MAM
Tribal DDB boosts creative team in India
MUMBAI: Tribal DDB India is investing in a significant ramp up of its creative team. The agency has entrusted DDB Mudra Mumbai group creative directors Ashish Phatak and Aman Mannan the additional role of driving the Tribal DDB creative mandate. Both joined DDB Mudra Mumbai in 2010 and have been working on LIC, Godrej, Future Group, Union Bank of India among others.
The duo have individually and together worked on brands like Union Bank of India, Parachute, Saffola, Tata Indico, Hit, Jaipur Foot Foundation.
The agency has a newcomer in Satish Sethumadhavan (popularly known as Sethu) who has joined as creative director. His last stint was with Ogilvy & Mather, Bengaluru. Over the past decade, Sethu has worked with brands such as Coca-Cola, Western Union, American Express, ITC’s Bingo, Marico’s Parachute, Haywards, Vicks and Titan.
DDB Mudra Group chairman and CCO Sonal Dabral said, “With technology opening up endless possibilities in the way we converse with our target audience these are truly exciting times. At DDB Mudra Group we want to be the best when it comes to providing breakthrough creative solutions to our clients across multiple media and platforms. With this new beefed up creative structure at Tribal DDB we are walking our talk.”
Tribal DDB and Rapp India president Venkat Mallik said, “At Tribal DDB, we believe that the best work in the digital space will emerge from the fusion of the highest standards of brand creative thinking with Digital inventiveness. We are building our team with award winning talent with backgrounds in digital, as well as, mainstream brand communication. Aman & Ashish and Sethu are individually outstanding creative talent who we are proud to have lead the creative show for us and help set a new benchmark for digital brand creativity.”
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.
