MAM
ASCI to hold debate on relevance of self-regulation in advertising
MUMBAI: In line with its commitment to self-regulation in advertising on different platforms, the Advertising Standard Council of India (ASCI) is presenting a platform for industry stalwarts and key stakeholders to deliberate, discuss and challenge the fraternity on the importance and the relevance of self-regulation in today’s world. ASCI has organized a festival of debate on “Creativity, For Goodness’ Sake” on 20 March 2015 from 3 pm onwards. It will be held at The Taj Land’s End in Mumbai.
The objective of this event is to create and present an engagement platform to uphold creativity, which is not only exciting and memorable but with a conscience; based on the premise that there is a critical need to create awareness, belief and advocacy for the very concept of self-regulation in advertising.
The festival will have global speakers namely BBH creative founder John Hegarty, Unilever SVP marketing Marc Matheiu, P&G managing director Shantanu Khosla, and filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani.
At the centre of the festival will be a debate on the parameters of creative expression in advertising with speakers drawn from the top echelons of the creative industry, advertisers and consumer activists. Industry Stalwarts like Ogilvy & Mather India and South Asia executive chairman and creative director Piyush Pandey, Future Brands CEO and MD Santosh Desai, Standard Chartered Bank global head of brand and CMO Sanjeeb Chaudhuri, and Provocateur Advisory director Paritosh Joshi, will be part of the panel discussion which will be moderated by Anish Trivedi. The debate will rake up issues on creative freedom and much more.
ASCI chairman Narendra Ambwani said, “Encouraging self-discipline by the creators of advertising, has been one of the key priorities chalked out for the year 2014 – 2015. As the chairman of ASCI, I believe that by promoting ASCI’s guidelines more vigorously among advertisers and creative agencies the new advertisements released will meet ASCI’s standards at the creative stage itself. This would help eradicate false and misleading claims in ads and very importantly serve the need of the hour – safeguarding consumer interest and reinforcing public’s confidence in the advertising industry. Working towards this cause of promoting the spirit of self – regulation, we here at ASCI have all come together to create a one-of-a kind festival of debate – Creativity for Goodness’ Sake! Through this unique engagement platform we aim at a fairly high powered and intellectually stimulating event for all stakeholders involved in the process of communication with consumers.”
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.
