MAM
Xavi Bech de Careda joins DDB Mudra Delhi as VP
MUMBAI: DDB Mudra Delhi has appointed Xavi Bech de Careda as DDB Mudra Delhi vice president planning.
Careda will report to DDB Mudra Group Delhi President Vandana Das and DDB Mudra, Delhi and Mumbai senior VP planning Aditya Kanthy.
De Careda started his career as a food technology researcher in the R&D team of Unilever Research. He then joined BDDH and has also worked with BBH and McCann Healthcare in London. He moved to Barcelona in 1997 and worked with BBDO Tiempo, Rapp Collins and DDB Barcelona as a brand and communication strategist.
He has over 15 years of work experience de Careda has handled world-class brands such as Audi, Bayer, Fujitsu Italy, Marcilla Coffe, Natura Bisse, Panasonic and Volkswagen to name a few.
De Careda said, “After spending some months travelling in India the thought of a professional challenge here seduced me, and following DDB Mudra Group‘s call, things have moved at a fast pace. As it is with brands and business here; I am convinced that a very fruitful relationship awaits me in India.”
DDB Mudra Group group CEO and managing director Madhukar Kamath said, “Delhi is the growth market for the DDB Mudra Group. We have a large presence already. Our offerings in advertising, media, digital, CRM, experiential, shopper marketing, retail and strategic branding enable us to work with a varied client portfolio. Xavi, with his rich and diverse experience will add to the unique base of talent that we have in the DDB Mudra Group in Delhi today.”
Das said, “We are very thrilled about Xavi joining us. We are looking forward to huge amounts of learning that he would bring to the table and his contribution towards nurturing and building brands for DDB Mudra in Delhi.”
Kanthy added, “We‘re thrilled that Xavi will work with us. He‘s an experienced DDB hand, knows the culture well and has an intuitive understanding of how we work. Xavi‘s widely traveled and has a deep appreciation of the arts. He‘ll add a unique flavour to the conversations we have at the agency and with our clients. He‘s the quintessential DDB man – talented and nice! The right guy to lead our team of bright young planners in Delhi.”
In addition to having worked with agencies, de Careda also gives lectures at business and design schools in Barcelona like the ESSERP Business School, Instuito Europeo di Design and Universitat Blanquerna and has been a presenter for a bi-monthly radio show on advertising on Barcelona‘s leading radio channel ‘Catalan‘.
Brands
Maruti Suzuki posts record FY26 profit of Rs 14,445 crore, dividend at Rs 140
Sales hit 24.22 lakh units as Q4 revenue crosses Rs 50,000 crore mark
NEW DELHI: Maruti Suzuki India Limited reported its highest-ever annual performance for FY2025-26, with record sales volumes, revenue and profit, alongside a dividend of Rs 140 per share.
The company posted net sales of Rs 1,74,369.5 crore for the full year, marking a 20.2 per cent increase over FY2024-25. Net profit stood at an all-time high of Rs 14,445.4 crore, up slightly from Rs 14,297.6 crore in the previous year.
Total sales for the year reached 24,22,713 units, compared to 22,34,266 units last year. Domestic sales accounted for 19,74,939 units, while exports rose sharply to 4,47,774 units from 3,32,585 units a year earlier. The company retained its position as India’s top passenger vehicle exporter for the fifth consecutive year, contributing 49 per cent of total exports.
Exports of the made-in-India e VITARA, the company’s first battery electric vehicle, expanded to 44 countries, highlighting its growing global footprint.
In the January to March quarter, Maruti Suzuki recorded its highest-ever quarterly sales of 6,76,209 units, an increase of 11.8 per cent year-on-year. Domestic sales stood at 5,38,994 units, while exports touched a record 1,37,215 units.
Quarterly net sales crossed the Rs 50,000 crore milestone for the first time, reaching Rs 50,078.7 crore, up from Rs 38,839.1 crore in the same quarter last year.
Operating profit, measured as EBIT, rose 30.4 per cent to Rs 4,409.2 crore, reflecting improved operating efficiency. However, net profit declined 6.9 per cent year-on-year to Rs 3,590.5 crore, primarily due to mark-to-market impacts.
The company said growth in the second half of the year was supported by a reduction in GST rates, which boosted demand in the domestic market. However, production constraints remained a challenge, with around 1,90,000 pending customer orders at the end of the year, including nearly 1,30,000 in the small car segment. Dealer inventory levels were also low, at about 12 days of stock.
During the year, Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited was amalgamated into the parent company, effective 1 December 2025, with financials restated from 1 April 2025 for comparability.
The board recommended a dividend of Rs 140 per share, up from Rs 135 in FY2024-25, marking the highest payout in the company’s history.
With strong export momentum, improving domestic demand and continued capacity constraints, Maruti Suzuki enters FY27 balancing growth opportunities with supply-side challenges, even as it strengthens its position in both conventional and electric vehicle segments.
