MAM
MediaCom appoints Rathi Gangappa as head west
MUMBAI: MediaCom has brought on board Rathi Gangappa as head west.
She will report to MediaCom India MD Debraj Tripathy and will oversee P&G along with rest of the west businesses that include the VW group, HRI, Vespa and others.
Tripathy said, “I am delighted to welcome Rathi to the MediaCom family. I am confident her varied experience across organisations, both agencies and advertisers, and across categories will help us deliver greater value to our clients. I wish her the very best for a long and enriching career with MediaCom”
Prior to joining Mediacom, Gangappa was at Vodafone as the head of media and was subsequently in charge of developing Vodafone’s mobile marketing product. She has been instrumental in building Vodafone’s leading media identity and driving their strategic media solutions.
Gangappa started her career in Lintas Media after which she moved to Maximize (now Maxus) when GroupM India was formed. In a career spanning over 18 years, Gangappa has worked with clients like Unilever, Hutch/ Vodafone, Tata Motors, Britannia and Walt Disney.
Gangappa said, “I am excited to be joining the talented team at Mediacom and working with some of the most prestigious brands in India. MediaCom has been growing fast and has produced some of the best work in the industry. It is a challenge to keep up the pace and I am looking forward to it.”
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.
