MAM
Gutenberg appoints Neil Ashurst as UK head
MUMBAI: Award-winning global agency Gutenberg has appointed Neil Ashurst as the director and country head for UK. This follows the company’s recent rebranding which formalises their offering as an integrated communications firm providing digital, content, social, video and public relations services.
Neil has over 15 years of experience in the communications industry, working closely with content and marketing teams both in-house and cross-agencies to deliver campaigns that focus on business impact.
“Neil’s knowledge of the UK market coupled with his passion for communications will allow Gutenberg clients to have a great ally in creating and implementing impactful digital, PR and communications campaigns. Neil’s insights on the changing nature of customer journey for brands reflect his focus on ensuring business impact for our clients. Neil will lead our growth and expansion plans for the UK and Europe from our office in London. Additionally, he will integrate with our US and India teams on global multi-geography clients,” said Gutenberg founder and CEO Harjiv Singh.
Neil earlier worked at Performance Communications, working on the Nissan Europe account. He has also worked at well-known UK agencies Frank, Brands2Life and 3Monkeys Zeno on brands such as Microsoft and 3 Mobile. Additionally, he was the head of UK communications for retailer – Game, working closely with Xbox, Activision and EA on the retail launches of their biggest titles.
“Our experience as story-tellers as well as our growing capabilities across all channels means that we have a fantastic opportunity and offering here in the UK as the industry continues to evolve,” said Ashurst.
Globally, Gutenberg services industries such as technology, retail, financial services, real estate, healthcare, education, aviation, defence, hospitality, infrastructure and not-for-profit causes.
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.
