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Oliver Wyman adds Bitan Datta to power up India practice
MUMBAI: Oliver Wyman has added fresh muscle to its India leadership bench with the appointment of Bitan Datta as partner in its transportation, advanced industrials and performance transformation practices.
With more than twenty years spent reshaping factories, supply chains and entire operating models, Datta arrives with a portfolio packed with large-scale turnarounds across industrial goods, high-tech manufacturing, building materials and energy equipment. His work has helped companies lift market share while sharpening cost control, service levels and inventory productivity.
Datta has long been a champion of smarter, faster and more resilient manufacturing. He has guided organisations in modernising production systems, embedding digital and AI tools, and building supply chains that can withstand global shocks. His experience also extends to sector-wide work with industry bodies and policy makers.
Reflecting on India’s manufacturing trajectory, Datta said the country is stepping into a decade where scale, innovation and resilience will be decisive. Companies that invest in design, technology and intellectual property while staying nimble amid geopolitical churn will shape the winners’ circle. He believes India has the headroom to lead global value chains across established categories as well as sunrise sectors such as electronics and semiconductors.
In his new role, Datta will focus on helping organisations upgrade manufacturing systems, boost supply-chain agility and accelerate transformation programmes driven by digital, analytics and Industry 4.0 technologies.
Welcoming him to the firm, Oliver Wyman India head Sumit Sarawgi, said Datta’s deep sector knowledge strengthens the firm at an important time as it expands its capabilities and supports clients navigating structural shifts across industrial and manufacturing ecosystems.
With Datta on board, Oliver Wyman is aiming to push harder into India’s next wave of industrial growth, one transformation at a time.
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.
