Brands
Jejurikar of M&M is CEO of the year at glittering Forbes India Leadership Awards 2025
MUMBAI: The Forbes India Leadership Awards 2025 culminated in a grand ceremony at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, where the country’s top leaders were honoured for their innovative and transformative leadership and contributions to their industries and the nation.
The first awards of the evening celebrated breakthrough innovations and stellar achievements:
* Emerging Innovator Award: BugWorks Research, with Dr Anand Anandkumar, Dr V Balasubramanium and Dr Santanu Datta remarking, “Innovation isn’t just discovery; it’s impact.”
* Outstanding Startup Award: BrowserStack. Recipients Ritesh Arora and Nakul Aggarwal noted, “We power half the world’s airlines, banks, and tech firms.”
* Icons of Excellence: Ajay Singh of SpiceJet and Katrina Kaif of Kay Beauty were honoured, with Singh saying, “We started SpiceJet against all odds,” and Kaif emphasising, “If you enter business, you must have something unique to say.”
Fireside Chat – Katrina Kaif on Business and Branding: Katrina Kaif, in conversation with Naini Thaker of Forbes India, talked about her journey from Bollywood to the boardroom, underscoring the importance of inclusivity and self-expression in branding.
Business & Economy Panel: This segment featured robust discussions on the economic outlook and key business strategies:
* Leaders like KVS Manian, Rajesh Jejurikar, and Madan Sabnavis explored topics ranging from global trade challenges to growth projections and the role of MSMEs in job creation.
* A standout quote from Rajesh Jejurikar: “The world needs India more than India needs the world.”
Final Set of Awards and Closing Highlights: The ceremony recognised outstanding leaders:
* Icons of Excellence: Jay Shah, Chairman of ICC; Shyam Srinivasan, Veteran Banker; and Mohit Joshi of Tech Mahindra were honoured.
* Promising Startup: Presented to Minimalist, received by Rahul Yadav and Mohit Yadav.
* Regional Goliath: Presented to MTR Foods, received by Sunay Bhasin and Sanjay Sharma.
* Grassroots Philanthropists: Rizwan Koita and Rekha Koita of Koita Foundation.
* Climate Warrior: Presented to Indra Water, received by Amrit Om Nayak and Krunal Patel.
* Turnaround Star: Presented to Indian Hotels Co Ltd (IHCL), received by Puneet Chhatwal.
* Next-Gen Entrepreneur: Varun Jaipuria of Varun Beverages.
* Institution Builder: Ashish Dhawan of Central Square Foundation and Ashoka University.
* Entrepreneur of the Year: Supam Maheshwari of FirstCry.
* CEO of the Year: Rajesh Jejurikar of Mahindra & Mahindra.
“These are tricky times, when great leaders and transformational leadership are needed more than ever. These are people who seize the day. Today, we have a hall full of people who seize the day, and we are here to raise a toast to them,” said Suveen Sinha, Editor, Forbes India.
The event concluded with a grand finale that included a celebratory toast and a group photo of all the winners, embodying the spirit of collaborative success and leadership.
Special thanks were extended to partners Federal Bank, KIA, Indiqube, Rajasthan Tourism, and Reliance Industries for their support in making the event a success.
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.
