MAM
Network18 names Sanjay Dua CEO of News Media Network
MUMBAI: Network18 has named IBN Media Operations COO and head Sanjay Dua as CEO of the Network18 News Media Network.
The News Media Network will play the role of a centralised sales agency and will work closely with the channel teams and be aligned with the P&L goals of each of the channels.
In his new role, Dua will lead the group’s specialised client facing sales division which manages the advertising sales interests of its five news channels.
Dua will spearhead the company’s efforts towards consolidating and optimising revenue growth across its news channels – CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNN-IBN, IBN7 and IBN-Lokmat.
He will lead the strategic focus on enhancing revenue effectiveness through innovative and scaled up network wide media solutions and an expansion in client categories and yields.
Additionally, he will also oversee sales for the soon-to-be-launched network of channels from AETN18, Network18’s recently announced JV with A&E Television Networks. Earlier, Dua was specifically responsible for identifying and capitalising on sales growth opportunities at the IBN general news channels of the group.
While the News Media Network will continue to reflect the group’s focus on individual news brands via dedicated teams and sales leaders aligned to each channel, it will now bring together all the leading news assets to exploit opportunities in the evolving competitive environment.
Network18 Group COO B.Saikumar commented, “We believe that the market is evolving rapidly, throwing up unique opportunities. Sanjay’s mandate is to leverage the strengths of the news network even while retaining unwavering focus on each individual channel brand. Sanjay brings with him enviable leadership and depth of experience and will drive and innovation to maximize revenues.”
Dua added, “I believe that the news space in India is poised for a new phase of expansion and as market leader, with the highest share of influential audiences Network18 is best placed to lead it. We believe substantial opportunities exist to achieve this by collaborating and synergizing across our news network to deliver sustained value to our clients and partners. Network 18 presently has the country’s best sales talent across levels and I look forward to working with all the teams and sales leaders to achieve our ambitious revenue goals.’
Dua has over 20 years of corporate experience, of which the last 15 years have been in media and entertainment. In the past, Dua has led sales strategy for the leading media brands across a gamut of genres including sports (ESPN), GECs (Sahara) and English entertainment (Hallmark).
Prior to joining Network18, Dua led national sales at the Zee News network, apart from stints at Walt Disney and Bennett & Coleman.
Network18 had recently made key CEO appointments across its channels. Ajay Chacko was made president of AETN18, while Anil Uniyal was named CEO of CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz. CNN-IBN got a CEO in Dilip Venkatraman.
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.
