MAM
Kalpana Bansal to head Mudra’s LLC division
MUMBAI: Marketing communications firm Mudra has appointed Kalpana Bansal as its executive VP and head Leadership Learning and Change (LLC) division.
LLC was set up a couple of years ago by Mudra and it was the firms humar resources response to the need to identify, grow and nurture talent. Mudra MD and CEO Madhukar Kamat said, “At Mudra we put people first. It is great to have Kalpana on board. She is critical to our senior management team. With our people focus the LLC function is central to ourplans for the future. I look forward to kalpana’s contribution to our mission to build the Mudra Group into the most admired and valuable communications group in India. We are bringing our international partner DDB’s priceless philosophy – people, product and profit.”
Bansal said, ” It is indeed an honour to be associated with Mudra. Mudra has a legacy honed carefully over the last 25 years that has been built on team work. It is an exciting time to join the Mudra Group, helping in the process of change, nurturing leadership values and supporting ambitious growth plans with the right talent.”
Bansal joins Mudra from HR consulting firm Watson Wyatt. She has also worked with Star, IMRB and Tata-Unisys.
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.
