MAM
Will Lin joins Simplilearn as CMO
Mumbai: The global digital skill provider, Simplilearn, has appointed Will Lin as the new chief marketing officer. He brings to the company more than 20 years of international experience & proven track record in scaling data-driven ROI-focused marketing operations and taking them to the next level.
Recently, Simplilearn has also appointed Mohit Yadav & Sujoy Ghosh as vice presidents in the growth and tech verticals, respectively. They will be playing key roles in driving growth and transformation in the company. The addition of a new leader will act as a catalyst in the future ventures of the company.
He will be responsible for the overall global brand and digital marketing strategy of the company to further amplify Simplilearn’s brand awareness and to drive the transformation of marketing into a data and revenue driven function.
Will’s marketing leadership experience spans tenures at HP, Berggi, Microsoft, VRBO (formerly HomeAway), and RentPath. Prior to joining Simplilearn, he served as the chief marketing officer & chief digital officer at RentPath where he built a world-class consumer marketing program focused on renter acquisition & growth and was instrumental in its eventual $600 million acquisition by Redfin.
While at VRBO, Will managed a nine-figure marketing budget for 50+ websites across 20+ countries and contributed to the company’s growth which led to eventual $2 billion sale to Expedia.
Sharing his enthusiasm on joining the Simplilearn team, Will Lin said, “Being a part of Simplilearn is going to be an exciting journey for me. The edtech sector is booming with endless possibilities and potential. Simplilearn has been playing an excellent role in upskilling students and professionals, and while I am thrilled to bring all my expertise and experience to the table, I believe that this shall be a learning voyage for me too. I look forward to the road ahead with the company.”
Welcoming Will Lin to the Simplilearn team, Simplilearn CEO & founder Krishna Kumar said, “With our aim to grow locally and globally, and towards being the industry leader in digital skilling, we continue to strengthen our team paving the way to success. We are happy to have Will on board to lead the marketing vertical for Simplilearn and we look forward to his contributions and expertise on further growing the company, taking it to the next level.”
He added, “After close to a 6-year stint with Simplilearn, Mark Moran is moving on to start a new venture. I want to take this opportunity to thank Mark for all his contributions to make Simplilearn a better business and a better place to work. We wish him success with his new venture.”
Brands
Kwality Wall’s reports standalone losses following strategic HUL demerger
Ice cream major faces Rs 64 crore Ebitda loss amid commodity inflation and muted Q3 sales
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited (KWIL) has released its first set of financial results as a standalone entity, revealing a challenging start to its independent journey. Following its successful demerger from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on 1st December 2025 and its subsequent listing on 16th February 2026, the company is navigating a transition period marked by structural changes and high input costs.
For the quarter ended 31st December 2025, the company reported revenue of Rs 222 crores. Despite the revenue base, the bottom line was impacted by several factors, resulting in an Ebitda loss of Rs 64.2 crores. When calculated on a Pre-IND AS 116 basis, the Ebitda loss stood at Rs 83.8 crores.
Organic Sales Growth (OSG) declined by 6.5 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. Volume growth, however, saw a marginal increase of 1.2 per cent. The company reported a gross margin of 41.5 per cent. Additionally, exceptional expenses amounting to Rs 94 crores were recorded, primarily linked to non-recurring costs during the transition phase.
Performance across portfolios and channels was mixed. Within the impulse portfolio, brands such as Magnum and Cornetto recorded mid-single digit volume growth, indicating steady demand in on-the-go consumption. However, the in-home portfolio, which includes take-home packs, experienced muted consumption. The company is planning a relaunch of this category with improved offerings ahead of the 2026 season.
Quick commerce (Q-Com) continued to emerge as a strong growth driver, delivering robust double-digit growth during the quarter. Meanwhile, the company also expanded its physical distribution network by increasing the number of company-owned cabinets across markets.
Margin pressure during the quarter was driven by a combination of one-off factors and broader cost inflation. Gross margins were impacted by around 600 basis points due to trade investments made for stock liquidation. Additionally, cocoa price inflation contributed to another 400 basis points of pressure on margins.
Deputy managing director Chitrank Goel attributed the muted performance partly to prolonged monsoons and transitional challenges linked to the GST framework. Operating expenses also increased as the company invested in establishing its standalone supply chain, operational systems and corporate infrastructure following the demerger.
Looking ahead, the management remains focused on a volume-driven growth strategy. To restore profitability, the company has initiated a cost productivity programme aimed at reducing non-consumer-facing costs. It is also working on building regional manufacturing networks to optimise logistics expenses and improve operational efficiency.
The commodity outlook for the near term remains mixed. Dairy prices are expected to remain firm due to tight supply conditions and rising fodder costs. Sugar prices may also move higher following increases in the Minimum Selling Price (MSP). While cocoa prices have moderated recently, currency depreciation has offset some of the potential cost relief for the company.
