MAM
PepsiCo India names Garima Singh as head of government affairs & communications
MUMBAI: PepsiCo India announced on Thursday the appointment of Garima Singh as head of government affairs and communications. Singh takes over from Viraj Chouhan who is elevated to the role of vice president, global market communications.
Prior to the new appointment, Singh was head of corporate affairs at HeroMotoCorp and as part of her experience of over 20 years has led public affairs mandate for companies like Mondelez, Apple, Mahindra & Mahindra amongst others.
In her new role at PepsiCo India, Singh will be a key business partner managing long-term policy risks and opportunities to shape public policy decisions for sustainable, responsible business growth of the company.
Chouhan, on the other hand, will take up a global role with him being a focal point for all global market communications teams outside the US, covering both internal and external communications. He will serve as the head of the markets center of excellence, providing support & guidance to teams and drive positive outcomes around key themes including pep+, diversity, engagement & inclusion, digital transformation and community.
Armed with over 25 years work experience, Chouhan joined PepsiCo India in November 2018, and has been an integral part of the India leadership team. As chief govt. affairs and communications officer, he has been instrumental in building a world class, cohesive function that has had some major wins across all areas of work, according to the company. On the sustainability side, he has been instrumental in driving the PepsiCo ecosystem in India to collect & dispose 100 per cent of post-consumer plastic waste by December 2021.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â 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.
