MAM
David Rehr is Nab CEO
MUMBAI: America’s National Beer Wholesalers Association President David K. Rehr has been selected as America’s National Association of Broadcasters (Nab) president and CEO.
Rehr was signed to a multi-year agreement and will assume the Nab leadership post on December 5. His selection comes after a high-level executive search process was launched in February after current Nab president and CEO Eddie Fritts announced plans to step down. Fritts will remain a consultant to NAB through April 2008.
Some 80 potential candidates were considered in the search for Fritts’ successor. Rehr’s selection comes with the endorsement of an NAB Presidential Search Committee chaired by Citadel Communications CEO Philip Lombardo and Susquehanna Media president and CEO David Kennedy.
Lombardo says, “We conducted an exhaustive search to locate the absolute best person we could find to retain NAB’s leadership as one of the preeminent trade associations in Washington. David Rehr fits that description in every way.”
Kennedy says, “David’s track record of success is well-documented, and we are confident that he has the talent to represent over-the-air broadcasting inside the Beltway and around the world with distinction. Just as the Search Committee rallied around this selection, I’m convinced that all of our industry colleagues will also find David Rehr the right person to lead NAB.”
NAB joint board chairman Bruce Reese called Rehr “a highly skilled advocate with a passion for policy and a deep understanding of how Washington works. I am delighted that we have identified someone I truly believe will be an outstanding advocate for broadcasters for many, many years.”
Rehr said, “It is an honour to be selected to serve as president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters. I know that I have big shoes to fill, and I am anxious to hit the ground running. I look forward to continuing the great work of radio and television broadcasters on Capitol Hill and in the public arena.”
Nab is a full-service trade association that promotes and protects free, over-the-air local radio and television stations’ interests in Washington and around the world. Nab is the broadcaster’s voice before the US Congress, federal agencies and the courts. Nab also serves a growing number of associate and international broadcaster members.
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.
