MAM
22 Indian entries in fray for Outdoor Lions
MUMBAI: The Outdoor Lions shortlist at this year’s Cannes Lions has 22 entries from India with four each from McCann Worldwide, Leo Burnett and Brand David Communications, three each from Ogilvy and Mather and the DDB Mudra Group, two from Bates Mumbai and one each from Grey Worldwide and DraftFCB+Ulka.
The McCann’s campaign for Western Union Money Transfer earned it three entries in the sub category of Banking, Investment and Insurance for the Franklin Gandhi, Lincoln Fahd and Queen Mao executions.
The fourth entry from McCann is for the Keeping the Legends Alive for SaReGaMa India during the Sawai Gadharva music festival in the Special Build sub category.
All four entries of Leo Burnett’s are in the sub category Home Appliances, Furnishings, Electronics and Audio-Visual for its executions themed Cigarette, Socks, Fish and Eggs for Bajaj
Electricals Exhaust Fans.
Brand David’s entries are Pig Attack, Buffalo Attack, Deer Attack and Goose Attack in the sub category Cosmetics and Beauty, Toiletries & Pharmacy. The agency carried out the executions for Soliance Pharma Products Peptocid Antacid Tablets.
O&M’s work for Yahoo earned it two shortlist spots: one in the Special Build sub category (Carry Heavy Attachments) and one in the Transit sub category (Truck Attachment). Its third entry came in the form of the Chanting Lighter campaign it conceptualised and executed for the Cancer Patients Aid Association’s Anti Smoking Initiative. This entry falls in the Small Scale Special Solutions sub category.
The DDB Mudra Group secured its three shortlist entries for its work on Steadfast Shredders titled Elvis, JFK and Roswell in the Business Equipment and Services sub category.
Bates’ two spots on the shortlist were for the agency’s work for Park Avenue Wrinkle Free Shirts in the sub category Clothing, Footwear and Accessories.
Grey’s entry was shortlisted in the Home Appliances, Furnishings, Electronics & Audio-Visual sub category for its work on FujiFilm India, while DraftFCB+Ulka’s entry came in the sub category
Fundraising, Charities, Appeals, Non-Profit Organisations, Public Health & Safety, Public Awareness Messages for its campaign titled Falling Hoarding for Mumbai Traffic Police.
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.
