Brands
Godrej launches ‘Design Dekko’ networking platform for architects and design community
MUMBAI: Godrej Group has recently launched a unique brand agnostic platform, ‘Design Dekko’ for architects, interior designers, and allied (AID) community. Over 350 professionals and students from design schools joined biggest names from the Indian architecture and design space for the launch which was held on 2 February 2019 at Godrej One, Vikhroli (Mumbai). The platform has been initiated with the objective of building a platform where architects and interior designers can network, showcase and collaborate within the community and with brands.
Celebrated minds from the industry like architects Brinda Somaya and Nandini Sampat, conservation architect Vikas Dilawari, renowned photographer Jatin Kampani, Karishma Bajaj from Red Blue Yellow, Santha Gour from Planet 3 studios, celebrity interior designer Shabnam Gupta, Brand Director, India Design, ID, Kamna Malik and Darshan Gandhi, Global Design Head, Godrej Consumer Products Limited were part of this unique platform.
Commenting on the launch, Godrej Group vice president and head corporate brand and communications Sujit Patil said, “Godrej Group have always been at the vanguard of creating platforms that foster engagement and collaboration. Design Dekko is a platform that celebrates space and the minds that shape them. It aims to create a community for professionals from architecture, interior design, and allied sectors. The phenomenal response at the launch shows the merit in creating a platform that is for and by the community.”
Commending the launch of the platform, veteran architect, Brinda Somaya, said, “Mentoring is very important for young architects. That is where #DesignDekko will come most handy. It is all about instilling values in budding architects."
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.
