MAM
Nidhi Puri appointed SVP, people partner – South Asia at WPP Media
Veteran HR leader joins to drive talent transformation and culture across region.
MUMBAI: WPP Media just hired a people partner who knows how to turn HR from paperwork into powerhouse because when talent strategy gets this sharp, even the org chart starts smiling. Nidhi Puri has been named senior vice president people partner for South Asia at WPP Media, the agency group confirmed on 24 February 2026. In her new role, she will lead the people strategy across the region, spearheading talent transformation, organisational effectiveness, and culture-building initiatives to fuel business growth and support the leadership team.
Puri brings extensive experience in human resources, business partnering, and talent management across diverse industries and geographies. Most recently she served as head for people business partnering (India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh) at CBRE. Before that, she held senior roles at Genpact (APAC Program Manager – Executive Referrals), Affiliated Computer Services (project manager – chief of staff operations), Hewitt Associates LLC (HR Advisor | Head HR – Benefits Outsourcing Business), HCLTech, Trisoft Systems Pvt Ltd, and Blue Dart building a strong track record in HR strategy, resourcing, and operational excellence.
Her appointment comes as WPP Media continues to evolve its regional footprint in a fast-changing agency landscape, where attracting, developing, and retaining top talent is a make-or-break priority. Puri’s blend of strategic vision and hands-on partnering is expected to help the organisation stay ahead in a competitive war for creative and media minds.
For a network that lives on ideas and execution, bringing in someone who can align people strategy with business ambition feels like the perfect fit because in advertising, the real campaign is always the one that keeps the best talent from walking out the door.
Brands
Domino’s Q1 profit falls 6.6 per cent, announces $1 billion buyback
Sales rise 3.4 per cent as pizza giant balances growth and shareholder returns
NEW YORK: Domino’s reported a mixed start to 2026, with first-quarter net income slipping even as global sales and store expansion held steady. The company also announced a fresh $1 billion share buyback, underlining its continued focus on shareholder returns.
Global retail sales rose 3.4 per cent on a constant-currency basis to $4.74 billion. The US remained a key growth engine, with same-store sales inching up 0.9 per cent, supported by a 1.5 per cent rise at company-owned outlets.
International markets, however, painted a more uneven picture. While Domino’s added 161 net new stores overseas during the quarter, international same-store sales declined 0.4 per cent. Overall revenues still climbed 3.5 per cent to $1.15 billion, driven by higher supply chain revenues and a 2.6 per cent increase in food basket pricing for franchisees.
On the profitability front, net income fell 6.6 per cent to $139.8 million, compared to $149.7 million a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share dropped to $4.13 from $4.33. The decline was largely attributed to a $30 million unfavourable swing in unrealised gains linked to its investment in DPC Dash Ltd.
Despite this, operational performance showed resilience. Income from operations rose 9.6 per cent to $230.4 million, supported in part by a $7.8 million pre-tax gain from the sale of a corporate aircraft.
Domino’s footprint continued to expand, with the company ending the quarter at 22,322 stores across more than 90 markets. In the US, digital orders remained dominant, accounting for over 85 per cent of retail sales in 2025.
The company also maintained its dividend payout, declaring $1.99 per share, payable on 30 June 2026. After repurchasing $75.1 million worth of stock during the quarter, the new authorisation lifts the total available for buybacks to $1.29 billion.
Domino’s chief executive officer Russell Weiner said the company’s scale and store-level economics position it well to capture further market share in 2026, even as competition intensifies.
As Domino’s leans into expansion and capital returns, the latest results show a business managing short-term pressures while keeping its long-term growth strategy firmly in play.
