MAM
Weekend Unwind with: BBH ECD Priya Gurnani
Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind — a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of corporate executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.
In this week’s session, BBH India’s recently elevated executive creative director Priya Gurnani poured out her thoughts.
With over 15 years of experience, Gurnani specialises in building creative communication that is at the intersection of brands, culture, and consumer behavior. In the past, she has worked with Ogilvy, Leo Burnett, McCann Worldwide, and Contract Advertising.
In her advertising career, Gurnani has created culture-defining work for brands like Stayfree, Yatra.com, Heineken, Kingfisher Ultra, Amstel, and Zee5. Most recently, she conceptualised and wrote the lyrics to a rap song for Zing’s “Apni Vibe Apni Tribe” campaign. In 2009, she was amongst the winners of the Cannes Young Lions.
So, without further ado, here it goes…
· Your mantra for life
To have fun while pursuing my dreams. Because if you aren’t enjoying what you are doing, you are just wasting your precious time.
· A book you are currently reading / plan to read
I love to read new perspectives on humankind and human psychology. Currently reading “Homo Deus” by Yuval Noah Harari.
· Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
Strong believer of “Yoga se hi hoga.” Post-covid I had a really tough time coming to a complete recovery. Yoga is what healed me and kept me going through the difficult health issues.
· Your comfort food
Anything that my mum cooks.
· When the chips are down a quote/philosophy that keeps you going
In an actors’ round table, Tom Hanks mentioned how he always reminds himself, “This too shall pass.” This phrase, he said, is particularly important when you are at the peak of success, as it helps keep you grounded. I keep these words close by in good times and bad.
· Your guilty pleasure
Watching mindless reality TV, especially “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”
· When was the last time you tried something new?
Last week. I love experimenting with food. Bought these Chinese glass noodles to try.
· A life lesson you learnt the hard way
I am not that important in the bigger scheme of things, and the world doesn’t revolve around me.
· What gets you excited about life?
Travelling to different countries and experiencing new cultures and cuisines really fills my happiness cup.
· What’s on top of your bucket list?
Travel to New York and watch Broadway.
· If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Why so serious? Live a little.
· One thing you would most like to change about the world
I propose “Free movement for all.” I want a world without borders, or passports, to be precise. A world where there are no immigrants and refugees, just people migrating at will like birds.
· An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times
Painting has seen me through my highs and lows. I am no M. F. Hussain, but expressing my artistic self without judgement and freely is very liberating.
· What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
It changes from time to time. Sometimes it’s cooking, sometimes taking a dance class, at times listening to Badshah’s songs, and sometimes just chit-chatting with a friend about a show we both watch.
· Your go-to stress buster
I can always bank on a good workout to bust that stress.
Brands
Pidilite earnings call: Q3 revenue up 11 per cent, exports slide 13.5 per cent
Domestic volumes rose 11 per cent while exports fell 13.5 per cent, management says
MUMBAI: Pidilite Industries delivered a resilient third quarter, leaning on strong domestic volumes to cushion a sharp export slowdown, management said during its Q3 FY26 earnings call on 4 February.
The Mumbai-based adhesives and construction chemicals maker reported standalone revenue of Rs 3,425 crore, up 11 per cent year on year, driven by underlying volume growth of 9.3 per cent. Domestic volumes grew 11 per cent, extending a recovery trend seen over the past eight quarters, while exports fell 13.5 per cent amid geopolitical disruptions.
Standalone Ebitda margin improved by around 24 basis points to 24.5 per cent, aided by softer input costs, even as the company stepped up advertising and brand investments. Profit after tax rose 12.5 per cent. Consolidated revenue increased 10.2 per cent to just under Rs 3,700 crore.
Managing director Sudhanshu Vats, said the export decline was largely concentrated in the pigments business, which has direct exposure to the US and remains affected by tariff uncertainty. While a potential tariff resolution is still several months away, he said the worst of the export impact was likely behind the company.
Domestic B2B volumes delivered mid-teens growth, with management aiming to restore overall B2B growth to similar levels. The consumer and bazaar segment posted volume growth of 9.7 per cent during the quarter.
The company incurred a one-time charge of Rs 47 crore at the standalone level under the new wage code, covering gratuity and leave encashment provisions.
Vats reiterated Pidilite’s intent to build Roff as its next large brand, following what he described as the company’s “classic playbook”. He said Roff’s positioning remains distinct from mass FMCG cleaning brands, anchored in its adjacency to tiling and construction activity rather than general household use.
Joint managing director Kavinder Singh, said demand across the construction portfolio remained robust, with no signs of slowdown across residential, commercial, infrastructure or industrial segments. Around 70 to 75 per cent of Pidilite’s construction-linked business continues to come from repair and renovation, providing insulation from any slowdown in new builds.
The tile adhesive category, which replaces traditional cement usage, is growing at an estimated 18 to 20 per cent, driven by penetration gains rather than overall tile demand. Management said Pidilite expects to continue outgrowing the category through pricing discipline and distributed manufacturing.
Beyond its core businesses, the company continues to invest in emerging segments such as electronic adhesives, which involve long testing cycles but offer strategic long-term potential. Haisha Paints remains in a calibrated rollout phase, with a wider launch contingent on establishing a clear operating model.
Chief financial officer Sandeep Batra said the company would continue to prioritise growth over short-term margin optimisation, reaffirming its long-term consolidated Ebitda comfort corridor of 20 to 24 per cent.
