Twenty7 Inc has bagged the public relations mandate for Makoons Play School’s preschool franchises. The agency will spearhead all of their communication initiatives and manage the PR strategies, media presence, and overall reputation of the School.
Commenting on the appointment of Twenty7 Inc. as Makoons’ PR Agency, Vijay Kumar Agarwal, CEO and Co-Founder at Makoons Play School, said: “We believe that our mission of becoming India’s best play school with a focus on the holistic development of children aligns with the company’s strategic vision”.
PRBI member Brunnen Communications’ latest annual PRBI Barometer released this month, surveys the views of PR and comms agencies in more than 40 countries on changes in PR trends and communication priorities.
The findings showcase that PR and comms firms’ clients still value competence in media relations as well as systematic and influential strategic communication along with the fact that few clients have the necessary expertise or tools in-house. In the current volatile operating environment, organizations are in high need of support in building sustainable reputation and trust.
Regardless of geographical location, many (46.7%) agencies believe that the demand for their services will be higher this year than in 2022. At the same time, respondents expect modest growth in their clients’ PR budgets. Media relations, strategic communication and content production are in particularly high demand in 2023.
The impact of the dramatic events of 2022 – Russia’s attack on Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis and global economic uncertainty – continues to reverberate worldwide. The recent layoffs in the technology and startup funding winter have shaken things to a great degree adding to the ambiguity of the future. These reverberations are also reshaping the global operating environment of PR and comms firms as well as clients’ communication needs. The global annual PRBI Barometer is a decision-making tool that allows member agencies to make knowledgeable business decisions.
Said Brunnen Founder and Chair Taru Nikulainen: “Investing in communication during unprecedented times such as what we are experiencing now is a shrewd decision that can have far-reaching implications. The winners of this situation are those organizations that are able to take control of the crisis and see a way through to the other side. Communication cannot work in isolation but must be woven into the very fabric of business. We are delighted to see so many clients recognize the value of communication agencies in these turbulent times. It is great that they view us as a strategic partner and understand that the influence of what we bring to the mix can actually be measured.”
PR and comms firms around the world agree that this year’s most popular services are media relations (63.2%) and communication strategies (57.9%). One notable change from the previous year’s survey is that the third most popular service is now content production (57.9%). Change communication and internal communication are not far behind either. The latest survey clearly highlights the significance of ethical PR. More than half of the respondents (56.3%) saw ethical conduct in both communication and client relations as important or very important.
Giving this an Indian perspective and how it will be relevant for the audiences in the country, Tarunjeet Rattan, Managing Partner – Nucleus PR and PRBI member added: “Brands in India and those eyeing entry into the country have come to realise the immense power of PR. Week after week, our desks are flooded with RFPs and inquiries, predominantly centred around media relations. However, it’s essential for these brands to recognize that PR & Communication is a long-term investment that demands nurturing. Amidst the worldwide shift towards valuing PR, there is a growing emphasis on upholding ethics in PR within India. In an era filled with unfiltered information, misinformation, fake news, and automated content, the integrity of communication and communication professionals has become more critical than ever before.”
The Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) launches its first-ever podcast series – ‘Unmute with PRCAI’. The collection consists of 10 inaugural episodes that will be unveiled on World PR Day 2023 which is celebrated annually on July 16. The first episode to roll out on Thursday, July 20, and will be on over 75 platforms including Spotify, Anchor, Bingepods, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts
The exclusive series brings together business leaders, and valued ‘Opinions that Matter’, from diverse speakers from the worlds of business, politics and culture, to amplify the voices of thought-leaders shaping the rising India. Thought-provoking, yet light-hearted conversations of individual success stories will empower listeners to critically think about the challenges and opportunities in an evolving landscape.
The podcast is hosted by Niret Alva, television journalist, producer, anchor, director and educator.
Said Alva Co-founder of Miditech Studios: “I have enjoyed interviewing these inspirational leaders and getting them to tell their unique stories. These stories will inspire, motivate and challenge listeners as they listen to how these industry leaders lead, deal with adversity, and find balance in their everyday lives. It’s a great initiative from the Public Relations fraternity.”
The show will feature Ravi Venkatesan, Chairperson of The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP); Entrepreneur Priyanka Gill, Vikram Sakhuja, Group CEO of Madison Media, and OOH; Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Salesforce India and Avinash Pant, Former, Director-Marketing for Meta.
Added Deeptie Sethi, CEO, PRCAI: “It is exciting to celebrate our profession and all the hard work of the community on this World PR Day with a new podcast series from PRCAI. We believe that there is an evolution in the value proposition being offered by the communications industry to businesses through credible narratives, powerful storytelling and shaping public opinion. Unmute With PRCAI aims to connect the creative communications world with India Inc, together crafting an honest narrative of a bold new India, saluting India’s compelling story in what could be the Indian century,”
Concept Public Relations India Limited (Concept PR), part of the Concept Group has been appointed as the public relations agency for Bikaji Foods International Ltd, maker of Bikaneri Bhujia.
As part of the mandate, Concept PR will also provide professional daily news monitoring services through Concept BIU, the media monitoring arm of Concept PR.
Commenting on the development, Neha Rao, Vice President, Marketing said: “Bikaji has come a long way in the past three decades; our journey from Bikaner to Bombay Stock Exchange has been nothing short of amazing. We are on a growth path, with a lot of interesting developments that our industry and brand are witnessing. Therefore, when it came to appointing a PR firm to handle our account for better outreach and take our story to the world, Concept PR was definitely a strategic choice. The professional and dedicated approach with which the team managed our IPO journey was commendable and we are excited to build our brand equity with their support!”
Added Lalit Jaisingh, Senior Vice President and Lead Capital Markets PR: “Since the announcement of the Initial Public Offering, we have enjoyed a great working relationship with the Bikaji Team. We are elated to continue our association with the “Bikaji” Brand – a true “Make in India Story” that has been wowing the Indian taste palate since 1993. As Bikaji forays into other segments beyond the Namkeens and expands into other geographies and boosts its distribution network, we look forward to sustaining and building on their communication internally and externally.”
On his first day as CEO of MTV India, he walked in with colour on his finger nails. Each one different, and bright. A former friend once told this writer that he wanted to buy the man some printed socks from Kuala Lumpur, given the man’s love for all things stylish. At the press conference for an entertainment channel – yes, a real one – that didn’t quite take off, he stood up the podium with the hair on the back of his painted red.
And now Sunil Lulla is all set to add colour and style to Astrum, a PR and advocacy firm based in New Delhi NCR. Better known as its founder and Managing Partner Ashwani Singla’s agency, Astrum fashions itself as “India’s first science-based specialist Reputation Management advisory”. We don’t know that what means, but Astrum sure has had a fair good set of clients over the years.
Ashwani Singla
Lulla, a communique said, will play a vital role in strengthening Astrum’s capability as a trusted advisor to the C Suite and adding fuel to its growth engine. Said Singla: “For over two decades that I have known and worked with Sunil, I have admired how he combines strategic clarity with execution excellence to achieve extraordinary outcomes. Our clients and colleagues will benefit from his sage counsel and proven acumen.”
“The impact of reputation, risk and regulation on business is a major pre-occupation of the C Suite and more so today; I am delighted to be a part of a team that has an enviable track record of helping CXOs successfully negotiate this landscape,” added Lulla.
Lulla should know, having spent a lifetime in the media ecosystem. Eons at Wunderman Thompson’s earlier avatar of JWT, MTV (where he effected a turnaround), Sony Entertainment Television (not yet Sony-Zee), Times Network (yes, with Arnab Goswami), Indya.com (remember the Sunday Times of India roadblock?) for Pradeep Kar’s Microland, HMV (now SaReGaMa), Grey, Balaji Telefilms (yes, with Ekta Kapoor) and television audience measurement body BARC India, where he was tasked by the Board to undertake some cleansing operations.
The role doesn’t appear to be a full-time one, and will be in addition to a slew of other projects Lulla is involved in as part of his firm Linus Adventures. Linus, btw, is Sunil spelt ulta.
Lulla is an active runner (yes, a marathoner), loves swimming, working out in the gym, enjoys his movies, music and books, and if you are on his friend’s list, perhaps the first to greet you on your Big Days. And, yes, he is also good in mixology.
We don’t know how he is with mixing liquids. But the number of engagements and bosses he’s worked surely indicates he can mix things well. And Astrum is, as the communique claims, a “science-based” firm.
There is some history to the chemistry between Lulla and Singla (they known each and worked with each other for over two decades). Science, mixology… fireworks?!
Commemorating 12 successful years in the field of PR and communications, PR Professionals, the flagship of PRP Group, has launched ‘RAISE,’ a social communication practice aimed at supporting grassroots-level NGOs with their communication requirements. This practice will be a part of the PRP Foundation and will provide pro bono communication services to NGOs and individuals across the country who are engaged in impactful work, particularly at the grassroots level. These organizations often face constraints in hiring communication firms or consultants due to limited budgets and resources.
As part of its CSR commitment, PR Professionals will offer a comprehensive range of communication services pro bono, including public relations, digital marketing, and website management. The goal is to empower these NGOs to raise awareness about their endeavours. This will be a two-way process, allowing organizations seeking these services to directly approach PRP. Concurrently, PRP will actively identify relevant organizations and campaigns to support.
Dr. Sarvesh Tiwari, Founder and Managing Director of PR Professionals, said: “Since PRP’s inception, we have supported numerous social campaigns pro bono. We have collaborated with various organizations and stakeholders driving developmental initiatives in the country, providing assistance in promoting their ideas and contributing to a robust civil society. On our 12th foundation day, we formalized this approach as a practice, enabling us to support more campaigns and grassroots-level NGOs through our initiative, RAISE.”
Nucleus PR has bagged the PR mandate for Litmus, a design and technology company.
Commenting on the win, Tarunjeet Rattan, Managing Partner, Nucleus PR, said: “At Nucleus, we are driven by a strategic approach that addresses the core target audience aligning seamlessly with Litmus’s ideology. Their dedication to crafting premium, yet affordable lifestyle products that truly enrich the lives of consumers is an inspiration. This win strengthens our commitment to partnering with brands that redefine value and quality. We aim to create a strong brand reputation that is rooted in their truth and not only sets trends but raises the bar for value-driven innovation in the industry.”
Added Rohit Bachhawat, Co-founder, Litmus: “Together, we’re committed to telling our story, sharing our values, and connecting with our customers on a deeper level. The team brings in fresh ideas backed by experience. With the expertise of the Nucleus PR team by our side, we’re confident that we’ll be able to amplify our message and reach even more individuals who appreciate the true value our brand offers.”
Havas has announces the acquisition of PR Pundit. The firm will now be rebranded PR Pundit Havas Red.
PR Pundit has been an affiliate of Havas in India for a while and the acquisition will help up Havas’ capabilities to extend public relations services in India as part of its bouquet of creative, media and healthcare offerings.
Said Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and Global CEO, Havas: “We are thrilled to welcome PR Pundit to the Havas family. The synergies between PR Pundit’s expertise, Havas India’s clients, and the global PR clients of Havas Red are exceptionally strong, setting the stage for many meaningful collaborations. With the backing of Vivendi and their extensive entertainment assets in India, the expansion into PR, communications and social media is a strategic move that aligns perfectly with the evolving landscape of the market and industry.”
Added Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India: “This acquisition once again reinforces our commitment of delivering comprehensive and impactful solutions to our clients. In our endeavour to offer integrated end-to-end communication solutions, we identified that the PR function was a missing piece. This acquisition brings together, two extremely powerful entities, Havas Red which has presence across 15 global markets with unmatched influence and reach, and PR Pundit, one of the most respected PR agencies in India with unparalleled brand reputation and a robust clientele. I welcome team PR Pundit to the Havas India family. Together with Havas Red, I look forward to the beginning of an exciting journey.”
Crosshair Communications has bagged the PR mandate for Khurana Jewellery House of Amritsar.
Said Stuti Jalan, Founder & Managing Director, Crosshairs Communication: “We are happy to have a legacy jewellery brand on board that is known for its unique designs and craftsmanship. We are excited to work for Khurana Jewellery House and offer our services that will help in maximising brand visibility across the platforms”.
The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), an international trade organisation connecting more than 300 WTCA Members in nearly 100 countries, has selected Ketchum Sampark as its strategic PR partner for India.
Said Scott Wang, Vice President, Asia Pacific, WTCA: “We are pleased to have Ketchum Sampark as our strategic communications partner in India. Our vision is to play a key role in India’s infrastructure and smart city development, growth of small and medium enterprises and trade promotion. The teams experience and industry knowledge stood out and I am confident Ketchum Sampark will play a significant role in our ‘Road to 500’ initiative and help us achieve our overall communication and market specific objectives.”
Added Rohan Srinivasan, Managing Director, Ketchum Sampark: “We are truly excited about this collaboration with the World Trade Centers Association. The number of World Trade Centers (WTCs) in India has crossed 37 and it is the only country after the U.S. to have as many WTC locations. We look forward to showcasing the WTCA’s global reach, membership and unrivalled network in India, and highlight key events that facilitate robust business connections throughout the country.”
Confiance Communications Agency has acquired the PR mandate for Khyaal app and club catering to senior citizens.
Commenting on the partnership, Hemanshu Jain, CEO, Khyaal added: “Confiance’s wealth of expertise makes them an integral partner in shaping the PR communication roadmap and executing strategic brand-building PR campaigns for Khyaal. We’re confident that their contribution will be pivotal in furthering our mission and enhancing our reach within our key stakeholders.”
Speaking about the partnership, Bushra Ismail, Founder and Chief Strategist, Confiance Communications, said: “[By] cultivating influential media relationships and implementing compelling PR campaigns for Khyaal, we seek to reinforce its brand equity and pave the way for its sustained success in the agetech industry. Aligned with the brand’s PR objectives, our campaigns will be targeted towards various stakeholders, namely senior citizens, investors, and other organisations in this domain.”
Fintech player Angel One has appointed Adfactors PR as its strategic public relations partner.
Commenting on the partnership, Prabhakar Tiwari, Chief Growth Officer of Angel One, said: “In the ever-changing business world, we know that effective communication is key to maintaining our market leadership perception. We are working with Adfactors PR, a renowned PR agency with deep knowledge of the fintech sector, to help us skillfully communicate our growing portfolio and future vision, and set new industry standards. We are excited to work together to create narratives that align with our goals and help us communicate our position as a fintech market leader.”
Added Arwa Husain, Director, Financial Services, at Adfactors Public Relations: “We are excited to partner with Angel One and contribute to their growth journey. Angel One has established itself as a leader in the fintech space, and we look forward to supporting Angel One strengthen their brand presence and connect with their target audience through enhancing reputation and delivering strategic, integrated communications programmes.”
Havas has announces the acquisition of PR Pundit. The firm will now be rebranded PR Pundit Havas Red.