MxMIndia

Tag: Ameer Ismail

  • The Relevance Framework released by Golin global CEO Fred Cook throws up some interesting data

    A Matter of Relevance (& Trust)

     

    By A Correspondent

    GolinOpinion, the PR division of PointNine Lintas, released its first marketing product, Relevance India. At an event in Mumbai last week, Fred Cook, Global Chairman, Golin unveiled the Relevance framework which is being rolled out globally. The research was conducted in 13 markets, including India, covering over 13,000 respondents. The first round of data from the study indicates that in the battle for relevance, truth is having a moment of truth. Golin’s global research focused on three categories that touch billions of lives every day: social media, personal banking and automotive.

    After three years of research, in partnership with the USC Annenberg School for Journalism and

    Communications, Golin’s study in four continents including India, uncovered what drives relevance for categories and brands across the globe. The survey population encompassed millennials (18-34), Gen-x (35-54) and boomers (55+).

    The India data, that covered three categories, threw up some interesting aspects:

    People around the world believe that their ideal brand would deliver on being trustworthy (ethical, moral, honest and truthful. However according to the research, study the reality tells a different story. Of the most relevant brands studied, 0% met the ideal when it came to being trustworthy; while people are seeking it, leading brands aren’t seen as relevant. 91% of the most relevant brands studied exceed the expectation when it comes to being popular. This is a part of a major shift.

    Having lost faith in brands and institutions, people are looking to each other, to their trusted tribes – friends, family, advocates and influencers – for validation in the choices they are making. Popularity isn’t a frivolous, fleeting dimension. Talkability means putting a premium on the people who will vouch for and recommend your brand.

    Within the three categories studied it was found that social media category, research found that people don’t need truth; they want to be entertained. People prefer local banking over global – and since all banks are under-delivering on the ideal, unique relevance drivers in this category have emerged. And the automotive category struggles to have a breakout relevance brand leader.

    An ideal banking brand in India is Trustworthy, Effective and Transparent. As with other categories, respondents scored brands very similarly to one another, though SBI scores higher against the ideal and exceeds expectations on Essential and Popular. None other bank in 12 other countries, where the research was done, scored so high on trust.

    The automotive sector which covered global brands, shows Honda as a clear Relevance leader in India, followed by a close competition between Toyota and Ford. Nissan has low relevance, while Fiat is barely known. In India, an “ideal” automotive brand is Trustworthy, Effective, Authentic and Innovative. However, there is little difference in how consumers score each brand.

    Social media is a highly-relevant category overall in India, with Facebook and YouTube ranking at the top in relevance. Local channel Hike is less relevant than global channels.

    Meanwhile, the macro global trends included:

    Screens win out over people

    > Social media (59%) and television (57%) consistently ranked first and second above “word of mouth from friends and family” (45%) as the most relevant sources of news and information

    Word of mouth sees gender differences

    > Word of mouth from friends and family is more relevant to women (50%) than men (39%)

    People are drawn to pragmatic and funny

    > The top characteristics of information people found relevant were useful/practical (54%), informative (53%), and funny (35%), beating out others like inspiring, shocking and exciting

    The one dimension that is currently driving relevance across all categories is popularity: being talked about and recommended by others showing that talkability trumps truth.

    Speaking about the findings at the event, Cook said: “Relevance is what attracts and keeps people paying attention to what brands have to say and moves them to act. This is something that we, as marketers and communicators, can directly impact. We’ve been studying, and perfecting the art of analysing relevance for years because we understand that it is the most important measurement of a brand. Our research indicates that despite people being continually let down by the perceived trustworthiness and truthfulness of brands, they continue to buy their products and services.”

    Speaking of the India launch, Vikas Mehta, CEO, PointNine Lintas, said: “Finding a unified metric that can measure the impact of multiple marketing initiatives is one of the biggest challenges today’s marketers face. In Relevance, I believe GolinOpinion has found a viable choice that replaces data analysis with data analytics. It’s a great way for any brand to find out where they stand vs. competition, locally or globally.”

    Added Ameer Ismail, Chief Growth officer, PointNine Lintas and President GolinOpinion: “As the landscape changes rapidly and as brand managers or communication professionals it is extremely important to have data based insights to decide the interventions that are important for the brand and its agency partners. This is tool is designed to give brands an edge.” Developmental work on the study is being done in Chicago and Mumbai, to further improve functionalities of the tool including real-time data integration.

  • Responsible for a national mandate, Malhotra has joined GolinOpinion with immediate effect and will be based out of Mumbai

    PointNine Lintas appoints Asheesh Malhotra as ED, Golin Opinion

     

     

    Asheesh Malhotra has quit his role as President at Bates CHI & Partners and has joined GolinOpinion, the PR division of PointNine Lintas as Executive Director. This marks a significant shift for Malhotra, who’s spent his entire career in creative agencies, as he ventures into the landscape of PR. At GolinOpinion, he will lead the strategic planning function and oversee the agency’s social media centre-of-excellence, the Bridge.

     

    Commenting on his appointment, Vikas Mehta – CEO, PointNine Lintas said: “Convergence of marketing disciplines is here to stay. An omni-channel marketing plan today is incomplete without elements like advocacy and conversations. To stay relevant, PR firms need brand practitioners in addition to PR experts. Asheesh has built blue-chip brands while working with India’s two most respected agencies, Lowe Lintas and Ogilvy. We’re delighted to have him back in the Lintas family and look forward to his contribution in further strengthening PointNine Lintas’ PR service-stack.”

     

    Malhotra joins GolinOpinion from the Ogilvy group where he was President, Bates CHI&Partners heading their Mumbai and Delhi offices. He was earlier a unit head looking after a large Unilever portfolio as well heading a global hub for Castrol and BP at Ogilvy.

     

    Malhotra will report to Ameer Ismail – President, GoinOpinion & Chief Growth Officer, PointNine Lintas. Welcoming Malhotra to the agency, Ismail said: “We have a vision to redefine PR. I am delighted that a senior professional, strategist and well-respected leader who has worn many hats in advertising is going to lead this audacious vision. As a part of this goal his experience in defining milestone campaigns for brands will further the kind of bold work do for our clients. His experience in planning, equips him to lead and build out our Explorer community. I am excited to have him on board.”

     

  • Ameer Ismail has been named Chief Growth Officer, Sumanta Ganguly takes on the role of National Director – Digital Marketing & Transformation and Sriharsh Grandhe would be National Director – Consumer Engagement

    PointNine Lintas announces leadership team

    By A Correspondent

     

    Left to right: Sumanta Ganguly Ameer Ismail Vikas Mehta Sriharsh Grandhe

    PointNine Lintas, the recently announced independent agency from the MullenLowe Lintas Group, announced the first set of names in its leadership team. Ameer Ismail has been named Chief Growth Officer, Sumanta Ganguly takes on the role of National Director – Digital Marketing & Transformation and Sriharsh Grandhe would be National Director – Consumer Engagement. Along with Vikas; Ameer, Sumanta and Sriharsh will work with clients to build bespoke agency solutions geared to maximize return-on-marketing-investments. They will work with CEO Vikas Mehta. All teams of PointNine Lintas will be co-located in offices in Mumbai, New Delhi (NCR) and Bengaluru respectively.

     

    Ismail, Grandhe and Ganguly will retain their divisional responsibilities for GolinOpinion, LinEngage and LinTeractive respectively.

     

    Speaking of the lineup, said: “The biggest challenge in getting an omni-channel model right is the ability to bring multi-disciplinary expertise together upfront. This leadership team is made up of seasoned practitioners. It allows us to bring multiple disciplines to the table right at the start and offer clients, a customised agency team that’s built around their brand opportunities. This is in sharp contrast to the administrative structure most agencies follow for their verticals. We are lucky to have experts like Ameer, Sumanta and Sriharsh within the organisation, to be my co-founders at PointNine Lintas.”

     

    Explaining the rationale behind this choice, Mehta added: “One of the big reasons why full-service is preached more often than practiced, is because every skill-set comes with its own administrative layers. For example, when you need a PR expert, you also inherit the administrative layer of a PR agency. In a day-to-day working scenario, this becomes a major barrier to collaboration. We’ve made a conscious choice to cast our best minds as both, ‘practitioners’ and ‘managers’ making it easier to collaborate seamlessly.”

     

    The agency, notes a communique, is planning more additions to the leadership team, which would be announced in the coming days.

     

  • Ismail has led GolinOpinion (eka LinOpinion) for over two decades

    MullenLowe Lintas Group elevates Ameer Ismail to Prez, GolinOpinion

     

     

    PR veteran Ameer Ismail has been promoted to President by MullenLowe Lintas Group, effective immediately. He has led the group’s PR firm GolinOpinion (formerly LinOpinion) for over 20 years and built the agency into one of the top players in the PR industry. He was also instrumental in bringing Golin on-board as JV partner in India in 2014. GolinOpinion operates as a part of the marketing services offerings of MullenLowe Lintas Group.

     

    Ismail continues to report to Vikas Mehta, Group CMO & President, Marketing Services for the group. Announcing this elevation, Mehta said: “Ameer is just the right mix of vintage and vision. In a time when the practice of PR is more important than ever, but the business of PR is getting highly commoditized; he’s the kind of leader the industry needs. PR is an integral part of our re-bundled offering and GolinOpinion occupies a great position in the market today. Reinventing yourself from a position of strength is a rare & valuable opportunity and I’m delighted to have Ameer lead that agenda for us.”

     

    Speaking of the promotion, Ameer Ismail, says, “I am so proud to be a part of this great institution – the MullenLowe Lintas Group and am looking forward to this new phase in my journey with a renewed focus and dedication towards delivering great work.”

     

  • The agency was appointed after a multi-agency pitch and was granted the mandate for its distinctive PR and creative approach

    GolinOpinion wins the PR mandate for Dr. Oetker India

     

     

    GolinOpinion,the PR agency from the marketing services cluster of MullenLoweLintas Group, has won the PR mandate for food brand Dr.Oetker. The agency was appointed after a multi-agency pitch and was granted the mandate for its distinctive PR and creative approach.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Oliver Mirza, MD & CEO, Dr. Oetker India said: “We needed a strategic communication approach, innovative ideas and a self-motivated team with a passion that resonates with our ideology. GolinOpinion came out as the right partner for our approach and we are confident that with this partnership we will be able to build and communicate our vision.”

     

    Commenting on the win, Ameer Ismail, Executive Director, GolinOpinion said:“We are delighted to have won the PR mandate for Dr. Oetker India. It’s amazing to see the positive inroads the brand has managed to make in India. We are excited with the vision they have drawn up for India and hope to achieve path-breaking results for them in the coming future. In this ever evolving PR industry, Dr. Oetker is a prestigious food brand that believes in taking every aspect of communication and brand value to the next level.”

     

  • A new age company that is driven by the motto "life, improved"

    Lowe Lintas and Golin Opinion bag creative and PR duties of Vaya Life

    By A Correspondent

     

    Startup Vaya Life has appointed Lowe Lintas Mumbai as its creative agency and Golin Opinion, as its Public Relations agency. The two agencies of the Mullen Lowe Lintas Group, India would work towards creating a seamless brand experience for Vaya Life by establishing the brand and helping it chart its unique growth path in the Indian market.

     

    Founded by Indian origin technologist, Vashist Vasanthakumar, Vaya Life envisions creating products that are designed to impact and improve everyday living.

     

    Vashist Vasanthakumar

    Commenting on the appointment, Vasanthakumar said, “Design is the core essence of brand Vaya. Interspersed with innovation and engineering, we aspire to build products which people not only use but love to be associated with. I am sure our association with Lowe Lintas and Golin Opinion, both leaders in their respective field, will help build the brand Vaya not only in India, but globally.  While Lintas has a rich legacy and strong credentials in building brands over the years, Golin Opinion’s  ability to service large conglomerates, their in-depth research orientation and diverse capabilities within the PR field is remarkable and I look forward to working together with them.”

     

     

    Anaheeta Goenka

    Said Anaheeta Goenka, President, Lowe Lintas Mumbai: “Vaya Life is among the new breed of start-ups that are seeking to redefine the category they operate in. We were inspired by their progressive growth plans and the inventive approach they have in mind for the Indian market. But what makes Vaya unique is that – here the fundamental core of technology & design is applied towards “improvements” on life’s little daily needs/products, often forgotten by everyone else. We are excited to partner them in all ways to engage and interest all Indians to choose a Vaya offering, creating brand effectiveness and brand love.”

     

     

    Ameer Ismail

    Commenting on the win, Ameer Ismail, Executive Director, Golin Opinion & dCell said, “We are excited to be working with Vaya Life. Delivering expertise assimilated with novelty and relevance is a key priority at Golin Opinion.”

     

  • The mandate for LinOpinion would be to craft a strategic communication framework for INOX

    Inox appoints LinOpinion GH as its PR Agency

    By A Correspondent

     

    LinOpinion GH has announced that it has won the PR mandate for INOX Leisure Limited (INOX).The mandatefor LinOpinion would be to craft a strategic communication framework for INOX to further leveragetheirleadership position in the cinema exhibition space.

     

    Alok Tandon, CEO, INOX Leisure Ltd said, “We are happy to associate with LinOpinion GH as our PR partner. Their strong broadcast and entertainment credentials and passion to work on a brand such as INOX gave us the confidence to go ahead with this decision. INOX as a brand believes inthe unconventional and what impressed us about the agency is their unique creative consumer insights.We will continue to provide the best movie viewing experience to our guests across the country and we are confident that we will be able to strengthen our position with LinOpinionGH as our PR partner.”

     

    Ameer Ismail

    Commenting on this strategic win, Ameer Ismail, Executive Director, LinOpinion GH and Lowe Lintas +Partners said, “We are extremely pleased to partner with an exciting and dynamic brand like INOX.The film exhibition industry has been growing tremendously over the years,and so is INOX’ geographical presence across the country. We have been successful in understanding their vision and sharing a unique and differentiated strategy that we believe will build the brand image further as a market leader.”

     

  • The consultancy will also help effectively communicate knowledge sharing and collaboration of best practices between India and the UK

    British Council awards India PR mandate to LinOpinion GH

    By A Correspondent

     

    LinOpinion GH announced that it has won the prestigious PR mandate for British Council, UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities for India. The mandate is to assist British Council in India to develop strategic communication routes and create consistent visibility for the organization. The consultancy will also help effectively communicate knowledge sharing and collaboration of best practices between India and the UK. LinOpinion GH won this mandate in a multi-agency pitch and this account will be led by its Delhi office.

     

    Ameer Ismail

    Commenting on this strategic win, Ameer Ismail, Executive Director, LinOpinion GH and Lowe Lintas + Partners said, “We are delighted to partner with a coveted brand like British Council.  Cultural relations and exchange is at the core of international relations and so important to both India and the UK. We have been successful in understanding the wide ranging imperatives and we look forward to contributing to the core objectives of British Council in India and playing a strategic role in strengthening their relationship with the country.”

     

    “The thinking and strategic framework we recommended was well appreciated. In addition, our deep understanding of the media and the environment gives us an edge to recommend concepts that will work best with the media and we intend to use innovative platforms to reach out to the right target audiences with the right message. We take pride in designing and implementing public relations plans that result in a large impact in terms of share of voice for brands.” added Lavang Asthana Khare, Executive Vice President, LinOpinion GH.

     

    British Council comes as a significant addition to LinOpinion GH’s roster of clients in Delhi. The agency currently services some iconic brands like Discovery Networks Asia Pacific, Starwood Group of Hotels, DCM Shriram Ltd, Rapid Metro, Malaysia Airlines and Ciena among others.

     

  • The partnership will assist in developing the best strategic communication route for Pro Ecuador, create a stable, impactful image for the destination and promote investment and trade opportunities for Ecuador in India

    LinOpinion GH bags PR mandate of Pro Ecuador

    By A Correspondent

     

    LinOpinion GH has announced their win of Pro Ecuador, the Institute for the Promotion of Trade and Investment for Ecuador working part of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, represented by its Commercial Office here in Mumbai. The partnership will assist in developing the best strategic communication route for Pro Ecuador, create a stable, impactful image for the destination and promote investment and trade opportunities for Ecuador in India. The account was won via a multi-agency pitch.

     

    Speaking on the association, Trade officer in India, Priscila Moscoso Meiller said, “We are proud to be associated with LinOpinion GH and we look forward to a successful and long standing partnership with them. With their vast expertise in the travel, tourism and trade promotion, we are sure that Pro Ecuador will gain from this association and evolve into an even stronger entity with distinct awareness and positioning created for its products and services thereby impacting Ecuador’s image and market share in India.”

     

    Ameer Ismail

    Commenting on the new win, Ameer Ismail, Executive Director, LinOpinion GH and Lowe Lintas and Partners says, “We are thrilled to have won such a prestigious mandate. With our domain expertise and proven track record, we demonstrated the right mix of insight, strategy and ability to build salience on Ecuador, its unique offerings and position it as a great investment and travel destination. We are honored to partner with Pro Ecuador and will use unconventional and innovative communication routes to add value to their marketing campaign as it unfurls.”

     

    For LinOpinion GH, the win comes as a significant addition to their already existing roster of some leading clients in the travel, tourism and trade vertical. These brands include Tourism Victoria, Starwood Group of Hotels, Etihad Airways, to name a few.

     

  • The partnership will assist in developing the best strategic communication route for VIP Industries and create a stable, resounding image for its brands including VIP, Carlton, Alfa, Aristocrat, Skybags and Caprese

    VIP hands over Communications mandate to LinOpinion GH

    By A Correspondent

     

    LinOpinionGH has announced their win of VIP Industries Ltd., the leading luggage manufacturing company in India. The partnership will assist in developing the best strategic communication route for VIP Industries and create a stable, resounding image for its brands including VIP, Carlton, Alfa, Aristocrat, Skybags and Caprese. The account was won via a multi-agency pitch.

     

    SudipGhose

    Speaking on the association, Sudip Ghose, Vice President – Marketing, VIP Industries Ltd said, “We are proud to be associated with LinOpinion GH and we look forward to a successful and long standing association with them. With their vast expertise in the retail and lifestyle sector, we are sure that VIP Industries will evolve into an even stronger entity and our brands will get a distinct positioning thereby impacting on image and market share.”

     

     

    Ameer Ismail

    Commenting on the new win, Ameer Ismail, Executive Director, LinOpinion GH and Lowe Lintas and Partners says, “We are thrilled to partner with such a prestigious and iconic brand. At LinOpinion GH, we cater to the requirements of diverse clients.With our domain expertise and proven track record we demonstrated the right mix of insight, strategy and ability to execute seamlessly across market segments through the pitch processes. We will use unconventional and innovative communication routes to add value to this campaign as it unfurls. VIP is a highly coveted name in the luggage manufacturing industry and we are extremely proud to have them on board with us.”

     

    For LinOpinion GH, VIP Industries comes as a significant addition to their already existing roster of some leading clients in the lifestyle, travel and luxury retail space. These brands include Seiko, Supermax, Tourism Victoria, Starwood Group, Etihad Airways among others.

     

  • GolinHarris was the first agency to launch The Bridge, which is present in 13 locations globally

    LinOpinion GolinHarris brings The Bridge to India

    By a correspondent

     

    LinOpinion GolinHarris has launched The Bridge in Mumbai. The Bridge is a pioneering concept of GolinHarris which is the centerpiece of a new working model termed G4. This tool has changed the way real time insights, in today’s increasingly digital landscape, can interplay into creating impactful Public Relations campaigns.

     

    Simon Ruparelia

    Simon Ruparelia, Head of Digital for Asia at GolinHarris said, “Many of our clients across Asia have embraced the concept of real time marketing and embedded it within their marketing plans. We have successfully applied The Bridge processes across a range of industries from FMCG to the automotive sector and it is a great example of innovation that we are bringing to clients in India. Our clients here will benefit from our experience of running this network of real time engagement centres around the region and the world from New York to Shanghai.”

     

    GolinHarris was the first agency globally to launch such a concept called The Bridge, which is present in 13 locations globally including Chicago, London and Shanghai. Mumbai is the latest bridge in Asia and latest addition to Golin Harris’ global network of Bridges.

     

    The Bridge is designed to meet the changing needs of clients who are constantly looking to better market their products and services and make them relevant with an evolving customer. It will provide better insight, improve delivery outcomes for clients and provide real-time information to clients.

     

    Ameer Ismail

    Ameer Ismail, Executive Director, LinOpinion GH and Lowe Lintas and Partners, said, “We are excited to introduce this valuable tool that helps clients across different industries to manage their online reputation effectively. I believe the time has come to accept new realities in PR and The Bridge is an integral way in which agencies and clients can weave in real time insights into their communications efforts. The impact and use can be far beyond our PR agency clients and could also work for clients within our Group.”

     

    In addition to launching The Bridge, LinOpinion GH also unveiled their new office located in Lower Parel, Mumbai. The new office features an international look and feel that brings out GolinHarris’ g4 work model. The contemporary workplace also has spaces for creative discussions, video conferencing and other amenities to create a productive work environment.

     

     

  • PR agency LinOpinion plans an all-new offering to clients post its jv with IPG network's GolinHarris

    More than just communications

    (Left to Right) Jonathan Hughes, President, GolinHarris, Joseph George CEO, Lowe Lintas & Partners; Ameer Ismail Executive Director Lowe Lintas and Partners and Fred Cook, CEO, GolinHarris

     

    Where so much is being written and said about the not-too-exciting state of affairs in the M&E sector, it comes as a pleasant surprise when a few buck the trend and manage to prove otherwise. On Tuesday (Sept 3), PR agency LinOpinion announced its joint venture with global firm GolinHarris.

     

    With a 50-50 stake between the two, the new entity will now be known as LinOpinion-GolinHarris. While the two have been associated for the past 10 years given their affiliation under the IPG network umbrella, the new joint venture will enable GolinHarris to expand its reach and bring in some fresh new thinking and ways of working in India.

     

    In conversation with Johnson Napier of MxMIndia, Jonathon Hues – President, International, GolinHarris shared that while the timing of their entry is perfect, what was important was the fact that clients in India are looking for more from their communications agency. In fact that’s what the new integrated model, called G4, will seek to offer them. “At the same time, we are also developing our capabilities across the region and India is an extremely important market,” he affirmed.

     

    Agreeing with Mr Hues, Ameer Ismail – Executive Director, LinOpinion who will continue to head the jv agency said that the plan was to have sensible growth but not at the cost of quality. He affirmed that the focus will be to build on its current strengths and invest in others so that they emerge a bigger and better player, one that is committed to doing outstanding work with its clients. Excerpts from the conversation…

     

    Q&A with Jonathan Hues:

     

    What is your assessment of LinOpinion as a PR & Communications player in India that made you seal a venture with the group?

    We’ve been working with LinOpinion for nearly 10 years now so we have always known how good they were and how strong their reputation in India is. So this is very much a natural extension to our relationship and one that allows us to expand our reach into India and to bring some fresh new thinking and ways of working to India.

     

    Were you contemplating an entry in India at this juncture or was it work-in-progress for some time now?

    The timing is pretty much perfect now. We think clients in India are looking for more from their communications agency and that’s what our new integrated model, called G4, is designed to bring them. At the same time we are also developing our capabilities across the region and India is an extremely important market.

     

    What is the difference that GolinHarris would seek to offer its clients in India?

    The aim would be to integrate and offer the brightest insights, the boldest ideas and the broadest engagement for clients in India. We have a very successful team in India already but we believe the market is ready for more than just media relations. We believe we need to further strengthen our strategic and creative capabilities and over time hire new, diverse talent from different fields so that our campaigns really resonate and engage. The other difference is through the close relationship with Lowe Lintas and the wider services it is able to offer. Together we can offer clients a whole new range of integrated services.

     

    Among the many global markets that you are present in, what are the factors that make India a standout among the others?

    It’s a key market in Asia but it’s not just about dots on the map. It’s such a vibrant and creative market and whilst we are bringing new technology and ways of working I think we will benefit from having India fully integrated into our business as there are many areas around mobile and digital, in particular, that India is taking a lead in.

     

    There are already a couple of other PR agencies under the IPG umbrella operating in India. Would you be looking at leveraging resources across verticals or would you be competing head-on with them?

    It’s the same in almost all the markets we work in around the world. Where it makes sense for a client then we will happily work with our sister agencies, and not just PR, within IPG. However, we are also happy to compete head-on as we believe we have something very different and distinct to offer.

     

    What are the challenges you foresee for the PR & Communications space in a market like India?

    To really demonstrate the value they bring and to compete in areas of strategic insight, analytics and creativity that have long been the domain of others. Today so much measurement is focussed on clippings and coverage and not on the change they bring about. We have several specific tools and methodologies within our strategist community to help benchmark and measure this change.

     

    What according to you are the reasons that the PR & Communications medium in India has not managed to make a mark like the other mediums in terms of the ad pie?

    Possibly because we have not shown our clients the same levels of insight and creative thinking that the other disciplines have. We have done great largely around media relations but now I believe communications is coming of age in India. Brands want and need communications to play a central role in helping their brands remain relevant to their consumers. We have to step up to the plate and that is exactly what this JV is designed to help us do.

     

    What is your growth strategy as you begin your operations in India?

    There is huge potential here in India and our partners at LinOpinion see no reason why together we cannot double the size of our business in India within a couple of years.

     

    Q&A with Ameer Ismail:

     

    The JV with GolinHarris is big news in recent times surrounding the PR & Communications space in India. How do you see the JV changing the gameplan for your activities in India?

    This is a great milestone in our journey and the timing couldn’t be better. Clients in India are looking for sharper partners who can work with them and deliver outstanding, measurable results. We have been a successful agency in this market, with GolinHarris (GH), we will get the tools and the G4 model to deliver a completely unique and differentiated product to our clients.

     

    What do you anticipate GolinHarris to bring to the JV that could make you a differentiator in the Indian PR space

    Talent, Technology and Training are the 3 main inputs I see GH bringing to us. We will together upgrade our infrastructure and invest in areas to ensure we have a significant edge. We will also have ‘the Bridge’ in India very soon.

     

    With a rich clientele offering from GolinHarris, do you see yourself leveraging the client/brand footprint in India too?

    Without a doubt, we will now have an opportunity to work with their vast portfolio of global brands and likewise, our brands that are looking for global support can now access seamless service across the network.

     

    Will the JV lend you more muscle to bulk up investments in other avenues in India?

    This business will be significantly scaled in the next few years and we will be looking at any opportunity to achieve this objective and will be ready to make investments.

     

    You seem to have restructured your service model and made significant investments to strengthen the team with vertical heads. Could you elaborate a bit more on this development?

    We have been strengthening our talent pool at the senior level as a part of an earlier plan. We will now be reorganising our teams around the G4 model. Within this there will be vertical areas and experts.

     

    There’s a lot that’s been said of the volatile economic climate gripping the Indian media sector as of now. Will the JV provide you more muscle to fight the survival test facing the sector?

    It is my belief that agencies that focus on doing quality work will stand the test of time and economic uncertainty, there is opportunity for PR even in these times.

     

    What are your growth plans for LinOpinion-GolinHarris in the coming year? Where do you see yourself in the player sweepstakes going forward?

    We plan to significantly scale this business, however we want to have sensible growth and not at the cost of quality. We are already a leader in some areas; we will build on our current strengths and invest in others so that we are a bigger and better player, one that is committed to doing outstanding work with its clients.