HUL Consolidates Marketing with New CMOs; Ad Spend Rises 2.4% in Q3 FY26
Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has reported a significant increase in profit for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026. The company’s profit surged by 121%, reaching ₹6,603 crore, compared to ₹2,989 crore during the same period in fiscal year 2025. This growth highlights HUL’s resilience amidst various market challenges.
Strong Performance Indicators
Despite facing flat operating revenue of ₹206 crore during the October to December quarter, HUL demonstrated strong demand trends. CEO Priya Nair stated there were early signs of recovery, aided by favorable policy measures. HUL recorded a 6% revenue growth and a 4% increase in underlying volume, signaling a solid competitive edge.
Leadership Restructuring and Strategy
In a strategic move, Nair, who assumed the CEO position in August 2025, announced a comprehensive leadership restructuring. This initiative is part of HUL’s “Unified India” strategy aimed at enhancing speed and agility. The restructuring includes the following:
- Direct reporting of all business unit heads to the CEO.
- Appointment of Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) across key business units.
- Creation of a single, integrated R&D organization to boost innovation.
So far, Sunanda Khaitan has been appointed as the chief marketing officer for the Beauty & Wellbeing portfolio, while Abhinav Ravikumar takes on the role in the Personal Care segment.
Financial Overview of Q3 FY26
In terms of segment performance, HUL’s home care division was a standout, achieving revenue of ₹5,887 crore, a year-on-year growth of 2.57%. Other segments showed strong performances as well:
- Beauty and Well-being: Revenue grew by 10.5% to ₹3,930 crore.
- Personal Care: Revenue increased by 5.66% to ₹2,370 crore.
- Food: Revenue reached ₹565 crore, up 5.60%.
Total income for HUL jumped by 5% year-on-year, amounting to ₹16,580 crore for Q3 FY26. However, expenses also rose, increasing by 6.33% to ₹13,078 crore, compared to ₹12,294 crore in the previous year.
Rising Expenses and Advertising Spend
Notably, employee benefits expenses rose sharply by 28.3% year-on-year, totaling ₹914 crore. HUL’s advertising and promotion expenses saw a modest increase, rising by 2.42% year-on-year to ₹1,522 crore during the same period.
The insights from HUL’s latest financial performance and strategic initiatives underscore the company’s focus on strengthening brand presence while navigating through fluctuating market conditions. With these developments, HUL is poised for sustainable growth in the competitive FMCG landscape.
