Brands
Apollo spends Rs 15-20 crore for Nova Hospitals’ rebranding & refurbishing
BENGALURU: Apollo Health and Lifestyle Limited (AHLL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Apollo Hospitals Group, has rebranded Nova Specialty Hospitals (Nova SH) as Apollo Spectra Hospitals (ASH), which will be synonymous with ‘simplified quality healthcare.’
The company has spent between Rs 15 – 20 crores for refurbishing, and this cost includes rebranding, company sources tell Indiantelevision.com. AHLL is looking to ramp up ASH revenues from the current Rs 100 crore to Rs 500 crore over the next five years.
AHLL acquired Nova SH in early 2015 at a ticket size of between Rs 135 – 140 crore. Now, AHLL is all-set to re-launch the facilities under the new brand name.
AHHL CEO Neeraj Garg said, “Apollo Spectra’s evolution is guided by a ‘patient-centric’ approach. The exclusive surgery centre model minimizes hospital acquired infections resulting in elimination of unnecessary hospitalization and remarkable medical outcomes. Given the immense potential and the need for quality healthcare delivery closer to home, Apollo Spectra enables AHLL to significantly expand its footprint and will catapult it into a leadership position in this segment of healthcare. Apollo Spectra is strengthened by the introduction of quality systems built on Apollo’s deep expertise in the hospitals space. We believe this format has strong potential and with the brand equity of Apollo, combined with rich hospital expertise we bring to bear, AHLL will nurture this business significantly in the next few years.”
Apollo Spectra says that it will provide services ranging from consultations and surgeries at convenient neighbourhood locations to providing world class facilities, experienced doctors and latest technology and that its health management and preventive care plans are custom-designed around every patient’s unique requirements.
Healthcare has slowly started advertising its services, specialities and boutique treatments, especially through BTL and through localised low cost mass media such as radio, outdoor and print, besides handouts and mobile SMS. “The company plans to spend around Rs 40 – 50 lakh this year towards this effort,” said AHLL director of secondary care Sudhir Diggikar.
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.
