MAM
Mohapatra quits Starcom for Modi
MUMBAI: Associate Media Director, in charge of broadcast, Madan Mohan Mohapatra has put in his papers at Starcom Worldwide. The agency simultaneously announced the appointment of Gautam Rajgopal, with immediate effect, as the Manager-Broadcast Investment.
According to Publicis Groupe owned Starcom MediaVest Group’s releases, after three successful years in the company’s Mumbai office, Mohapatra decided to call it quits. Mohapatra is expected to join Modi Online Lottery as Marketing Manager, effective from 8 September 2003, says the release. Meanwhile Rajgopal who was earlier in charge of media negotiations at Carat Media Services, Mumbai, joined the agency early last week.
Madan Mohan Mohapatra, during the three year stint with the agency, had gained many full service and media-only, says the release
Speaking about Mohapatra’s resignation Starcom Worldwide, India-West & South managing director Ravi Kiran said: “Madan was part of the early years of Starcom in India and has been a great support system to us. The agency gained immensely from his passion, enthusiasm and great relationship with media owners. As he moves on to explore a different kind of career in a marketing organization, we wish him nothing but the best for future. I am looking forward to Gautam stepping into Madan’s shoes; and I am confident that he will grow into it under Manish Porwal’s guidance.”
According to Starcom Worldwide general manager-Investment & New Initiatives Manish Porwal, ” It is difficult to be dealing with day today negotiations, satisfying the needs of ever demanding planners and still keeping an eye on the strategic view-point of all investments for the clients. Having known Madan as a business associate and then as a colleague, I am quite enamoured with his ability to deliver in every endeavour he takes up. In the few months that Madan and I worked together, he helped me free my mind from up keeping and improving our standards on broadcast investment and concentrate better on Starcom’s new initiatives. I am not sure if I should be more happy for him as he finds his way to his new assignment or sad for ourselves, as we would miss his Midas touch. I am sure Gautam will take on from where Madan leaves and help reach the high standards we have set for ourselves.
Rajgoplan has been associated with the advertising and media buying seven years. Prior to joining Starcom, he held a position of buying supervisor at Carat Media Services, handling businesses worth Rs 3 billion.
He has previously worked with Hindustan Thompson Associates as Sr. Media Buyer, Madison Communications, Contract Advertising, and Living Media. During his career, he handled brands such as Cadbury, Asian Paints, Philips, Mattel Toys, Parle, Virgin Records, General Mills, United Distillers and Vintners, Hindustan Pencils, Beiersdorf India Ltd, S Kumars, Sahara, Bajaj Auto, Indian Naval Services, Procter and Gamble, Coca Cola, Godrej, Bharat Petroleum, Warner Lambert, Heinz I Ltd, Geoffrey Manners and Associated Cement Companies.
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.
