MAM
BBC Advertising opens first office in Switzerland
MUMBAI: BBC Advertising has opened its first office in Switzerland, as it looks to capitalise on the recent growth in the market and build on its existing successful business relationships there.
As growth in the Swiss market has been fuelled predominantly by the luxury category, BBC Advertising, part of the UK pubcaster‘s commercial arm BBC Worldwide, is positioned to meet that demand, with the BBC commercial platforms‘ editorial output and production values attracting the premium demographic that luxury brands are seeking.
The increasing move towards online and its accompanying video formats also presents a great opportunity for advertisers to benefit from appearing on BBC Advertising‘s wide range of platforms, which includes BBC.com, lonelyplanet.com, digital apps as well as its network of commercial television channels, including BBC World News.
According to recent research by Toluna, TV and online are the most effective platforms for inspiring consumption of luxury goods among both men and women.
BBC Advertising has also today announced the appointment of Sarah Green to lead the new operation in Switzerland, based in Lausanne.
Reporting into BBC Advertising‘s Regional Director for France, Benelux & Switzerland, Laeticia de Belloy Green will be responsible for managing the existing international client base in Switzerland and for developing new business opportunities across the BBC Worldwide commercial portfolio.
Green commented, “Setting up this new office presents us with an exciting opportunity to connect international media buyers in Switzerland with all the fantastic content and innovative ways of delivery that only BBC Advertising can offer. I‘m excited about finding new opportunities and building fruitful new relationships.”
de Belloy said: “BBC Advertising is delighted to have Sarah heading up our new office in Lausanne. She brings with her great expertise, insight and enthusiasm and I look forward to seeing our business grow and develop in Switzerland.”
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.
