MxMIndia

Category: PR

  • Ameer Ismail, Executive Director, Lowe Lintas opens up about his successful tryst with the PR and communications space, how LinOpinion has managed to outperform its growth every year, and his plans for the agency in 2012.

    [PR Channel] 2012 is about growth: Ameer Ismail

    It sometimes helps not pushing oneself too hard to prove one’s worth in the market. It is better if the industry itself does that for you and puts you on the pedestal where you deserve to be. It has been a similar experience for PR agency LinOpinion that has been doing brilliant work without creating much noise or fanfare about its work. Part of the reason for the agency’s good standing is the leadership team, and particularly a person who has been at the helm for a loyal 17 years.

     

    In conversation with Johnson Napier of MxMIndia, Ameer Ismail, Executive Director, Lowe Lintas opens up about his successful tryst with the PR and communications space, how LinOpinion as an agency has managed to outperform its growth every year and his plans for the agency in 2012. Excerpts:

     

    Q: It’s been a long run for you in the PR and communications space. How would you chart your personal journey thus far?

    It has been quite a long journey for me. When I joined the profession it was in a nascent stage but that also threw up a lot of interesting opportunities for young and aggressive people like me. In effect, it has been a journey where I have never stopped learning and I have never looked back. In the process of working in the PR space, I have done a lot of work in the communications space as well. So I do not consider myself only a PR professional; I consider myself first a professional, second a communications professional and third, a PR professional within the communications space. So the journey has been a satisfying one, to say the least.

     

    Also, it has enhanced my knowledge and skill-sets in certain areas – there’s management expertise, financial expertise, you have to be a motivator for your team, a seller, a marketer, a businessperson… all roles rolled into one. So it has been a journey of creation. This business did not exist around 20 years ago; even 10 years ago, it was not that developed. There were people who saw the potential and jumped into the business and started scaling up fast. That has not been our philosophy as an agency and it has never been my philosophy as well. We believe there is potential but we need to grow it in a certain space and we have been very successful in our own space and in our own way. We have built a very successful practice which today is one of the most successful marketing practices and continues to grow and outstrip everybody’s expectations.

     

    Q: Your stint at LinOpinion is one of the longest ever seen. How has the agency evolved under your leadership?

    LinOpinion has been a culmination of a dream. It has been a dream to have worked in a world-class institution that is respected for its values, work, ethics… this agency is bigger than just people. It was a dream to join the agency; more so, it was a dream to get an opportunity to be entrepreneurial within an agency system. When Prem Mehta hired me into the agency, I remember him telling me, “Listen, if you want to sell toothpaste and stuff like that then this is the wrong place for you, but if you want to create something out of ideas and build something really good and get exposed to all kinds of learnings in that journey then this is the space.” And the journey is by no means even close to getting boring or over.

     

    Q: The communications landscape is seeing a constant evolution in the way it functions as an industry. How in your experience has it changed over the past five years to what it is today?

    Not just five years, I see change in what we do five months from now and what we do five months from then. Though I would say that change is constantly happening in the way we think, the way we react, the way we structure, the way we benchmark and offer our services… The industry itself is in a phase of constant evolution itself. Anybody who tells you that we have got the systems and that these are the golden benchmarks is just bullshitting. At the end of the day, the PR agency business is constantly evolving itself across the globe. Every day is a day of learning for the PR industry. There are now centres and teams that are managing these kinds of developmental areas for us.

     

    Q: Has 2012 begun with a bang for the agency?

    Jan 2012 has been much more promising; we have shown good growth compared to January 2011. But there are signs that we may see less enthusiasm from clients where allocation of budgets towards PR is concerned. In terms of negotiations and new business, we actually get into high gear in the last quarter of the previous year. In that timeframe we talk to multiple clients across categories and segments and it is at that stage that you can actually gage the commitments that are happening for the new year. So we definitely see signs of a slight slowdown but I would say that in an evolving market and an evolving country, things are not going to slow down hugely.

     

    Q: How would you rate the growth story for LinOpinion in 2011?

    2011 has been a fantastic year for us because we did many things that stood out in the minds of our clients and the industry per se. We were even recognised for some of our achievements – we got recognised for several innovations that we brought to the table including Suzlon PR campaign for P.A.L.S where we worked in an integrated way with the entire group machinery and several other things. It was also a great year in terms of finance and business performance. We even bagged the best Marketing Services award within the group for business performance. So it was a fantastic year for us.

     

    As for the wins, a few notable ones include Tourism Victoria, Times Television Network, Polaris…then there was a consolidation of all the Starwood businesses where we now handle all of their mandates. We also managed to win clients like DHI, Siemens, and several others. To sum it up, we have had at least 40-45 retainer businesses added on. We also consolidated our teams; we launched training programmes and many other initiatives that we set out to do last year. And this year will see further change and evolution – more of a recasting exercise from our end. As for our growth last year, it would suffice to say that it has been over industry standard. Now we have to temper that growth with reality, we have to temper that growth with manageability… so anything is possible in this space. The criteria is to see what the industry is doing, what we need to do and how we can manage it best and then decide on throwing up numbers. But the numbers we achieve are good, and we achieve it on profit margins that are on par with advertising businesses.

     

    Q: How would you sum up your performance against other players from the industry?

    The thing is that we don’t like to benchmark ourselves against anyone because this industry has seen crazy growth. So for instance, you predict a growth of 50 per cent or more the question is whether you can sustain that kind of growth or no? That’s because the basic and fundamental fuel to that growth is talent – there are not enough talented people out there who stick to jobs. I have spent 17 years in this agency, which is huge, but I too in the early part of my career wanted to keep on jumping for better opportunities. So Ii do not blame people who want to move but when you move at that early stage so often it doesn’t reflect well on your career prospects.

     

    Having said that, we too have faced talent issues and we continue to do that. There is enough business out there but to get the right kind of people to service the needs is a tough thing. The other thing is when you get the talent in, you expect them to hone in skills much faster. We as an agency imbibe a lot of values and would never be found doing things that are unethical. We would rather give up a business but we won’t take the wrong path to appease a client. Our core competence is understanding where the brand needs to be and getting you there. And that can happen with sensible strategy and creative. The other challenge is in making the clients believe that there is a value in what you do more than what they are willing to pay for. There are still some clients who perceive PR to occupy the lower part of the communications chain; but that’s changing. While there are a few clients at the top who don’t mind paying a premium for your services, a majority of the clients in the middle of the pyramid still want to settle the deal for less. And with that kind of income you cannot deliver the quality of work that is desired. So people have to understand that the more you invest the better the returns.

     

    Q: Domain wise, how have each of the units contributed to the growth of the agency?

    We are not a lifestyle-only PR agency as some claim us to be. There are other domains that we cater to. We have a well-rounded portfolio; we have FMCG, brands, financial, power, etc. In fact we are not in the lifestyle space in a big way as before. May be we are not promoting ourselves well enough but that will change. We now offer well-rounded services across sectors. Where our thrust is concerned, one part of it will be in the area of where PR as an industry is headed towards – which, for us, would be helping clients around business issues. So we would be defining areas and how PR can fit in to help with those business issues for clients. The second is in the area of where media is headed. These two would be the main areas where our strategy for moving forward is concerned.

     

    Q: How do you view digital as a practice for the industry today?

    Digital is an extremely complex and badly understood medium, but is extremely powerful. I think the power of the medium is yet being defined. Even if you look at mobile you are looking at a completely different paradigm. It is so mind-boggling that even agency folks don’t have a command on it. The kind of communication that works on that space sometimes doesn’t work anywhere else. What is really interesting about this medium is the possibilities it offers. The dynamics of me sitting in India and doing a campaign for a client in Africa – why not? I can come out with a brilliant creative and I can tell you that the ability for our thinking as Indians is pretty damn good. We can be thrown into any situation and we can come out shining. That is the kind of innovation that works on the digital medium. I do foresee a future where a PR guy sitting here would be creating a campaign for a client in some other corner of the world. Creative is not the domain of just one or two people any more.

     

    Q: What are your expectations from 2012?

    We expect 2012 to be a great year again. We believe in being steady with everything that we do. As I said earlier, it would be a year where we would be recasting our offerings a bit. It would mean a couple of more interesting developments from our end. To put it mildly, it is going to be about growth for us in 2012.

     

    Q: How would you react to claims of the industry being largely disorganised? What would you estimate the industry size to be?

    According to my estimates, the industry size hovers around US 100-150 million dollars. There’s no way that Assocham’s figure of some billions is true at all. In terms of the industry being disorganised, I totally agree with that view. Do the senior PR industry folks even meet each other? We don’t. I am not interested in being in a coterie, to be part of something; I will run my business the way I want. Yes, there are common issues that would make sense for people to deal with commonly but we need to have the right forums to deal with it. When there is an appropriate forum, we will definitely be a part of it. I would be happy to be supporting a professional body which has teeth. But for that we all will have to get together and it is the agency heads that need to take that lead.

     

    Q: Have you contemplated turning an entrepreneur or is this where you will continue to exist?

    As of now, I am very happy being here in this agency. I have spent 17 years out here and that would make me a loyalist. The agency has given me the kind of growth that I require for my career. I sit at the top management today and have multiple responsibilities to look after. This is the thing I started with and I do want to see it go to great heights.

     

  • His key responsibility will be to strengthen and grow existing client businesses and look to grow Orchard Bangalore in the South market says Kaushik Mitra, Sr Vice President, Orchard India

    Orchard ropes in Anish Daryani as VP

    By A Correspondent

     

    Anish Daryani, who was General Manager at Ogilvy Africa, has joined Orchard Advertising as Vice President and Branch Head at the agency’s headquarters in Bangalore.

     

    Commenting on his appointment, Mr Daryani said: “I have always admired the Leo Burnett Group, since I started my advertising career, for the thinking agency they’ve been. So when I got an opportunity to join Orchard, one of the three agency brands from Leo Burnett’s stable, taking it came very naturally to me.”

     

    “I see myself as someone who brings fresh thinking within the agency, and on our brands. Moreover, we look forward to extend our services to many other brands in diverse categories in Bengaluru, and the rest of southern India,” he added.

     

    Kaushik Mitra, Sr Vice President, Orchard India, said: “Anish is very driven, hungry and passionate about the business. His key responsibility will be to strengthen and grow existing client businesses, cement relationships and look to grow Orchard Bangalore in the South market. Having diverse experience in categories such as FMCG, telecom, durables, Automotive, healthcare, rural, will strengthen Orchard’s position in the market.”

     

    Mr Daryani has a decade’s experience in advertising and has done two stints each with Ogilvy and the Rediffusion-Y&R Group. His work spans diverse categories ranging from automobiles, aviation, telecom, fashion and lifestyle, beverages and media. Some of the brands he’s worked on include TATA Motors, TATA Nano, TATA Steel, Hutch (now Vodafone), Airtel, Kingfisher Airlines, Danone, Brooke Bond Red Label, The Economic Times, The Times of India, Colors, Linc Pens and The Statesman, among others.

     

  • Companies have realized that investing in PR campaigns and sending out the right messages is critical for business recovery after an economic downturn, says Nitin Mantri.

    [PR Channel] ‘Industry resilient in times of turmoil’

    By Nitin Mantri

     

    A new year heralds a new beginning. Year 2012, however, began on a note similar to last year’s, with news of a world economy in crisis continuing to grab front-page headlines. As the world kept an anxious eye on Europe, where talks to avert a debt default by Greece are under way, the rupee recovered its lost ground, touching a two-and-half month high of Rs 49.65 against the dollar. However, a CII survey has shown that Indian corporates are not very upbeat about the economy and their own businesses.

     

    So what does a tottering economy mean for the public relations industry? Nothing damaging, thankfully. There used to be a time, about 10 years ago, when PR budgets topped the list of cutback targets whenever the financial markets dragged down the economy. Not anymore. The industry has proved to be a valuable partner to companies in good times and more so in bad times by internalising all critical issues affecting clients. PR advice has become especially valuable during difficult times, primarily due to the advent of social media and a changing communication milieu. PR also delivers more cost-effective results when compared with advertising and marketing. Companies have realized that investing in PR campaigns and sending out the right messages is critical for business recovery after an economic downturn. In fact, experience shows companies that desist from PR engagements fare the worst.

     

    Year 2012 will provide plenty of growth opportunities to PR professionals who spot the key trends and react early. While global trends remain relevant for us, in the Indian context the stress will be on a few areas. With businesses slowing down, client retention will be the natural focus. PR professionals will have to walk that extra mile to be a valuable partner to our clients. This means more value-driven PR campaigns that give a demonstrable return for the clients’ money. This is also the time to leverage research capabilities and provide real-time information and analysis on different industries and competition to clients. But it all has to be done ethically. With Public Affairs capabilities being offered by agencies, it has to be done in an honest manner.

     

    The controversy last year has also turned the spotlight on media accountability. The industry has nursed a secret hope that the Indian media will become more accountable and with the recent controversies, it may just become a reality. But blind worship of the media should stop. The focus should be on what value we can give (to the media and client) and not what we get. Accountability-based influence should be the new harbinger of change and we should be the face of that change. This will also be the year when regional media will continue to grow. Since mainstream English publications have limited reach (read urban population), clients will shifted their focus on regional newspapers and channels, which hold the key to the semi-urban and rural markets.

     

    Social media will of course continue to grow, but there will be blurring of lines between paid and unpaid. The important thing is to be present in all streams-paid, earned, shared and owned-so the message is heard. Content will continue to be king, but the industry needs to think of ways to use the content strategically in both traditional and digital media. Since consumers are spoiled for choice, the key differentiator would be good content that breaks through the information overload and relays the clients’ brand messages. 2012 will also be the year of knowledge curation. All of us will have to play the role of curator at some point or the other and lead our clients to the content that they really value.

     

    There is, however, one thing that remains unchanged in this business of people – connections. PR is creating and enhancing connections with various stakeholders. In this era of social media it is even more critical as opportunities to interact are many. We have to look for peers, journalists, organisations and allies who with time have vanished from our list and make 2012 the year to re-connect.

     

    The past decade has shown the results of effective PR planning and it looks like we will get another opportunity to confirm the PR industry’s resiliency in these troubled times.

     

    Nitin Mantri is the CEO of Avian Media.

     

  • Having been involved with Madison PR since its inception, Veena Gidwani today is singularly responsible for the peak status that it has attained over the years

    [PR Channel] Our approach has been very focused & niche: Veena Gidwani

    It’s been a fulfilling and boisterous ride, to say the least, for one of the most prominent names in the domain of PR – Madison PR. Having made a modest start about a decade ago, the agency today has a roster of clients that most would die to have a hold on. Not to forget the healthy growth numbers that the agency has been posting year-on-year, which have been in double digits for long. None of this would have been possible without the guidance and leadership capabilities displayed by the face of the agency – Veena Gidwani.

     

    Having been involved with the agency since its inception, Gidwani today is singularly responsible for the peak status that it has attained over the years. In conversation with Johnson Napier of MxMIndia, Veena Gidwani discusses her foray into the space; shares her secret to bagging top-notch clients and has a word of advice to the industry so as to get it to be in a more orderly state in the future. Excerpts:

     

    Your career spans an illustrious three decades, straddling the domains of advertising and marketing. Though your love for the medium is known, what is it about Public Relations that made you take up the profession as a career path?

    My foray into Public Relations happened in 1995. At that point in time, I was employed with the Tatas for their design and creative services company when I was advised by a friend to head a joint venture in the PR and investor relations space. That was when I set up Prima Communications – the corporate image building venture that I was instrumental in setting up and was responsible for delivering growth for the unit.

     

    During that phase, it was observed that a lot of Indian companies were not communicating effectively with their stake-holders. There was a need felt for them to have a professional service which understands how to communicate and how to do it on a sustained basis. So I was involved with that for some time till 2000 when Sam Balsara (CMD, Madison World) offered me a role at Madison PR and that’s how my journey began over here.

     

    It’s been 12 years now for me atMadisonand we have grown from a small and limited team to a team that is very cohesive and spread out across four cities. Today we service clients across industry verticals – we focus largely around clients in lifestyle, FMCG, food and also other verticals like consumer durables, financial, hospitality, healthcare and so on. This has enabled the team to have a lot more exposure and experience in handling all kinds of situations and industry and client needs.

     

    How has Madison PR delivered on the growth front in 2011? How has the start been in 2012?

    We have had a good start in 2012. Most clients have outlined plans for good growth and plans for having new products being launched and so on. Though, of course, in the last quarter some clients have been a little careful in terms of committing a budget, preferring to play a wait-and-watch game. But as the year has begun, the start has been positive so far.

     

    As for 2011, the year was good for us; we have witnessed double-digit growth. All our offices have added businesses. In Mumbai we added Godrej Tyson and Godrej Locks; inDelhiwe added JK Cement and Ricoh andApolloHospitalsinBangalore… so there have been additions and growth in all offices.

     

    While on 2011, I would like to share an important thing that happened to me which was my travel to Cannes. Being on the jury, it gave me an opportunity to see PR campaigns from across the world that were submitted. I’d like to add that a lot of good work also happens inIndiabut unfortunately not too much of it is entered. It was a great experience to interact with many agency heads from across the globe and I think that some of the issue that all of us are battling are almost the same across the world. Also, the other interesting thing out there was that there was not a single category that did not have digital as an entry. So it was a great learning experience at Cannes.

     

    Your client roster boasts an impressive line-up including the likes of P&G, Parle Agro, Britannia, etc. What is it about Madison PR that gets such top marketers to cling on for a long time?

    As an agency, our philosophy has been to work with a limited number of clients but work very closely with them. That’s because PR is such a business that you need to have close interaction with your clients. Unlike advertising, where you create a plan and that plan holds still for the next three months or so, PR is a very dynamic medium- the plan keeps on changing. We may have developed a strategy for this month but if some development happens then we need to incorporate such changes. Also, most often the Marketing people at the client’s end are so busy with their everyday goals, meetings that they do not have the time to share with the media when they have some important developments. As we believe in the proactive approach of being in regular touch with the clients, it becomes easier for us to strategise and execute ideas for them. So that’s one area that we are constantly looking to delight clients in.

     

    The other important thing is that we believe we have to be creative in our approach. The media landscape today is so competitive that everyone wants a slice of the information that is going out. So how do you stand out and make your communication interesting? You need to be creative in your approach; you need to customise the content to suit the medium. So that’s another value-addition that we offer to our clients.

     

    How would you rate Madison PR on the parameter of client retention?

    We’ve had clients who have been with us for several years, like P&G, which is our oldest client and continues to work with us. Having said that, we do have clients who work with us for a year or two, and that happens because if the companies are small or privately held and if they feel that do not have much to communicate then they break away from the association. But I can say with certainty that we command a high loyalty rate amongst our clients.

     

    How do you review your practices each year so as to stay ahead of the curve on a consistent basis?

    We do not work having a delineated or watertight practice. For example, you may have a group that may be working for two separate practices but what we try to do is analyse what are the trends, in which direction is the industry progressing and what is it that we can provide that nobody else is providing and do that more efficiently.

     

    What is the shift you observe in the way PR as an industry functions today to what it did, say, about a decade ago?

    A decade ago, PR largely meant media exposure and media relations, whereas today it is more holistic communications counsel with specialized services like influencer marketing, word of mouth, events, research and overall strategic planning and execution. Also if you observe, there has been a significant shift in the way the professionally managed clients avail the services of PR agencies. They understand the value of a big and creative idea and they support it. They are willing to give it all the support that it needs in terms of implementation and cost. At the same time they expect us to deliver good outcome and results out of the exercise. However there are several organisations which are not that clued in on the value or merit that PR brings to the table. They fail to look at PR as an area that needs sustained investment or something that needs an ongoing boardroom thought.

     

    But I would say that there has been a major shift and most professionally managed companies are realising the value of PR. In fact, PR is becoming an integral component of their media plan and very often many of clients invite us to the pitch alongside the other disciplines. We are briefed at the same time as the others so that we can think creatively and come up with ideas and have a concerted and synergised plan for that particular initiative.

     

    Where do you see Madison PR placed in the PR pecking order amongst its contemporaries?

    We wouldn’t want to rate ourselves amongst the other players based on our size; we are not a big agency. We are a relatively small agency but as I said our approach is very focussed and niche; we want to work with a very limited number of clients and work in a manner where we come up with innovative ideas to build brands.

     

    What are some of the challenges facing the PR industry in India?

    Talent has been one of the biggest problems facing us and the industry as a whole. Especially the senior staff – it is extremely difficult to find a good fit. One of the biggest problems that we face is that most people want to move on to the corporate side of the business.

     

    Though I must say that there is a lot of excitement when you work on the agency side of the business as you get to work with multiple brands, you get to see what the other groups are doing on other brands, you get to work with new brands as well as old and reputed brands or somebody who wants to deal with a crisis situation, and so on. There are many such situations that take place here and therefore I would say that the PR agency life is very vibrant.

     

    Also, it is essential that agencies impart training to its workforce. We do provide in-house as well as external training and workshops for our staff. It goes a long way in preparing them to face the challenges that the business demands.

     

    Any other challenges apart from talent?

    The other big challenge facing the industry is the way clients want to remunerate agencies. With so many players out there offering their services, people are willing to undercut price for the same. PR, as such, is a very qualitative service; you cannot exactly say that someone has quoted me this rate and why are you quoting me something else? One must understand that there are various elements to this service. Over here, one idea or not missing an opportunity can make a huge difference to a campaign. So proactiveness from the agency and the way they deal with you, all add up to the sum total of value or service that the agency is giving to you. So two agencies of the same size may be offering the same service at varying rates and it is up to the client to take a call on who is the right partner.

     

    The other element here is that it is a very people-intensive business. Because, besides people and the intellect what else are you really using? So an agency’s idea, people skills and your interaction with people are the key skills that one uses. Also, people costs are going up and clients have to realise that to get good service you have to pay good money – which some clients do. But by and large, most people think that they can negotiate fees and make us work for less and this perception needs to be changed.

     

    You’ve been involved with PRCAI and have served as president in the past. How do you see the association casting an impact on the industry in a large way?

    I really do not know what is going on over there now but I guess as an industry we need to come together and do more. If everybody gets together we can hope for a smooth running of the industry. We are operating at several levels. At one level we have internationally-affiliated global agencies, then you have the Indian independent agencies, then you have agencies likeMadison, which are part of agency network, you have individually-owned agencies, smaller agencies, etc so the canvas is very vast. This makes it difficult to have standardised norms and practices that each one may follow.

     

    Have you been approached by an international agency for a joint venture?

    As and when there is some venture to look up to we would consider it but we are happy being as we are right now.

     

    What is the road ahead for Madison PR in 2012?

    For us to put up a good growth, churn out good campaigns and help clients to get better market shares and enhance the equity of his brands with consumers and stakeholders. Also, we see big opportunities in lifestyle, personal consumption, retail and healthcare sectors with many new entrants and aggressive expansion plans of existing players.

     

    For us, digital is now becoming important and more and more brands are now going online to communicate with consumers but I think that in 2012 there will be a lot of activity around this arena.

     

    Finally, will Madison PR be the place you retire at or will you contemplate another career opportunity in the future?

    I haven’t thought about leaving this place; it has been an interesting and exciting journey over here. There are always newer things that come up and one thinks of it but it’s been very exciting and I am looking forward to more excitement in the time to come.

     

  • Ogilvy & Mather launches new cross-discipline social media practice called Social@Ogilvy

    Flashed y’day: O&M launches Social@Ogilvy

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ogilvy & Mather announced today the launch of Social@Ogilvy, a worldwide practice connecting all of the agency’s social media experts to deliver solutions across all areas of business.

     

    What was once a specialty offering within Ogilvy Public Relations has now expanded across all marketing disciplines into a dynamic, global network of social media experts from the complete Ogilvy family. Social@Ogilvy connects marketing, communications, CRM, sales enablement, shopper marketing experts and more to deliver seven big social solutions. In addition to Social Media Marketing and Communications, these solutions now include Social Shopping, SocialCRM, Social Care, Social Business Solutions, Listening and Analytics, and our measurement model, Conversation Impactâ„¢.

     

    Social@Ogilvy enables the firm to more efficiently and effectively serve the complex needs of clients, as social solutions become true business solutions.

     

    “Now, no matter which door clients walk through at Ogilvy, they will connect with the Social@Ogilvy team to deliver agile and measurable solutions. That’s access to social experts deep in every marketing and communications discipline,” says John Bell, Global Managing Director of Social@Ogilvy. “We have worked hard over the last seven years to define and apply ‘best practice’ use of social media to business. The real power of social media for business in 2012 and beyond lies in fully integrated solutions, not stand-alone social programs.”

     

    With over 550 dedicated social media experts around the world – and another 4,000 digital experts – the Social@Ogilvy team is the largest network of social media strategists delivering global and local solutions. Headquartered in New York, the team is led by John Bell, Global Managing Director, Tom DeLuca, Chief Operating Officer and Thomas Crampton, Director of Social@Ogilvy in Asia-Pacific.

     

    In Asia Pacific, Social@Ogilvy extends to 23 cities in 15 territories.

     

    “The demand for world-class digital and social media solutions across Asia Pacific is growing rapidly. Social media has been the fastest growing discipline over the last two years,” said Paul Heath, Chief Executive Officer, Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific. “Social@Ogilvy brings our social media specialists from all disciplines into an integrated team that supports clients at every stage of the game.”

     

    (based on a press communique received from Ogilvy India)

  • Orbit won two Golds, a Bronze and an Appreciation award at Public Relation Council of India Awards

    Orbit Corporation Ltd Wins 2 Golds at PRCI Awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    Orbit Corporation Ltd has won four awards at the PRCI – Public Relation Council of India Awards 2011-12 for their outstanding Corporate Communication in the respective categories.

     

    Orbit won Gold in the Single Corporate Advertisement, another Gold in the Annual Report, a Bronze in the Table Calendar and an Appreciation award in the Corporate Advertisement (single) category.

     

    Amee Sanghvi, Head – Branding and Communications, Orbit Corp said: “Simple, single-minded communication, effective strategy along with unique creative executions is ‘the’ differentiator. Our unmatched media and sector expertise, added with luxury & lifestyle understanding are our key strengths. At Orbit, we pride in saying ‘People are our finest properties’. These awards are a recognition of our work on the global platform.”

     

    Orbit Corporation Limited is a leading premium developer in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area with significant presence in niche and premium locations of South and South Central Mumbai.

     

  • The IIFA Case Study showcased Zzebra’s campaign which followed an umbrella messaging structure that revolved around creating strategic communication

    Zzebra PR wins Gold from PRCI for their work on promoting IIFA Awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    Zzebra Public Relations has won the Gold in the Best Case Study from Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) for the outstanding work done in promoting the International Indian Film Academy(IIFA) Awards for its client Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

     

    The IIFA Case Study showcased Zzebra’s campaign which followed an umbrella messaging structure that revolved around creating strategic communication across key mainstream and regional publications, magazines, the online space, and television networks. The plan comprised of proactive and innovative PR activities to strengthen IIFA’s key attributes of being the global, glamorous and credible awards ceremony.

     

    Pooja Chaudhri, Joint Managing Director, Zzebra PR said: “Our understanding of the entertainment/lifestyle sector and media expertise is unmatched. Our domain knowledge on large scale events, both in entertainment and lifestyle, and our media networks across the country are our key strengths. We have successfully handled on-going communication for IP entities and large-scale events to the satisfaction of our discerning clients. Additionally, our understanding of media and their requirements when dealing with large international events and celebrity icons helps us to achieve better results for maximum client impact.”

     

    Zzebra PR is a leading communication company headquartered in Mumbai. Its portfolio of clients is spread across different industry sectors such as sports, entertainment, lifestyle, real estate, technology, automobile, retail and hospitality, among others. Zzebra is part of Concept Communication,India’s largest independent advertising agency.

     

  • 20:20 MSL will work with Hay Group to build brand awareness and manage its reputation as a global management consulting firm

    Hay Group appoints 20:20 MSL as its strategic communications partner in India

    By A Correspondent

     

    20:20 MSL India, part of MSLGROUP, Publicis Groupe’s flagship specialty communications, PR and events network and the largest PR and social media network in India, has been selected by Hay Group as their strategic communications partner in India.

     

    Hay Group, which entered the Indian market seven years ago, is one of the leading premium management consulting companies and is the largest people consulting organization by revenue and clients inIndia. 20:20 MSL will work with Hay Group to build brand awareness and manage its reputation as a global management consulting firm that works with business leaders to develop talent, organize people to be more effective and motivate them to perform at their best.

     

    20:20 MSL’s seven offices acrossIndiawill work with Hay Group on a nationwide mandate, spearheaded by 20:20 MSL’s National Capital Region (NCR) Office inNew Delhi. The agency has been tasked with drawing on its integrated communications expertise to creatively engage audiences that includes CEOs and CXOs of Indian industry, across traditional as well as social media platforms.

     

    As a newcomer in the consulting space in a niche sector of human resources, leadership & talent, Hay Group will draw on 20:20 MSL to build brand familiarity and also sensitize Indian businesses, including family-owned businesses to the value that leadership development and talent management can add to their enterprises.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Amrit Ahuja, Vice President, 20:20 MSL said: “As the Indian economy grows and Indian companies expand overseas, the focus on managerial talent and leadership has grown manifold. Indian businesses, including many family-owned businesses are on the lookout for experts and specialists who can help them achieve business objectives through development of competencies in the areas of leadership development and talent management. I am thrilled that Hay Group has chosen 20:20 MSL as its communications partner to reinforce its mindshare as the leading people consulting organization inIndia. We look forward to building the Hay Group brand inIndiaand aid the dissemination of global best practices and knowledge that it brings to Indian industry.”

     

    Prashanti Mikayla, Senior Manager, Brand & Talent, Hanmer MSL added: “Acquiring the right talent has become the third most important driver for organizational growth and CEOs worldwide have begun to factor this into their strategies. In the present turbulent market conditions with a dearth of the ‘right fit’, the need is to focus on attracting, engaging and retaining talent that reinforces the purpose of the company and promises a direct impact on the bottom line. With this appointment, we believe that the Hay Group can benefit from MSLGROUP’s Brand & Talent practice to fortify their Employer Brand in the Indian industry.”

     

    Gaurav Lahiri, Managing Director, Hay Group India of Hay Group commented: “We were interested on partnering with an agency that understands our philosophy of transforming people and organizations, realize their potential. With 20:20 MSL’s deep social media expertise, deep sector knowledge and experience, and its capability to seamlessly implement national campaigns, we hope to reach out to Indian business leaders, differentiate ourselves as a strong knowledge driven firm with proprietary insights and become the preferred partner of industry inIndia.”

  • Every year the PRCI looks at eminent professionals from the PR discipline in India and selects the chosen ones for inclusion in the Hall of Fame

    PRCI inducts NS Rajan in the Hall of Fame

    By A Correspondent

     

    NS Rajan, the public relations evangelist inIndia, has been inducted in the Hall of Fame by PRCI at the recently concluded Global PR Conclave 2012.

     

    Every year the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) looks at eminent professionals from the public relations discipline inIndiaand selects the chosen ones for inclusion in the Hall of Fame.

     

    NSR, as he is fondly called, has been nurturing and re-defining the public relations industry inIndiawith his strong belief in consulting and advisory approach at a time when the industry didn’t have these words in its dictionary. Grit, passion and innovation are the three cornerstones of NSR’s illustrious career spanning over two decades.

     

    “I dedicate this recognition to each of my colleagues, past and present, who have contributed to make what Ketchum Sampark is today,” said NSR, Managing Director – Ketchum Sampark.

     

    A postgraduate in Business Management, NSR is widely credited for bringing in ethics, moral values and a sense of pride to the public relations industry inIndia. NSR started his career with the Associated Cement Companies (ACC), followed by Essar Group where he headed its Corporate Communications Team. He successfully guided all communications related to Essar Group’s metamorphosis into one ofIndia’s largest industrial houses with interests in steel, oil, shipping and telecom – including helping the group raise several billion dollars from the capital markets.

     

    Under his stewardship Sampark, started in 1994, has developed and executed distinctive, high-impact global communications campaigns for several global and Indian brands like DSP Merrill Lynch, ICICI Prudential, Fitch Ratings, ICICI Venture, Bajaj Auto, Tech Mahindra, Hutch Vodafone, ABB, Exide, Lafarge and others.

     

    H K Dua, Member of Parliament and former Editor-in-Chief of Times of India, K Subramanyam, Director General of Police,Maharashtra, Dr. N. Prabhu Dev, Vice-Chancellor of Karnataka University, and CV Prasad, CEO, Gradatim, Chennai, M B Jayaram, Executive Director KPCL and Chairman Emeritus PRCI and Mr. ND Rajpal, President, PRCI graced the occasion.

     

     

    In 2011, Ketchum Inc. a leading global communications firm acquired a majority stake in Sampark PR Pvt. Ltd. after a four long year preferred partner relationship. The joint alliance Ketchum Sampark Pvt. Ltd., part of the Omnicom Group significantly expands Ketchum’s presence inSouth Asia, complementing Ketchum’s strong network in the Asia-Pacific region.

     

    Public Relations Council ofIndia(PRCI) is a national body of Public Relations, Corporate Communications, Advertising and Media Practitioners, Event Managers and also academicians. Established in 2004 PRCI strives to enrich the professional development of media practitioners and provides networking opportunities to further the course of the profession.

     

  • PR – Interface or Interference? is the theme of the conclave to be hosted by the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI)

    Media, PR professionals to debate ethics at global conclave

    By A Correspondent

     

    With the role of Public Relations professionals coming under scanner in the context of the 2G scam, a global conclave of PR professionals, to be held on February 13 at Trident, Mumbai, will debate the various issues concerning them.

     

    PR – Interface or Interference? is the theme of the conclave to be hosted by the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI). “We expect over 250 PR and media professionals and academicians to attend the conclave,” said M B Jayaram, Chairman emeritus and chief mentor of PRCI.

     

    Veteran media and PR professional Mr B N Kumar, who is also the conclave chairman and head of Mumbai chapter of PRCI, said: “The conclave assumes significance in view of the debates on its theme and panel discussions on social and digital media and government and political public relations.”

     

    Maharashtra DGP Mr K Subramanyam will inaugurate the conclave while veteran jiournalist-editor Mr H K Dua will deliver the key note address. Others speakers include Mrs Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, The Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, Mr Tony Good, Executive Chairman, Good Relations and veteran journalists Mr Ayaz Memon, Mr Kumar Ketkar and Mr D K Raikar.

     

    Importance of PR and corporate communications is growing in leaps and bounds. The profession is no longer what it was even a couple of years back and the technological advancement in the present digital world has added a new challenging dimension to the profession. With the availability of new tools for communication and PR, the corporate communication or PR professionals runs the risk of being outdated if they become complacent even for a short time.

     

    “Add to this, the dilution of media ethics, the growth of investigative journalism, the fight for eye ball share, the TRP focus, and the high cost of square millimeters in print and millisecond on TV and you have yet another dimension to the profession,” said Mr Jayaram.

     

    The conclave will thus offer thought leadership and empower the PR practitioners to upgrade their skills and knowledge to manage communication. This conclave is also an opportunity to meet some high profile communication experts of national and international distinction, and exploring the immense potential of PR, he added.

     

    Another highlight of the conclave is the presentation of its signature annual Chanakya Awards and PR Hall of Fame recognitions. There will another set of awards for corporate collaterals like annual reports calendars and communication campaigns.

     

    PRCI is a national body of Public Relations, Corporate Communications, Advertising and Media Practitioners, Event Managers and academicians. Established in 2004, PRCI strives to enrich the professional development of media practitioners and provide networking opportunities to further the course of the profession. With its headquarters atBangalore, PRCI has 21 active chapters and many more are in the offing.

     

  • The partnership will focus on developing a comprehensive communication offer

    APCO Worldwide and Aakriti Promotions form strategic partnership

    By A Correspondent

     

    Leading global communication consultancy, APCO Worldwide’sIndiaoperations on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership with Aakriti Promotions & Media Ltd, a premier Ahmedabad-based advertising agency. The partnership will focus on developing a comprehensive communication offer.

     

    APCO and Aakriti had recently partnered to deliver the integrated communication campaign for Vibrant Gujarat 2011Summit, which had attracted participation of more than 200 trade associations and trade delegations from 101 different countries. Investment announcements valued at more than $460 billion were made. APCO has been retained for the 2013 summit.

     

    Commenting on APCO’s first such partnership in India, Philippe Maze-Sencier, executive director of APCO Worldwide for India, the Middle East and Africa said: “India is a growing market for APCO, and this partnership strategically integrates APCO and Aakriti’s services to provide a 360-degree communication service to present and future clients.”

     

    Sukanti Ghosh, APCO Worldwide’s managing director inIndia, added: “We are very excited about the opportunities we see in partnering with Aakriti, which will accelerate our plans for APCO’s growth inIndia.”

     

    Pankaj Mudholkar, advertising veteran and managing director of Aakriti, said: “Our strategic partnership with APCO will help us provide integrated services to our existing clients and expand opportunities nationally. APCO’s acclaimed strategic communication record mixed with Aakriti’s expertise in above-the-line and below-the-line advertising activities will enable the partnership to deliver the best holistic service in the industry.”

     

    Founded in 1984, APCO Worldwide is an award-winning, independently owned global communication consultancy with offices in major cities throughout theAmericas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa andAsia. As well as winning several awards for its work inGujaratincluding ‘Best Government Communications Campaign in Asia-Pacific’, APCO Worldwide was recently declared South-East Asia Consultancy of the Year by The Holmes Report. With two full-service offices inNew Delhiand Mumbai, APCO Worldwide inIndiaserves the communication needs of a number of global corporations, government entities and NGOs across diverse industry sectors.

     

    Headquartered in Ahmedabad, Aakriti provides integrated communication services and its clients include top corporates like Adani, Cera, Sai infosystems and Gujarat Gas Ltd in Ahmedabad; Transstadia in Mumbai; and Alpha G Corp in Delhi.