MAM
Arzoo Chhabra joins Mondelez International as communications specialist
Former Adfactors PR manager steps into FMCG role to shape brand narratives
MUMBAI: Arzoo Chhabra has joined Mondelez International as communications specialist, marking her transition from agency to in-house communications within the FMCG sector.
Chhabra moves into the role after a four-year stint at Adfactors PR, where she most recently served as senior manager. During her tenure, she worked across external and internal communications, building narratives and managing stakeholder engagement for a range of clients.
Prior to Adfactors PR, she held roles at Avian WE and MSLGroup India, gaining experience across brand communications, media relations and integrated campaigns.
Announcing her new role, Chhabra said she is looking forward to “shaping narratives and building conversations that matter” while working on brands that are part of consumers’ everyday lives. She also acknowledged Ophira Bhatia for the opportunity and expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with Aditi Chada in her new role.
Reflecting on her time at Adfactors PR, Chhabra described the experience as one that offered “lessons, confidence, meaningful relationships, and the space to grow.” She credited Madan Bahal for providing opportunities and mentorship, while also acknowledging colleagues including Arpit Garg and Malek Shipchandler for their support and guidance.
Her move reflects a broader trend of communications professionals shifting from agency roles to in-house positions, as brands place increasing emphasis on owning their narratives and building deeper consumer connections.
As Chhabra steps into her new role at Mondelez International, the focus will be on crafting stories that resonate at scale, blending corporate messaging with everyday brand moments in a category driven as much by emotion as by appetite.
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.
