MAM
Nissan appoints TBWA for the return of Datsun
MUMBAI: Nissan Motor Company has appointed TBWA as the global marketing agency for Datsun after a closely fought pitch. The appointment comes close on the heels of the announcement of the return of automobile brand Datsun.
Global creative and strategic direction will be led by a combination of resources from TBWAHakuhodo and TBWALondon, supported by individual markets. The agency was appointed on the strength of the innovative ‘Riser’ brand platform developed for Datsun.
Datsun is an automobile marque. The name was created in 1931 by the DAT Motorcar for a new car model, spelling it as “Datson” to indicate its smaller size when compared to the existing, larger DAT car. In 1934, after Nissan Motor took control of DAT Motorcar, the last syllable of Datson was changed to “sun”, because “son” also means “loss” in Japanese, and also to honour the sun depicted in the national flag, hence the name “Datsun”. Then later on in March 1986 Nissan phased out the Datsun brand. It is ow announcing the will revive the brand for use in Indonesia, India and Russia.
Using this platform, TBWA will be responsible for developing the Datsun communications strategy, its global launch and local market activation.
Datsun is due to launch in 2014, with initial focus on India, Russia and Indonesia, providing local products under a global brand to the young middle class in high-growth markets.
Local TBWA offices will be responsible for delivering campaigns in their home countries – TBWAMoscow, TBWAMumbai, and TBWA and HAKUHODO Jakarta.
TBWA Worldwide president and CEO Tom Carroll said, “We are honoured and delighted to be leading the Datsun launch. We are mobilising our key rising markets’ expertise and resources around the world to ensure that we have our very best people working on Datsun.”
Datsun Business Unit corporate vice president Vincent Cobee added, “We are bringing the Datsun brand back, to provide a new experience to up-and-coming customers in high-growth markets. We are pleased to have TBWAWorldwide join us for the successful launch of this great Brand.”
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.
