Castrol India reported a nearly 10% year-on-year decline in net profit for the third quarter of FY26, as rising input and operating costs offset moderate revenue growth. For the October–December quarter, the lubricant major posted a net profit of ₹245 crore, compared to ₹271 crore in the same period last year, according to an exchange filing.

Revenue from operations grew to ₹1,439.92 crore in Q3 FY26, up from ₹1,353.89 crore a year earlier, supported by steady demand across categories. However, profitability remained under pressure as total expenses increased 9.2% year-on-year to ₹1,098.84 crore during the quarter, reflecting higher cost pressures.

Alongside its financial results, Castrol India announced a leadership transition within its marketing function. V Kaushik Vedula has taken charge as Vice President and Head – Marketing, effective February 2, 2026. He succeeds Rohit Talwar, who stepped down from the role in August 2025.

The company has been strengthening its consumer-facing leadership over the past few months. In November 2025, Castrol India appointed Mayank Pandey as Vice President and Head – B2C Sales, signaling a sharper focus on driving growth in its retail and consumer businesses.

Vedula brings over two decades of experience across consumer goods, fast-moving consumer durables and digital businesses. Prior to joining Castrol India, he served as Vice President – Marketing at Emami Ltd, where he led brand and business strategy across multiple product portfolios. His earlier stints include leadership roles at Quess Corp, where he scaled a digital product business, and a seven-year entrepreneurial journey in the B2B2C space, working closely with consumer brands on retail execution and growth initiatives.

The company’s Q3 performance underscores the impact of rising costs on margins, even as topline growth remains resilient.