Uma Kannan

Uma Kannan from Deccan Herald inquired about the impact of geopolitical uncertainties on client decision-making and discretionary spending, the performance of the energy, manufacturing, and resources sectors, and Wipro's recruitment strategy for AI skills, including hiring freshers and compensation. She also asked about the reasons for the sequential decline in Americas 2 market performance, its growth outlook, and sought clarification on total fresher recruitment numbers for the fiscal year.

Answer

Srini Pallia, CEO and Managing Director, noted that while geopolitical uncertainties persist, U.S. economic indicators show stability, influencing client sentiment, and clients balance technology spending with cost-cutting. Saurabh Govil, CHRO, detailed Wipro's approach to AI skills, including establishing Centers of Excellence with universities for curriculum building and hiring, paying premiums for experienced AI talent, and internal upskilling programs. Aparna C. Iyer, CFO, attributed the Americas 2 decline to seasonal furloughs, softness in the EMR sector, and the conclusion of earlier programs, expressing confidence in future ramp-ups. Saurabh Govil further clarified that approximately 5,000+ freshers have been recruited year-to-date, with a projection to reach between 7,500 and 8,000 by the fiscal year-end.

Uma Kannan of The New Indian Express inquired about the growth contribution from acquired companies like Capco and whether there were any signs of change in the macroeconomic headwinds.

Answer

CFO Aparna Iyer reported that Capco performed well, growing 6% year-over-year with a robust booking pipeline. She noted some softness in other acquired entities due to program pauses but expects stabilization. Ms. Iyer also confirmed some improvement in the macro environment since April, which is reflected in the Q1 results and Q2 guidance, giving the company confidence for the second half.