MAM
ET digital launches video web series with change agents of marketing
MUMBAI: With an aim to bring together some of marketing’s sharpest minds for engaging discussions, the Economic Times online, India’s largest business news platform, to launch ‘ET Catalyse’, an exclusive web video series powered by Times Internet.
According to a press statement, the video web series to have deep discussions on marketing, brand building, digital strategies and relevance of media metrics.
Hosted and moderated by the Economic Times Digital Editor, Deepak Ajwani, the video series features half-hour episodes that will actively inform and engage leaders in marketing and entrepreneurs to share deep insights and contemporary practices in the field of Brand, Marketing and Digital medium.
ET Digital Editor and ET Catalyse host Deepak Ajwani said, “At ET Digital, we have actively engaged with business leaders, subject matter experts and the most successful entrepreneurs who have contributed to the country’s economic growth and development.”
“With ET Catalyse, we wanted to bring together brand creators, marketing experts and digital evangelists to share their wisdom over a conversation,” Ajwani added.
He further said that this series will focus on gaining their thoughts on how to be smart and efficient at brand building, marketing, and effective ROI and communication spends.
The first episode to feature Sterlite Tech’s chief marketing officer Manish Sinha, Dyson India’s marketing director Nikhil Rastogi, Sartha Global Marketing’s managing director Sheema Vohra and Times Internet’s chief operating officer Puneet Gupt.
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.
