MAM
Frank Rosales is Discovery Commerce president
MUMBAI: For broadcasters across the globe, one burgeoning source of revenue is in the licensing and retail arena. Preparing to capitalise on this is Discovery Communications.
The broadcaster has announced that Frank Rosales will be the president of the company’s retail and licensing division. The division has been rechristened Discovery Commerce.
Discovery Communications president and CEO Judith A. McHale said, “I am delighted to drop the word ‘acting’ from Frank’s title. Under his direction over the past year, the division turned in an impressive performance and is on track to achieve further gains in 2005. This is a testament to Frank’s leadership and management skills. I look forward to his continued efforts to reinforce and expand Discovery branded products around the world.”
Discovery claims that its retail and licensing businesses demonstrated robust growth last year. Discovery Channel Stores, e-commerce and direct businesses all posted double-digit increases for the holiday season and solid increases for the year. Discovery’s Global Licensing business launched an expanded assortment of branded products and achieved profitability for the first time and both retail and licensing divisions are well positioned to achieve significant gains this year.
Rosales will provide strategic direction and vision for all of Discovery’s retail, e-commerce, t-commerce and licensing businesses. He also will spearhead the search for new ways to leverage Discovery brands in the consumer marketplace through third-party retailers, expanded global licensing endeavors and emerging digital platforms.
He said, “I am excited to be given the opportunity to build on our success and to find new ways to reinforce Discovery’s connection to consumers. I am fortunate to work with a highly knowledgeable, dedicated and motivated team and am confident that we can continue to grow our business and add value to the Discovery brand.”
Rosales joined Discovery in 1997 as CFO for Discovery Channel Stores. Most recently, he served as acting president of Discovery Consumer Products. A 25-year retail veteran, Rosales has served in a number of finance and operations roles throughout his career.
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.
