MAM
DDB’s global creative centre moves to Shanghai
MUMBAI: In a move to reinforce its presence in the APAC region, DDB Worldwide has announced that chief creative officer Amir Kassaei will be establishing DDB‘s global creative centre in Shanghai. Kassaei was appointed DDB Worldwide’s chief creative officer in February 2011.
This new move complements DDB Group Asia Pacific, India and Japan chairman and CEO John Zeigler’s relocation to Singapore in December 2011. It is believed to be the first time a global Madison Avenue agency has moved its creative headquarters to China.
Patrick Rona, who was earlier Tribal DDB Worldwide Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) president and DDB Group EMEA chief digital officer, has also been relocated to Singapore and will serve as Tribal DDB Asia Pacific‘s new President and chief digital officer for DDB Group Asia Pacific in January 2012.
Zeigler said, “We‘re very honoured to have our global creative centre in Asia. World-class brands are moving here and they deserve world-class creative they have become accustomed to. Amir, with our top creative talent across the region, will deliver just this. I‘m sure of it. DDB Group Asia Pacific now has three core regional hubs – Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. Amir‘s move makes China the centre piece for our global creative work.”
DDB Worldwide CEO Chuck Brymer said, “This is one of the most significant moves we have made in the history of DDB. The world as we know it is changing and our industry‘s growth market is now without doubt the Asian region. Move over New York, London, Paris. Hello Shanghai, Mumbai, Singapore. With this in mind, there‘s no time better to set up our creative powerhouse in China.”
Kassaei joined DDB as chief creative officer and associate partner of DDB Germany, in 2003. As the youngest DDB chief creative officer in Europe, he quickly transformed it into one of the most creative and successful agencies in Germany. Under his leadership, DDB Germany has also been ranked as the most awarded German agency in the Gunn Report. During his tenure at DDB Germany Kassaei founded and established Tribal DDB Germany as a modern, multichannel agency. He is currently based in New York and his move to Shanghai is imminent.
Amir has worked on a range of the world‘s major brands, including Allianz, Apple, Adidas, Bosch, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Nike, Reebok and Volkswagen.
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.
