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Ashok Leyland clocks record Q3 profit despite labour code hit
Revenue jumps 22 per cent; margins improve and volumes beat industry
CHENNAI:Â Ashok Leyland Limited reported a record December quarter, delivering its highest-ever profit and revenue despite absorbing a one-off charge linked to the new labour code.
The commercial vehicle maker posted a standalone net profit of Rs 796 crore in the third quarter of FY26, up 4.4 per cent from Rs 762 crore a year earlier. The result includes a one-time charge of Rs 308 crore, after which profit still touched an all-time high.
Revenue from operations rose 22 per cent on-year to a record Rs 11,534 crore, compared with Rs 9,479 crore in the year-ago quarter, supported by strong demand across segments.
Operating performance remained firm, with Ebitda rising 27 per cent to Rs 1,535 crore from Rs 1,211 crore. Ebitda margin improved to 13.31 per cent, up from 12.78 per cent, marking the 12th consecutive quarter of double-digit margin growth, the company said.
Volumes expanded sharply. MHCV sales rose 23 per cent to 32,929 units, while LCV volumes climbed 30 per cent to 20,518 units, outpacing industry growth, according to Vahan data. Export volumes increased 20 per cent to 4,965 units.
Ashok Leyland’s net cash position strengthened to Rs 2,619 crore, nearly triple the level a year earlier.
Commenting on the results, executive chairman Dheeraj Hinduja, said market conditions remained favourable and growth momentum was expected to continue across MHCV, LCV and defence businesses. He added that the company is advancing a structured pipeline of new products across conventional and alternative propulsion platforms.
Hinduja said the electric vehicle arm, Switch Mobility, has begun international bus deliveries, holds a healthy order book, and posted positive Ebitda and Pat over the first nine months.
Shares of Ashok Leyland fell 2.21 per cent to Rs 205.09 on the NSE following the earnings announcement.
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Robin Thadathil named chief human resources officer at P&G India
Insider steps up as CHRO, bringing 16 years of global HR leadership
SINGAPORE: Procter & Gamble has named Robin Thadathil as its new chief human resources officer, effective 1 April, marking a smooth internal transition at one of the country’s largest FMCG players.
Thadathil succeeds PM Srinivas, stepping into the role after more than 16 years within the company. A seasoned insider, he has built a career that stretches across Asia and the United States, with a steady rise through some of P&G’s most complex HR assignments.
Most recently, he served as senior director human resources, based in Singapore, where he led HR for the company’s site and country cluster spanning Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. Before that, he was human resources director for the club and Amazon teams and the Seattle site, overseeing a business worth over $8 billion and partnering closely with senior leadership.
His earlier stints include managing director human resources for supply chain and manufacturing plants in Indonesia, where he led large teams across hair care and fabric care operations, and regional HR leader for product supply in south east asia, managing talent and organisational strategy across multiple markets.
Thadathil’s journey at P&G began in Singapore, where he held roles such as associate manager, asia HR operations and HR business partner across Asean markets, steadily building expertise in talent management, compensation strategy and organisational design.
Educated at Nanyang Technological University, where he earned both his engineering degree and a master’s in international political economy, Thadathil brings a blend of analytical rigour and global perspective to his new role.
He takes on the role at a time when Procter & Gamble continues to strengthen its presence in India.
