MAM
Dentsu Aegis Network promotes Ashish Bhasin to CEO of expanded cluster Greater South
MUMBAI: Dentsu Aegis Network, the global media & marketing communications conglomerate, has promoted Ashish Bhasin, currently chairman and CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network – South Asia to the expanded role of CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network Greater South and chairman and CEO of India.
With this announcement, Bhasin will now also be responsible for overseeing India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Myanmar. He will continue to be based out of India and report to Takaki Hibino, executive chairman of Dentsu Aegis Network APAC.
Commenting on the appointment, Takaki Hibino said, “Ashish has proven himself to be an exceptional leader. Under his direction, India today stands to be one of the most important revenue growth markets for Dentsu Aegis Network globally. I know he will be able to replicate the same story for the important Southeast Asia markets as well, even as he continues to fuel growth in his current responsibilities for South Asia.”
Commenting on his new role, Ashish Bhasin said, “I am extremely excited to take up this new challenge. The newly formed Greater South region is extremely important for Dentsu Aegis Network. Both Southeast Asia and South Asia are very interesting and high potential markets. I feel very lucky to be leading this fantastic set of leaders and managers and hope to take Dentsu Aegis Network forward during these interesting and transformational digital times. Since I have had experience in running Southeast Asia in the past, in some ways it feels like a homecoming and I am excitedly looking forward to it.”
Bhasin’s remit will exclude Singapore which, as a regional hub, will be led by Masaya Nakamura in addition to his role as deputy chairman and chief growth officer of Dentsu Aegis Network APAC.
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.
