MAM
Painting by numbers India’s colour choices get a replay in 2025
MUMBAI: If walls could talk, India’s homes would tell a surprisingly consistent story. In a country known for its riot of hues, nearly half of Indian consumers quietly stuck to the same 20 shades through 2025 proof that when it comes to colour, comfort still trumps chaos.
That insight emerges from Birla Opus Replay, a first-of-its-kind national snapshot by Birla Opus Paints that looks back at how Indians actually painted their homes last year. Built on millions of real purchase decisions captured through Birla Opus Tinting Machines, the initiative skips trend forecasts and designer predictions, focusing instead on what people chose across towns, cities and seasons from Kupwara to Kanyakumari.
The data reveals a country balancing loyalty with occasional bursts of experimentation. While whites and neutrals dominated overall, warmer tones such as yellows, oranges and blues quietly claimed second and third place in household preferences, especially during festive moments.
Leading the charts was Fort Kochi, a dark bluish-grey from the neutrals family, which emerged as India’s most travelled shade. More than 6 lakh litres were sold across 30,000-plus dealers, enough paint, Birla Opus estimates, to coat Mumbai’s Marine Drive multiple times over. Close behind was Morning Birdsong, a light bluish-grey that found its way into the homes of over 5 lakh consumers, making it one of the country’s most popular light neutrals.
Regional choices, meanwhile, painted distinct stories. North India leaned into earthy, muted palettes anchored by trusted neutrals, with Fort Kochi again leading the way. The South stood apart for its love of whites and light tones, a preference most pronounced in Kerala, where Compact on Skin, a pale orange, topped the charts. Western India favoured light, modern hues such as Easy Hope, a very light blue, reflecting contemporary urban architecture. East India gravitated towards richer midtones and darker hues, with Just Woke Up, a pale yellow, emerging as a regional favourite. Central India preferred cooler, nature-inspired colours, led by Goodbye Winter, a soft yellowish green.
Timing mattered too. Over 35,000 homes were painted during the onset of the monsoon, with blues and greens dominating choices. Diwali told a more split story: over 14,000 litres of vibrant festive shades were sold alongside 8,000-plus litres of minimalist whites, suggesting tradition and restraint comfortably co-exist.
What stands out is not just variety, but consistency. These patterns appeared across metros, tier-two cities and smaller markets alike, pointing to a nationwide confidence in familiar shades, tempered by seasonal curiosity.
By turning raw purchase data into a national colour diary, Birla Opus Replay offers a rare look at how Indians engage with colour not as abstract trends, but as everyday decisions shaped by emotion, occasion and trust. In a year of bold claims, India, it seems, painted thoughtfully.
Brands
KPMG names Gary Wingrove as global chairman and CEO from October
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MUMBAI: KPMG has chosen continuity with a forward tilt. The firm has announced that Gary Wingrove will take over as global chairman and CEO of KPMG International, beginning a four year term from 1 October 2026. Currently serving as global chief operating officer, Wingrove steps into the top role after being nominated by the global board and elected by the global council.
A KPMG veteran with over 25 years at the firm, Wingrove has been closely involved in shaping its recent trajectory. As global COO, he has helped drive the firm’s Collective Strategy, focusing on operational integration, global investments and the steady expansion of the KPMG Delivery Network. He has also been at the forefront of KPMG’s digital push, including the rollout of AI enabled solutions across its global operations.
Before his global role, Wingrove served as CEO of KPMG Australia for nearly a decade, where he led a period of strong growth, almost doubling revenue, profitability and headcount while steering a cultural reset.
He succeeds Bill Thomas, who has led KPMG since 2017 and will work alongside Wingrove over the next six months to ensure a smooth transition.
Thomas leaves behind a firm that looks markedly different from when he took charge. Under his leadership, KPMG’s global revenues have risen by 55 per cent, and its workforce has expanded to more than 276,000 people. He also unified the network of member firms under the Collective Strategy, aligning priorities and strengthening governance.
His tenure saw heavy investment in technology and partnerships, with alliances spanning Microsoft, Google Cloud, SAP, Oracle and ServiceNow. These collaborations, along with platforms like KPMG Clara, have helped the firm scale its AI-led offerings and sharpen its competitive edge.
Beyond growth, Thomas also pushed improvements in audit quality and sustainability. Initiatives such as a multiyear global sustainability strategy and the Our Impact Plan have aimed to embed long term thinking into the firm’s operations and client services.
For Wingrove, the brief is clear but evolving. He has signalled a focus on agility, deep expertise and technology driven solutions as clients navigate an increasingly complex business landscape. He also emphasised KPMG’s identity as a people first organisation, supported by technology and unified through its global network.
The timing of the leadership change comes as KPMG continues to grow, reporting a 5.1 per cent rise in global revenue in FY25, with gains across tax and legal, audit and advisory services. Growth was recorded across all regions, despite a challenging macro environment.
As Wingrove prepares to take charge, the firm appears set on a familiar path with a sharper digital edge. Same playbook, perhaps, but with a renewed focus on speed, scale and smarter solutions.
