MAM
Electrolux assigns OMG media mandate in APAC & MEA
NEW DELHI: Global appliance company Electrolux has appointed Omnicom Media Group (OMG) as its media agency of record in APAC and MEA. The appointment sees OMG take on the complete paid media duties (planning, buying and digital) for all of Electrolux’s brands including Electrolux, AEG, Anova, Frigidaire, Westinghouse, Zanussi, and more. In response, OMG has created a bespoke integrated unit that draws talent, tools and technology from the OMG network, to service the business across more than 18 markets in APAC and MEA.
Supported by Omni, OMG’s people-based precision marketing and insights platform, the award-winning network clinched the account by displaying a strategic approach that enables innovative and meaningful end-to-end consumer experiences that deliver better business outcomes. Coupled with its digital and data-led expertise, OMG sealed the regional win with another pivotal factor – the calibre and passion of its diverse pool of talent.
“We’re excited to embark on this new chapter with OMG and I’m confident that their strategic capabilities, best-in-class tools and data-led approach will help Electrolux continue growing our brand proposition, optimising our marketing investments and delivering innovative and meaningful experiences to our customers and the markets we operate in,” said OMG director – marketing and ecommerce APAC & MEA Kevin Levine.
“At OMG, we have always placed the business interests of our clients at the centre of what we do, and with Electrolux, we have created a connected and integrated solution that enables a regional vision for media while maintaining local relevance and execution,” said Tony Harradine, CEO, OMG APAC. “We’re thrilled with the opportunity to partner Electrolux and we look forward in helping them accelerate their growth agenda and vision in APAC and MEA,” he added.
The appointment is effective immediately and the regional business will be serviced out of OMG’s office in Singapore, working with dedicated local teams.
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.
