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The Trade Desk appoints Reddit CFO Drew Vollero to board of directors
Reddit CFO brings IPO experience to steer next phase of expansion
VENTURA: The Trade Desk has appointed Drew Vollero to its board of directors, bringing in a seasoned finance leader as the company sharpens its focus on long-term growth.
Vollero, currently serving as chief financial officer at Reddit, is best known for steering the platform through its successful IPO in March 2024 and building its financial backbone from the ground up. With more than three decades of experience across public and private markets, his appointment signals a steady hand at a time when scale and discipline matter as much as innovation.
Before Reddit, Vollero held the CFO role at Allied Universal and earlier at Snapchat, where he guided the company through its own IPO and early years as a public business. His career also includes stints at Mattel and Pepsi, rounding out a resume that blends operational depth with financial strategy.
The Trade Desk CEO and co-founder Jeff Green said, “Drew’s extensive experience as CFO and his ability to guide organisations through periods of growth make him an exceptional addition to our board. His financial acumen and strategic mindset will be invaluable as we continue to scale globally and deliver long-term value.”
For his part, Vollero sees the role as a timely opportunity. The Trade Desk board member Drew Vollero said, “The Trade Desk has built a strong foundation and a powerful platform for its advertising clients. I look forward to working with the leadership team to help drive momentum and shape the future of the advertising ecosystem.”
A mathematics and economics graduate from Yale University, where he graduated magna cum laude, Vollero also holds a master’s degree in management from Oxford University.
With Vollero joining the boardroom, The Trade Desk appears to be doubling down on financial discipline as it scales globally, pairing its tech ambitions with seasoned oversight at the top.
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Lotus Chocolate FY26 profit drops sharply, Q4 slips into loss
Revenue steady at Rs 579.55 crore, Q4 loss at Rs 4.47 crore
MUMBAI: Sweet on the top line, slightly bitter on the bottom Lotus Chocolate’s FY26 numbers tell a story that’s more dark cocoa than milk. The company managed to hold its revenue steady for the year, but profitability took a visible hit, capped by a loss-making fourth quarter. Lotus Chocolate Company Limited reported revenue from operations of Rs 579.55 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, marginally up from Rs 573.75 crore in FY25. Total income rose to Rs 615.61 crore, compared with Rs 574.56 crore in the previous year, supported by a sharp jump in other income to Rs 36.06 crore from just Rs 0.81 crore.
However, the gains at the top did little to cushion profitability. Net profit for FY26 fell dramatically to Rs 0.10 crore, down from Rs 17.23 crore in FY25, reflecting significant cost pressures across the business.
The March quarter proved particularly challenging. The company reported a net loss of Rs 4.47 crore in Q4 FY26, compared with a profit of Rs 0.14 crore in the previous quarter and Rs 1.42 crore in the same quarter last year. Total income for the quarter stood at Rs 138.01 crore, down from Rs 150.21 crore in Q3 FY26 and Rs 157.52 crore in Q4 FY25.
Expenses remained elevated throughout the year. Total expenses rose to Rs 614.44 crore in FY26 from Rs 551.50 crore in FY25, eating into margins. A key swing factor was the cost of materials consumed, which stood at Rs 304.44 crore, while changes in inventories also reflected volatility, with a negative impact of Rs 62.44 crore in the previous year reversing to a positive Rs 52.93 crore this year.
Employee benefit expenses nearly doubled to Rs 34.00 crore from Rs 17.98 crore, while finance costs surged to Rs 16.31 crore from Rs 7.11 crore, indicating higher borrowing and funding costs. Depreciation and amortisation expenses also increased to Rs 3.92 crore from Rs 1.81 crore, reflecting ongoing investments.
On the balance sheet front, total assets stood at Rs 275.96 crore as of March 31, 2026, slightly higher than Rs 270.34 crore a year earlier. Borrowings remained significant, with current borrowings at Rs 89.00 crore, highlighting continued reliance on external funding.
Cash flow dynamics showed improvement in operations, with net cash generated from operating activities at Rs 93.23 crore, compared with a negative Rs 129.60 crore in FY25. However, financing outflows remained high at Rs 74.90 crore, driven largely by repayment of borrowings and interest costs.
Despite stable revenue, the sharp drop in profitability underscores the pressure of rising input costs, higher finance expenses and operational adjustments. The contrast between steady sales and squeezed margins leaves Lotus Chocolate at a crossroads proving that in business, as in confectionery, the real test isn’t just in the sweetness of sales, but in the richness of returns.
