MAM
LS Digital expands to UK with Pawan Wankhede as business head
Mumbai: LS Digital, a new-age independent digital marketing transformation group, as part of their global expansion, announced today its foray in the UK market. Pawan Wankhede has been appointed as the business head of UK operations. He will focus on expanding LS Digital’s skills and capabilities in Digital Marketing Transformation (DMT) to businesses in the UK market. Pawan brings over 18 years of expertise in digital marketing strategies and content.
“We envision LS Digital becoming a global player in the digital marketing transformation (DMT) space. In order to realise this vision, we have appointed an industry veteran like Pawan to take the reins of the UK operations and replicate the growth we have seen in the MEA region. LS Digital already has a significant presence in Europe, specifically in UX and CX verticals. Now we will expand our focus, with UK as the base and Pawan at the helm, to include the entire DMT solution, which comprises Media, Creative, D&I, Innovation and Tech,” said LS Digital CEO & co-founder Prasad Shejale on the appointment.
Prior to joining LS Digital Pawan was the CEO of VidRule, a programmatic digital marketing company, for over 7 years. A seasoned Digital Marketing entrepreneur, Pawan brings strong experience in digital media and OTT content technology, with specialisations in several forms of marketing including AdTech, Content Production & Monetization, Social Media & Display Marketing, and Mobile Marketing, to name a few.
LS Digital COO Rupak Ved said, “I am happy to welcome Pawan to the UK team. His expertise in diverse areas of the digital marketing space, especially in international markets will help accelerate growth in Europe and take it to greater levels. We perceive a great need among UK businesses for digital marketing transformation solutions. LS Digital’s Transformation Framework is perfectly positioned to address the gap in the market. Pawan’s addition will further our growth in Digital Marketing Space in the UK.”
Commenting on his new role, Pawan Wankhede said, “The UK stands as the largest digital advertising market in Europe, with expenditures consistently surpassing traditional channels. This surge in spending underscores a significant demand for brands to embrace a more data-driven strategy, aiming to optimise return on advertising Spend (ROAS). I am enthusiastic about joining the LS Digital team, recognizing the immense opportunity to guide UK brands in harnessing the robust DMT framework crafted by the company. In my role, I will be dedicated to fostering innovation, broadening our European focus, and assisting brands in setting up their Centre of Excellence (CoE).”
Pawan Wankhede’s appointment for UK operations aligns with LS Digital’s strategic plans to become a global leader in the delivery of DMT solutions. The company endeavours to focus more in Europe and UK by expanding its UX & CX business verticals to include Media, Creative, D&I, Innovation and Tech, in order to provide the entire range of its ML-based DMT solutions to brands in these markets.
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.
