MAM
Kyoorius concludes the Fourth Edition of FYIday
MUMBAI: Kyoorius – a not-for-profit initiative by Transasia Fine Papers today concluded the fourth edition of KyooriusFYIday: Future of Branding with Michael Johnson.
The seminar featured Creative Director – Michael Johnson, who is at the forefront of brand thinking worldwide, responsible for changing the way we look at brands.
Based out of London, he shared insights on branding’s past, present and future. There are certain things about branding that are irrefutable; companies, products and organizations will always need to position or reposition themselves in a market, yet many of the ‘truths’ that we took for granted are being refuted as brands look to the future.
Sharing case studies he discussed how Johnson banks re-positioned legacy brands such as Virgin Atlantic & Science Museum, in addition to turning brand theory on its head with examples culled from his global portfolio from projects spanning Japan, New York, Paris and London.
Michael Johnson, Creative Director and Principal, Johnson Banks said, “I feel Kyoorius FYIDay is a great learning opportunity and platform for exchange of new and innovative ideas. In this day and age the brand is more powerful than advertising. This has led to a paradigm shift across the USA and UK. However in India and China, I still feel the Indian creative minds need to find their Indian voice and not look at selling the international style. Having said that there is immense scope in a young nation like India with lots of interesting times ahead.”
Rajesh Kejriwal, Founder CEO, Kyoorius said, “India is becoming a place where the best of design in Asia is coming alive and it is imperative to nurture this talent. We are in a developing stage when it comes to branding and I am sure the learning’s from this FYIDay would help benefit the industry and budding talent four fold.”
Across the FYIday format, Kyoorius are working closely with D&AD’s young blood program to create value for young creative minds through an annual series of seminars and workshops.
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.
