MAM
M&C Saatchi trains eyes on Asia; names Ben Welsh as creative chairman
MUMBAI: With its eyes trained on the rapidly growing Asian market, M&C Saatchi has named Ben Welsh as the agency’s creative chairman of Asia. Welsh was formerly at M&C Saatchi Sydney as executive creative director.
Welsh’s appointment marks a change in emphasis for the network. Asia as a region has changed dramatically in recent years – China took over as the largest economy from the US in 2014, India has the fastest growing advertising industry in the world and Japan is the second most innovative country in the world. The addition of Welsh demonstrates the network’s spotlight on Asia.
Welsh’s focus will be pitching for both international and national brands in each region, attracting creative talent and developing the creative output of the five agencies the network runs there.
Welsh has helped to establish M&C Saatchi Sydney as the leading creative shop in Australia – and has led the agency to its biggest trophy-haul yet at Cannes this year, consolidating its position as the country’s number one creative agency. M&C Saatchi Australia came home with a coveted Titanium Lion, one of only five up for grabs, to cap off a 10-Lion haul.
M&C Saatchi CEO worldwide Moray MacLennan said, “This appointment underlines our commitment to the core of our business – the creative product. Ben is the best combination of strategic thinker and creative leader. Add in his boundless energy and Asia will be hugely strengthened. He is also an excellent brand ambassador for M&C Saatchi having worked for us for the last 18 years.”
Welsh added, “I’m really excited at the thought of what we can do in the region. We have some brilliant people and I look forward to working with them to create an impact in such a diverse part of the world.”
Welsh will start his new role on 1 October. His appointment follows the departure of Chris Jacques who was regional CEO. He will be based in Sydney but regularly travelling to Singapore, New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Tokyo.
Welsh joined M&C Saatchi Sydney in 1997 as a senior writer and was then promoted to creative director in 2003. Previously, he led a team of over 50 creatives working across digital, direct, retail and above the line media in Australia’s largest agency.
Brands
Wipro hires 7,500 freshers, withholds FY27 hiring outlook
Profit rises to Rs 3,522 crore, Rs 15,000 crore buyback announced.
MUMBAI- Hiring may be on, but visibility is off, Wipro is adding talent even as it pauses the crystal ball. The company hired 7,500 freshers in FY26 but stopped short of offering any hiring outlook for FY27, underscoring the uncertainty gripping the IT services sector as it pivots towards an AI-led operating model.
The disclosure came alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, where management flagged volatile demand conditions and refrained from committing to future workforce expansion. Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil noted that over 3,000 of the total hires were onboarded in the March quarter alone, signalling continued intake despite a lack of clarity on deployment pipelines.
This divergence active hiring without forward guidance reflects a broader industry pattern where talent acquisition continues even as deal conversions remain uneven and client spending cycles stretch. Wipro expects its IT services revenue for the June quarter to range between a decline of 2 per cent and flat growth sequentially in constant currency terms, reinforcing near-term caution.
Chief executive officer Srini Pallia pointed to artificial intelligence as both a disruptor and an opportunity. He said evolving client priorities are pushing the company towards outcome-driven engagements, with Wipro increasingly focusing on a services-as-software model through its AI Native Business and Platforms unit. The shift marks a structural change from traditional headcount-led growth to AI-enabled delivery frameworks.
The company has already committed over $1 billion to its AI ecosystem, with investors closely watching how these investments translate into revenue. For now, the numbers present a mixed picture. Net profit rose sequentially to Rs 3,522 crore, while revenue grew 3 per cent to Rs 24,236 crore. However, core IT services performance remained under pressure, with full-year revenue declining 0.3 per cent in dollar terms and 1.6 per cent in constant currency.
Large deal bookings offered a counterpoint, rising 45.4 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, highlighting a widening gap between deal wins and actual revenue realisation. On a quarterly basis, IT services revenue slipped 1.2 per cent sequentially, signalling continued softness in execution.
Margins, however, told a more optimistic story. Operating margins expanded to 17.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting improved cost discipline. That said, the company cautioned that upcoming wage hikes and the ramp-up of large deals could exert pressure going forward.
Attrition stood at 13.8 per cent in the March quarter, indicating stabilisation after periods of elevated churn. Alongside its earnings, Wipro also announced a Rs 15,000 crore share buyback, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns, with a payout ratio of 88 per cent over the past three years.
Taken together, the numbers capture a company in transition investing in AI, maintaining hiring momentum, but navigating a demand environment where growth is uneven and visibility remains limited.
