MAM
Social Panga onboards Ruksheen Palia as vice president of business and strategy
Mumbai: Social Panga, the integrated creative and digital marketing agency with offices in Bangalore, Delhi/NCR, Mumbai and Dubai has appointed Ruksheen Palia as vice president, business and strategy to strengthen its Mumbai operations.
Ruksheen who holds over 12 years of industry experience joins the team from VMLY&R India, where she served as the Business Lead for various accounts, one of her key accounts being Unilever.
Over the years Palia has worked extensively in the digital industry, strengthening her abilities in managing Indian companies across various media channels. In addition to her digital skills, she excels in business expansion for brands & organizations.
Her new role at Social Panga involves leading the agency’s growth initiatives, developing strategic plans, and fostering innovations for Mumbai hide out. Additionally, she will oversee the development of comprehensive business strategies and identify new market opportunities.
Commenting on her appointment, Social Panga co-founder Gaurav Arora said, “We are delighted to welcome Ruksheen on board as our Vice President of Business and Strategy. Welcoming her reflects our commitment to progress, embracing strategic leadership and innovation as we navigate the path ahead with dedication and excellence. With her wealth of experience and leadership, we are confident that she will bring fresh perspectives and drive our agency to new heights.”
Social Panga co-founder Himanshu Arora added, “With Ruksheen joining us, we are going to further capitalize on opportunities offered by Mumbai. Her appointment will undoubtedly boost Panga’s ongoing success and growth, fueling our long-term vision and commitment to a new-age thoughts & ideas. This is step closer to develop our integrated creative solutions for brands with focus on business goals.”
Speaking on her appointment, Palia said, “I am excited about my new role at Social Panga. The team here is very creative and committed and is in sync with my long-term career goals. I am committed to leading our team towards even greater success. Together we will seize opportunities, build strong partnerships, and achieve unparalleled success. I look forward to contributing to the agency’s continued growth and make a positive impact in the industry.”
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.
