MAM
Ted Royer appointed as Adfest’s next grand jury president
MUMBAI: Adfest has announced that one of the world’s most esteemed creative leaders, Droga5 chief creative officer Ted Royer, will join the festival’s 20th anniversary celebrations next year as the Grand Jury president overseeing the 2017 Adfest Lotus Awards.
Ranked by Business Insider as number one of 30 of the most creative people in advertising in 2016, Royer has won more than 100 major awards in a career spanning 20 years. He joined Droga5 in its early days, but has worked all over the globe from Singapore to Argentina, Australia and New York.
“Adfest celebrates its 20th Anniversary in 2017 so it is fitting to welcome a grand jury president who has made such an enduring mark on our industry over the past 20 years. Ted is a true visionary who continually taps into current trends to create the industry’s most talked-about campaigns. It’s an honor to welcome him to Thailand next year,” says Adfest president Jimmy Lam.
Royer has played a pivotal role in growing Droga5 from fledgling start-up to an agency of 600 employees, which last year won both the AdAge and Creativity Agency of the Year accolades. Prior to joining Droga5, he sat on the worldwide creative boards of Ogilvy & Mather and Publicis Groupe.
Says Royer: “I’m sincerely excited to be joining Adfest in its 20th year. It is a festival that celebrates local cultures, yet demands global standards – I think this will make it a uniquely rewarding show to judge. I’m looking forward to seeing the ideas that are shaping the region’s future, and meeting some of the creators behind them.”
Adfest 2017 celebrates ‘20 Years of Diversity’ from 22 to 25 March in Pattaya, Thailand.
Adfest chairman Vinit Suraphongchai says, “Adfest 2017 will be a true celebration of all that has been accomplished in this rich, colourful region over the past two decades. We are so pleased Ted has accepted our invitation to come along and celebrate in the style Adfest is now famous for.”
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: 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.
