MAM
Madhusudhan Rao, Deepak Subramanian join HUL management committee
Mumbai: FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Madhusudhan Rao and Deepak Subramanian to its management committee. While Rao is named as HUL executive director – beauty and wellbeing and personal care, Subramanian is HUL executive director – home care.
Rao takes over from Priya Nair, who is elevated to global role as HUL chief marketing officer – beauty and wellbeing. Subramanian succeeds Prabha Narasimhan, who has decided to leave the company to pursue an external opportunity, HUL said in a statement.
“Madhusudhan has a successful track record in a variety of operational and strategic roles. He has brought in a strong performance edge in his teams and has pioneered several innovations that uphold Unilever’s high science and technology credentials,” commented HUL chairman and MD Sanjiv Mehta. “Deepak has championed innovation and sustainable strategies to significantly improve brand equity and deliver growth. He has demonstrated superior business acumen in building new categories, primarily in start-up business verticals. I am certain that they will take the business to the next level of performance.”
Talking about Nair’s contribution to the business, Mehta said, “She has been an active champion for building future skills and experimentation, and has led several path-breaking marketing initiatives such as the Kan Khajura Tesan. Under her leadership, the business witnessed high growth in key categories driven by consumer-centric innovations and award-winning, purpose-driven communication.”
“Prabha led home care to deliver a strong performance across South Asia over the last two years. She has contributed immensely towards embedding the Clean Future agenda into the Home Care product development strategy,” he further said about Narasimhan.
Rao joined HUL in 1991 and he is currently serving as Unilever EVP – home and hygiene. In his 30+ years in the company, he demonstrated a strong performance track record in marketing, customer development and brand development roles across geographies. In his current role, Rao helped shape the home and hygiene category as a successful business with a distinctive high-performance culture, said the statement.
Currently working as VP – home care, South-East Asia/ANZ (SEAA) and global head – fabric enhancers, Subramanian joined HUL in 1995 as a management trainee. He significantly improved the profitability of the business, whilst strengthening top-line growth. In his global role, Subramanian helped transform the fabric enhancers category by driving innovations and re-positioning the brands to have more social impact, according to the company.
Recently, the company also announced the separation of the position of chairman of the board and the CEO and managing director. HUL announced the appointment of Nitin Paranjpe, currently chief operating officer of Unilever as non-executive chairman of the company, with effect from 31 March. However, Sanjiv Mehta will continue as HUL chief executive officer and managing director.
The FMCG giant reported a strong all-around performance for the third quarter. The company’s growth was competitive and profitable. The net profit surged to Rs 2,243 with 17 per cent growth year-on-year, according to the statement.
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.
