MAM
Priyanka Dhar joins as client lead at Wavemaker WPP Media
Dhar steps into Wavemaker to lead Perfetti with strategy, speed and results
MUMBAI: Priyanka Dhar has taken over as client lead at wavemaker, the wpp media agency, steering the Perfetti account from February 2026. Dhar moves into the role after more than 2.5 years managing non-biddable delivery for tccc, where she focused on customer-centric media solutions, ROI-driven media management and innovative buying strategies aligned to brand objectives.
Dhar’s remit spans complete SLA adherence, collaborative agency partnerships and high-value media outcomes. Her work has consistently prioritised impactful storytelling, business insights and measurable results, cementing her reputation in media circles.
Before wavemaker, Dhar spent three years as delivery lead – non-biddable at wpp media, and held senior roles across omd worldwide, transsion holdings, groupm, star news, maxus, madison communications and mudra communications. Her portfolio covers brands including Bharti Axa Insurance, SC Johnson, Dabur, General Motors, Itel, Tecno, Oraimo and TCCC.
Across roles, Dhar’s responsibilities have spanned end-to-end media strategy, agency handling, budget forecasting, performance reporting, competitive analysis, team management, and driving innovative integrations across tv, print, digital and social.
At transsion holdings, she led pan-india marketing initiatives across offline, digital and social platforms for multiple brands. At radio and media agencies, she oversaw 360-degree amplification ideas, brand custodianship, annual strategy presentations and deal evaluation, consistently hitting client KPIs.
Dhar’s career trajectory reflects a blend of strategic thinking, executional precision and market insight. From grassroots media planning to high-level client delivery, she has built a track record of marrying innovation with business outcomes.
At wavemaker, she is set to leverage this experience to deliver scale, speed and sharp execution for Perfetti, while pushing boundaries in brand development strategy, competitive analysis and cross-platform media activation.
In a sector driven by velocity and results, Priyanka Dhar’s move underscores a clear mantra: combine business insight with creative execution, and the numbers follow.
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.
