome Dhananjoy, Aniruddh and Jahan to the Havas family. The world is changing and so are we. Strategy needs to be more business forward, digital first and data driven than ever before and our journey towards creating a more converged, multi-disciplinary team begins now. Each of them brings a deep and divergent level of expertise and experience to the table. Dhananjoy brings a deep passion and excitement for all things tech and auto. Aniruddh’s understanding and experience on the CPG category is second to none. And Jahan’s digital-first expertise across multiple categories nicely rounds out the team. Their hires underscore Havas’ deep commitment to delivering insight & data backed strategic solutions that focus on keeping our clients ahead of the curve. That said, we’ve only just begun – watch this space!”
With over a decade of experience, Dhananjoy Ray has worked with agencies such as FCB India and Publicis India, contributing to brands like Horlicks, Uber, Pernod Ricard, Vivo, BMW, Google, Maggi, and Nokia. His expertise lies in communication and brand strategy.
Jahan Nargolwala brings nearly 13 years of experience from agencies including Creativeland Asia, Yaap Digital, and Law & Kenneth. His work spans brands like Pizza Hut, Uniqlo, Godrej, Taj Hotels, Coca-Cola, UPI, and RuPay. Jahan specialises in creative strategy, brand planning, and cross-functional project management.
Aniruddh Subramanian joins FCB India, with experience at L&K Saatchi & Saatchi and Famous Innovations. He holds a Master’s in Marketing from the University of Cincinnati and has worked across FMCG, FMCD, healthcare, and tech sectors with brands like Horlicks Plus, All Out, Bata, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, and Google Pixel.
Brands
Domino’s Q1 profit falls 6.6 per cent, announces $1 billion buyback
Sales rise 3.4 per cent as pizza giant balances growth and shareholder returns
NEW YORK: Domino’s reported a mixed start to 2026, with first-quarter net income slipping even as global sales and store expansion held steady. The company also announced a fresh $1 billion share buyback, underlining its continued focus on shareholder returns.
Global retail sales rose 3.4 per cent on a constant-currency basis to $4.74 billion. The US remained a key growth engine, with same-store sales inching up 0.9 per cent, supported by a 1.5 per cent rise at company-owned outlets.
International markets, however, painted a more uneven picture. While Domino’s added 161 net new stores overseas during the quarter, international same-store sales declined 0.4 per cent. Overall revenues still climbed 3.5 per cent to $1.15 billion, driven by higher supply chain revenues and a 2.6 per cent increase in food basket pricing for franchisees.
On the profitability front, net income fell 6.6 per cent to $139.8 million, compared to $149.7 million a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share dropped to $4.13 from $4.33. The decline was largely attributed to a $30 million unfavourable swing in unrealised gains linked to its investment in DPC Dash Ltd.
Despite this, operational performance showed resilience. Income from operations rose 9.6 per cent to $230.4 million, supported in part by a $7.8 million pre-tax gain from the sale of a corporate aircraft.
Domino’s footprint continued to expand, with the company ending the quarter at 22,322 stores across more than 90 markets. In the US, digital orders remained dominant, accounting for over 85 per cent of retail sales in 2025.
The company also maintained its dividend payout, declaring $1.99 per share, payable on 30 June 2026. After repurchasing $75.1 million worth of stock during the quarter, the new authorisation lifts the total available for buybacks to $1.29 billion.
Domino’s chief executive officer Russell Weiner said the company’s scale and store-level economics position it well to capture further market share in 2026, even as competition intensifies.
As Domino’s leans into expansion and capital returns, the latest results show a business managing short-term pressures while keeping its long-term growth strategy firmly in play.
