Brands
“Creating a culture that fosters new ideas and constant innovation is a key to building a successful business”: Marico’s founder H Mariwala
Mumbai: Indian multinational consumer goods company Marico’s founder and Chairman Harsh Mariwala reckons that companies should place a greater emphasis on innovation when conducting business. Harsh Mariwala, speaking at the FICCI-FLO seminar ‘Right to Win,’ revealed that Marico’s three D2C brands have grown to a Rs 500 crore business.
“If we look at Marico’s brands, in every segment they are market leaders, and this is because the company has innovated or pioneered the segment,” said Mariwala. Marico now has operations in 25 countries across Asia and Africa. Since then, the company and its products have become a part of every Indian household.
While giving an example of Marico’s brand Parachute, Mariwala explained how its packaging was innovative. Mariwala said, “In a product like the Parachute, Marico constantly innovated in its packaging, Saffola was a pioneer in healthy edible oil, and so on. My belief in innovation is very high, and that’s why we started the Marico Innovation Foundation. I think if India has to succeed, innovation has to play a very important role.”
Mariwala believes that it is difficult to create a culture of innovation in businesses and it is the leadership to ensure that people in the organisation experiment and take risks and remove the fear of failure. “Constant innovation and creating a culture that encourages new ideas are key to building a successful business,” he said.
He further added, “I realised the importance of innovation 20 years back, when I look back at our brands, they all have something different that has succeeded in the market. So, if you want to succeed in the marketplace, you have to innovate, not just to launch a product but also on a perpetual basis, because it is only a matter of time before others will start copying you.”
He also stressed how technology has influenced every business, even defensive sectors like FMCG. He gave the example of Mamaearth, which has emerged in the FMCG space. Before the advent of e-commerce and digital market initiatives, companies required a budget of Rs 20–30 crore just to launch a product with an all-India distribution network. According to Mariwala with the right approach, the industry should prioritise its digital initiatives and capitalise on this business growth opportunity.
While speaking on high standards of governance, Mariwala advised not to take shortcuts on compliance. “This is my advice to entrepreneurs of any size. Get the highest thrust on governance,” he said.
He believes once a promoter begins to compromise on compliance, the organisation’s culture is destroyed. He believes it is critical for society and potential employees who are interested in governance. Furthermore, good governance and compliance pay off when a company is listed and commands a much higher price, he added.
Mariwala also emphasised the significance of identifying and cultivating talent. He believes that as India advances, talent will be scarce.
“Marico, which also owns brands such as Hair and Care, Nihar, and Livon, will continue to maintain a sharp focus on driving penetration and market share gains across its portfolios aided by distribution expansion, cost controls, and investment in market development and brand building,” Mariwala concluded.
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.
