Brands
Publicis Worldwide onboards Nitin Sharma as senior vice president & head of client services
Mumbai: Publicis Worldwide India, part of the Publicis Groupe network in India, has strengthened its leadership team and announced the appointment of Nitin Sharma as senior vice president and head of client services. Nitin would be based out of Mumbai and report to Publicis Worldwide India managing director Oindrila Roy.
An astute branding and marketing strategist, Nitin would manage some of the agency’s key brands while accelerating Publicis Worldwide’s upward growth and ambitions in the marketplace.
In a career spanning over two decades, Nitin has worked across agencies, leading some marquee brands such as McDonald’s, Johnnie Walker, National Geographic, HDFC Life Insurance, IDFC First Bank, Bajaj Electricals, TBZ, Philips, Dabur, Yellow Pages, Kamasutra, and Elf Lubricants, among others.
Before joining Publicis Worldwide, he spent over half a decade working overseas as a marketer, heading the marketing strategy for one of the Middle East’s most recognised financial services brands, UAE Exchange (now Unimoni). With his interest in modern marketing practises essential for business growth today and experience in handling large teams, Nitin brings with him the solidity and the balance required to help clients grow their business, both from a long-term perspective and by delivering day-to-day.
Publicis Worldwide, India CEO Paritosh Srivastava said, “While we reinvent ourselves to cater to the evolving marketing landscape, it is imperative to have the sound backing of a team that will drive this momentum forward for us. Towards that goal, we are glad to have someone of the calibre of Nitin Sharma who comes on board with domain expertise that is rich and pragmatic. His strong ability to direct and lead brands to a reputable position in the marketplace while possessing qualitative and admirable leadership skills bodes well for our momentum in the long run.”
On joining the agency, Nitin added, “I am super-stoked to be offered this role at Publicis Groupe, which has always been at the forefront of delivering truly integrated solutions which enable organisations to solve business problems and leverage emerging opportunities.”
“I was particularly impressed with the unique integration model—’Power of One’—that strategically fuses creativity, data, and technology to help build compelling narratives, drive engagement, and create powerful experiences that deliver positive business outcomes. The Groupe’s name-bearer agency, Publicis Worldwide, has partnered with some of the finest brands in India. I’m privileged to work with Paritosh Srivastava and the leadership team in growing the agency’s strength and stature in the years to come,” he added.
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.
