PR SHORTS.
For quick snapshots on the leading stories and superstars across the global PR industry.
In Conversation with Jai Kewalramani, Jaibo
Jai Kewalramani, Founder & CEO, Jaibo shares his views on the PR industry, key drivers of the digital era, future of integrated communication agencies
The driving force behind Jaibo, a startup in the cluttered PR industry - Jai Kewalramani, Founder & CEO brings with him vast exposure in the fields of Public Relations, Digital Marketing and Public Affairs. Having worked with a wide array of brands (ranging from startups to multinationals) advising and overseeing their market entry, marketing, growth and CSR strategies while guiding and adapting them for the Indian subcontinent. A full-time MBA Alumnus (2016-17) from Imperial College London, he brings rare mix of a contemporary approach to business – mindful of rapidly evolving industry environments while remaining deeply aware of and working at the leading edge of current industry paradigms. Kewalramani has been recognised and awarded numerous times as a young professional – including, '30 under 30 PR Professionals (PRmoment)' and '15 Young Professionals to Watch out for' (Mxmindia).
Countdown Begins for 10th Edition of IPRCCA 2019
Chaired by Rajdeep Sardesai, Advisor, Senior Journalist, Columnist, Author, India Today Group, the jury meet will take place at Hotel Hyatt Regency, New Delhi
The jurors for “India PR and Corporate Communications Awards (IPRCCA)” 2019 are all geared up to judge the nominations for the 10th edition of the awards. The jury meet is will take place at the Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. The jury will be chaired by Rajdeep Sardesai, Advisor, Senior Journalist, Columnist, Author and News presenter- India Today Group and Co-chaired by Sonia Singh, Editorial Director -NDTV.
The preliminary round of screening has been conducted with nominees shortlisted among the 500+ nominations received under various categories. The jury would judge the nominees on the basis of The Challenge, Clarity of Insights and Creativity, Alignment between Goals, Strategy & Execution, Measurable Results.
Rahul Mehta Joins Kaizzen as COO
Kaizzen, a leading Public Relations and Digital Media Agency, has strengthened its senior leadership team, with Rahul Mehta as COO of its India operations
Mehta will focus on driving business growth across practice areas, providing strategic senior counsel, consolidating existing client relationships and drive service expansion initiatives. He will work closely with Vineet Handa, Founder and CEO, Kaizzen. Mehta brings over 20 years of agency and corporate experience to the position. Prior to joining Kaizzen; Mehta has served in senior business leadership roles for over a decade, and his previous assignment was as Sr. VP & General Manager with FleishmanHillard in New Delhi. During his tenure, he contributed to strong growth for the Delhi office, winning businesses from reputed Indian and international firms.
“Rahul is a highly respected and experienced communications professional and I welcome him to our India leadership team”, said Vineet Handa, Founder and CEO of Kaizzen PR. “His proven expertise to deliver result-oriented and innovative campaigns, and offer senior counsel across diverse sectors and practice areas will benefit our current and future clients. Kaizzen has always focused on providing exceptional client servicing, and strengthening of our core India leadership team will help us enter the next phase of growth for our India operations.” “I am excited to join Kaizzen PR and work alongside Vineet to achieve strong business growth for Kaizzen”, said Mehta. “Our focus will be to drive a culture of excellence across all aspects of client servicing. We will aim to offer integrated, unique, innovative and highly focused campaign solutions to clients, to help them achieve their communication and business goals.”
Mehta brings strong expertise in corporate reputation management, crisis management, social media influencer campaigns, internal communications, executive training and brand marketing, which will help drive growth for Kaizzen’s India business. He also brings to the table, strong expertise in sectors such as consumer electronics, FMCG, auto, B2B, healthcare, telecom, and fashion and lifestyle. Mehta previously worked at agencies such as Corporate Voice | Weber Shandwick, Genesis Burson-Marsteller and Good Relations. A post-graduate from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies; Mehta is also a past winner of the Asia Pacific Leadership Award.
An Interaction with Sameer Bajaj, Discovery
Sameer Bajaj, Director – Corporate Communications & External Affairs – South Asia, Discovery shares about his journey, the importance of crisis management
The excitement over PM Narendra Modi's appearance with Bear Grylls on Discovery's Man vs Wild was at its peak, as the show aired on August 12, 2019. Discovery Channel's ‘Man Vs Wild' episode with Bear Grylls and PM Modi has helped the channel achieve an all-time high viewership since Week 8 of 2017, as per BARC data. Heading the corporate communications for Discovery is Sameer Bajaj. He is currently the Director – Corporate Communications & External Affairs – South Asia. Bajaj has over twenty years of significant, demonstrable expertise in strategic communications, advocacy, public relations, internal communications and CSR with global organizations across different industries. He is a result-oriented and forward-thinking communications professional serving as a trusted advisor and business partner to the Executive team.
An Interaction with Ruby Sinha, Kommune Communications
Ruby Sinha, Managing Director, Kommune Brand Communications shares her growth journey in the industry, her entrepreneurial venture “Sheatwork” and the future forward
Ruby Sinha, Managing Director, Kommune Brand Communications, a versed communication professional with over 16 years of experience in working closely with brands across different verticals like automotive, consumer durables, real estate, IT, Telecom, Travel/Tourism and others. She has also worked on government projects. She started her career as a correspondent with the Indian Express Group of Newspapers and then ventured into different areas in the field of communications. In an interaction with Ruby Sinha, we seek to understand her growth trajectory in the industry, her entrepreneurial venture “Sheatwork” and the future forward.
Bubble Communications Chosen by GALF
GALF awards Digital Marketing duties to Halfglassfull and PR mandate to Bubble Communication
GALF (Get A Life Fitness) has decided to rope in Halfglassfull (HGF) as its Digital Marketing partner. HGF will create brand awareness and positioning for GALF. The Public Relations mandate for GALF has been awarded to Bubble Communication. Amit Vashishta, Founder and Chief Executive of GALF, said: “I am really looking forward to make GALF and its product offerings reach each and every person of India, in order to have a fitter and healthier India and looking towards an accelerated approach from both the agencies so as to create spectacular marketing efforts for an amazing brand – GALF.”
An Interaction with Prasidha Menon, OYO
Prasidha shares her views on her journey in the industry, and how OYO caused a disruption in the hospitality market and barriers to women's leadership
With 35,000 hotels around 80 countries, OYO is ruling the hospitality business in the country. In the age of brand reputation and brand image, the role of corporate communication experts becomes even more important. In the quest to unlock the excellent branding strategies of OYO, exchange4media had an interaction with Prasidha Menon, Global Head of Communications, OYO Hotels & Homes. Prasidha is a seasoned communication professional with 15+ years of experience working with some of the most exciting and challenging brands in the country. Currently, she is leading global communications for OYO Hotels & Homes. She is leading both internal and external communications for the brand, globally. Responsible for driving OYO's reputation forward and delivering against the company's mission of upgrading all forms of real estate and thereby over 3.2 billion middle-income travelers and city dwellers experience #LivingTheGoodLife, through sustained corporate reputation management programs and targeted brand-building campaigns.
Dilip Yadav, First Partners : True Grit of BOC
For communicators, the most essential motivator is relevance, the risk of obsolescence drives the best of them to constantly innovate to remain at the top of their game
One major dilemma facing the community today strikes at the very heart of the PR profession. It is this: is reputation still the cornerstone of communications? A growing ascendance of business outcome as a critical resultant of the communicator’s function is fast gaining traction. As a consequence, it is important for us as a community to understand this trend and examine its key imports. For instance, does communication really help with business outcome? And, if it does, can it be measured? These and many other fundamental questions on ‘Business Outcome Communications’ as a new communication direction were raised, addressed, and vigorously debated upon by some of the best minds in corporate communications at a recent Innovation First Salon 2019 (IFS 2019) hosted by Reputation Today in collaboration with First Partners. The first brain trust of its kind in the country, IFS 2019 comprised a select and focused group of 18 of the best and the most incisive senior corporate communication heads in the country. They gathered together at the Hotel Leela in Gurugram last Tuesday, the 26th of November, and attempted to answer the basic question of whether communication should now play a more key role in impacting business outcomes, and hence, if it’s time for PR to move from the earlier reputation weighted model to a more business-outcome oriented one? The three-hour salon concluded with a few definitive insights which could serve as a good staging area for the next surge in the PR community.
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