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Tag: Nitin Mantri

  • Mantri is the first ICCO President from Asia

    Avian WE CEO Nitin Mantri inducted into ICCO Hall of Fame

    By Our Staff

     

    Nitin Mantri, Group CEO of Avian WE, a leading integrated communications firm in India, was inducted into the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) Hall of Fame. Mantri was given the honour, along with international communications expert and civic activist Nataliya Popovych

     

    Said Nitin Mantri, who was also the first ICCO President from Asia: “I am deeply humbled and honoured to have joined this venerable group of achievers. I would like to thank ICCO for their support and generosity from the very beginning. This recognition gives me new impetus to promote purposeful, ethical, and inclusive communications around the world and foster hope, compassion and understanding in an increasingly polarised and complex world.”

     

    Added Grzegorz Szczepański, ICCO President and CEO, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Poland, said: “The ICCO Hall of Fame is reserved for the most outstanding ambassadors of our profession, those who lead, who inspire and who make an impact. Our two new inductees for 2022 do all of those things and more. I thank Nitin Mantri for his tenure as ICCO President, his work on countless new projects and initiatives drives our organisation and industry forward. And I thank Nataliya for her unbelievable work bringing communicators together in the efforts to save lives in the war in Ukraine. Both of these professionals deserve to be recognised alongside the best of our industry”

     

    Said Melissa Waggener Zorkin, Global CEO and Founder, WE Communications: “Avian WE and Chase India are an integral part of WE Communications and Nitin, as their leader, has always believed in the power of communications to bring about positive community impact, equity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability. We are incredibly proud of his achievements and this well-deserved recognition.”

     

  • The current trademark of ATG ceased to exist from January 1, 2021 globally

    New identity for ‘Yokohama Off-Highway Tires’

    By Our Staff

     

    In October 2020, Yokohama Rubber had announced that it will consolidate its various off-highway businesses into one single entity – Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT). The entity has now released a new corporate identity, a new corporate logo, that draws on the 100-year-plus legacy of Yokohama while underlining its own distinct space in the Off-Highway segment. As a result, the current trademark of ATG ceased to exist from January 1, 2021 globally.

     

    Said Nitin Mantri, Director YOHT America: “The consolidation of OHT businesses announced earlier will be strongly supported by the new identity of YOHT globally. This will result in closer integration of the brand equity and technological expertise of Yokohama with the strengths of companies grouped under ATG; namely – strong sales network, diverse product line up and superior cost competitiveness. This rebranding exercise collectively reflects our successful past while embracing future aspirations. We are excited to showcase this corporate identity to our stakeholders across the globe.”

     

     

  • The PRCA GEC is composed of well-known practitioners, alongside two external expert members

    Nitin Mantri is on PRCA’s Global Ethics Council

    By A Correspondent

     

    The PRCA has launched its Global Ethics Council (PRCA GEC) to uphold and elevate ethical standards in the public relations and communications industry. Its inaugural Chairman is David Gallagher, International President of Omnicom, former Chairman of the PRCA, and former President of ICCO.

     

    The PRCA GEC is composed of well-known practitioners, alongside two external expert members.

     

    The PRCA GEC’s inaugural membership is:

    Chairman:

    David Gallagher. President, Growth and International Development of Omnicom Public Relations Group. Former Chairman of PRCA UK. Former President of ICCO.

     

    Members:

    Bob Pickard. Principal of Signal Communication Inc.

    Bridget von Holdt. Business Director of BCW. President of ICCO Africa.

    Claire Walker. CEO of Firefly Communications Group. Chairman of PRCA UK Professional Practices Committee.

    Francis Ingham. Director General of PRCA. Chief Executive of ICCO

    Gustavo Averbuj. CEO and Regional Director Latin America of Ketchum. Chairman of PRCA Latin America.

    Kim Sample. President of PR Council.

    Kiri Sinclair. Founder and CEO of Sinclair Comms. Former Chair of HKPR.

    Lee Nugent. Executive Vice President APAC of Archetype. Chairman of PRCA Southeast Asia.

    Mary Beth West. Senior Strategist of Fletcher Marketing PR.

    Massimo Moriconi. General Manager & Amministratore Delegato of OmnicomPRGroup Italy.

    Matt Neale. Global CEO of Golin. Former Chairman of PRCA UK.

    Nitin Mantri. Group CEO of Avian WE. President of ICCO. President of PRCAI.

    Omar Qirem. CEO of Edelman Middle East. Chairman of PRCA Middle East and North Africa.

    Philippa Foster Back OBE. Former Director of the Institute for Business Ethics

    Rob Flaherty. Chairman of Ketchum.

    Simon Goldsworthy. Former Professor of Public Relations and co-author of the forthcoming PR Ethics: The Real World Guide

    Stephane Billet, President of We Agency. Former President of SCRP.

     

  • Avian WE will support the collaborative with media advocacy

    Avian WE pledges support in battle against coronavirus

    By A Correspondent

     

    Communications agency Avian WE has extended its support to the Covid Action Collaborative , a platform dedicated to combining capabilities and resources to respond effectively to the Covid-19 outbreak. Avian WE will support the collaborative with media advocacy, establishing partnerships and information dissemination among stakeholders including central and state government.has

     

    Said Nitin Mantri, Group CEO of Avian WE: “In this difficult period, the need of the hour is to come together and show solidarity. Individuals and organisations from all sections of society must work together to address the public health crisis. Avian WE is humbled to join hands with over 150 strong individuals and organisations, with a reach of over 2 million people in 11 states and 100 districts to do our part in the Covid-19 pandemic. We are confident that through this collaborative we will make a positive impact in our community.”

     

    Added Shamal Karkal, CEO, Swasti: “I am pleased that Avian WE have joined The Collaborative. Like others who have joined, they bring their strengths towards deepening the collective impact and their expertise in integrated communications can be leveraged by the members of the collaborative.”

     

     

  • Highlights from the recently release PRCAI State of the Industry 2019 Report (Corporate Communications & In-house PR Professionals)

    Indian PR industry grows 12% to Rs 1.6kcr

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Indian Public Relations industry has grown manifold over the last decade. From Rs 490 crore in FY2008 and a growth rate of 7%, it is estimated to clock in Rs 1600 crore in FY2019. And the growth rate is 12%. These and other findings have emerged from the the PRCAI State of the Industry 2019 Report (Corporate Communications & In-house PR Professionals) of the Public Relations Consultant Association of India (PRCAI).

    International

    The report was released last week by Nitin Mantri, President, PRCAI and the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO).

     

    Other findings of the report are in the PDF, the link to which is here:

    PRCAI State of Industry (Corp Com) Dec 19

  • The work will be led out of the agency’s New Delhi headquarters and executed across the country

    Avian WE appointed communications partner for Honda Cars

    By A Correspondent

     

    Avian WE has been appointed as the communications partner of Honda Cars India Limited (Honda). The agency will be responsible for growing awareness of Honda cars across the region through multi-channel integrated communications campaigns.

     

    Said Nitin Mantri, Group CEO of Avian WE: “Honda is one of the most respected premium automakers in India, offering consumers quality, and technologically-advanced products. It is a pleasure to apply our automotive expertise to a revered brand like Honda.”

     

    On the appointment, Rajesh Goel, Senior Vice President and Director, Marketing and Sales, Honda Cars India Limited, said: “Avian WE’s proposed strategy aligns with our communications objectives and we look forward to working with them.”

     

  • The agency to bring the foodco’s ‘One Planet, One Health’ credo to life in India

    Danone awards PR mandate to Avian WE

    By A Correspondent

     

    Leading global food brand Danone has appointed Avian WE as its new PR consultancy on record following a competitive pitch. As part of the new partnership, Avian WE will drive Danone’s health and nutrition agenda across India. Avian WE’s remit, notes a communique, covers both corporate and brand communications.

     

    Said Shefali Sapra, Director, Public Affairs & Corporate Communications, Danone India: “At Danone, we are committed to building a healthier world with purposeful brands. Avian WE’s expertise in public health and issues-based advocacy makes them an excellent partner to help build meaningful partnerships, educational platforms and communication that will drive adoption and real change.

     

    Added Nitin Mantri, Group CEO of Avian WE: ““Purpose is no longer an option but an imperative. Today’s consumers expect brands to demonstrate purpose led leadership and play an active role in driving societal change,”. “Danone is the epitome of a global brand committed to acting on its own vision of making the world a better place.” The account will be led from Avian WE’s office in New Delhi.

     

     

  • The first edition in 2016 saw over 500 communications professionals attend the awards ceremony

    ICCO partners Fulcrum Awards that recognises best PR campaigns and people

    By A Correspondent

     

    The International Communication Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) has announced its support for the Fulcrum Awards taking place at Praxis 2017 in Jaipur,on September 16..

     

    The Fulcrum Awards are jointly organised by the Promise Foundation – organisers of the PRAXIS conference, and PRmoment, an online magazine for PR professionals. The first edition was held last year.

     

    The Winners of the Fulcrum Awards 2017 will have the opportunity to have their work showcased by ICCO in a free public access archive of best practice campaigns. Winners will also get a special entry rate into the ICCO Global Awards.

     

    Said Charlene Corrin, General Manager of ICCO: “We are honoured to have the opportunity to support this awards programme which celebrates the best of PR from around India, and look forward to showcasing the winning campaigns on the international stage.”

     

    Added Nitin Mantri, President, ICCO Asia Pacific: “ICCO aims at making the Asia Pacific region the epicenter of PR best practices, ethics and knowledge. To this end, we will be providing appropriate avenues to consultancies to share case studies and campaigns from their regions. Hence, we are excited about this opportunity to support Fulcrum Awards in India. The Indian PR industry has been doing some great work, and now, with ICCO’s support, this year’s winners will be able to showcase their work to a global audience, thus encouraging knowledge sharing and engagement.”

     

    Said Hina Issar Huria, Director, Fulcrum Awards: “Indian communication professionals are evolving and like any other profession they need community recognition to excel further. The Fulcrums honour men and women who are pivotal to a campaign and are the backbone of the professional community. It also rewards the best work done over the past year. This is not just another award but the only awards system of its kind which maintains separation of jury, sponsors and participants to ensure utmost transparency. The Fulcrum Awards engages with PwC India as its Process Reviewer. This partnership is a one-of-its-kind in the communications business where a ‘Big Four’ firm is on board for due diligence for the entire selection process of the awards. This will set new standards in the awards process.”

     

  • The industry expected to double in size by FY'20, will be worth overRs. 2,100 crore

    PRCAI releases study on state of Indian PR industry

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) released a comprehensive report on the PR industry titled ‘State of Indian Public Relations Industry: 2016’. According to the findings of the report, the industry more than doubled in size between FY’08 and FY’16 from Rs 490 crore to Rs 1120 crore. The report further states that the growth will substantially increase in the coming years and the industry will be worth Rs 2100 crore by FY’20, almost double its present size. Increased maturity in public relations has allowed the industry to become more integral to brand communications.

     

    The survey also reports that the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector is the biggest clientele for PR firms in the country. The sector accounted for over 20 per cent of the revenue generated by PR firms, closely followed by financial services and the FMCG sector which accounted for 12 per cent and 9 per cent of the revenue respectively. The PR industry, which grew by 19 per cent this year as compared to 13 per cent last year, is on a strong growth trajectory and is expected to play a more strategic role in delivering brand messages. More brands are waking up to the potential that PR has to offer and are moving towards it to deliver a unified message to all stakeholders.

     

    Commenting on the findings of the report, Nitin Mantri, President PRCAI and CEO, Avian Media said, “Storytelling will be key for brands going forward. Delivering content-driven integrated campaigns which can engage and captivate varied audiences will be crucial to the survival of brands in the near future. The sources of revenue in the industry have diversified beyond public relations and public affairs. New services such as digital and social media communications, along with crisis and CSR management, have enabled strong growth of the industry which is expected to double in size by 2020 and be worth over Rs 2100 crore. Constant innovation and smart adaptation to the changing landscape are indispensable for PR firms today. PR practitioners are also waking up to the huge potential, majority of which is still untapped, that lies in the fast growing rural markets. Despite limited retail access, consumer demand is booming in these markets, being fueled by mobile transactions.”

     

    Commenting on the findings of the report, Deepak H, Head (Emerging Sectors Business Unit) at Feedback Consulting said,“Owing to the growth in the PR industry, there has been a significant increase in the number of boutique firms, while consolidation is happening at the top of the pyramid. PR companies are positive about the future outlook of the industry and estimate a 15 – 16% year on year growth in the next 4 years. Start-ups, Sports & Entertainment are seen as emerging business segment, while the industry is largely driven by the Services & Manufacturing Segment.

     

    The biggest and common challenge in the industry is acquiring the right set of talent and retaining them. The talent gap is seen across the skill areas required in the PR industry. Research & Innovative lead individuals with marketing and business development ability are highly desired skills as indicated by companies during the survey.”

     

    While the core services – public relations and public affairs – continue to be biggest source of revenue for PR consultancies, together generating over 70 per cent of the total revenue, the rapid growth seen at the digital and social media front is indicative of the changing dynamics of the PR industry. Brands are also fortifying themselves against possible negative consumer sentiment in the future by investing more towards crisis and risk management and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) management.

     

    Clients today are slowly shifting towards a project based relationship with the firm over the retainer based model. While today 74 per cent of the total revenue comes from retainer businesses and 26 per cent from project businesses, this dynamic is expected to change in the near future. The increasingly competitive agency landscape and mushrooming of freelancers has increased the options for the brands.

  • The ICCO Global PR Awards benchmark the finest excellence in PR, and is globally recognised by 33 PR trade associations across the world

    Nitin Mantri & Avian Media conferred top honours at ICCO Global Awards 2015

    By A Correspondent

     

    Nitin Mantri

    Avian Media has clinched the ‘Independent Consultancy of the Year (APAC)’ title at the ICCO Global Awards 2015 in London on November 26. The company’s CEO, Nitin Mantri, who is also the President of the Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI), was adjudged Global PR Leader of the Year Award for displaying great leadership and achieving excellent results in moving the industry forward in one of the most challenging markets in the world. Mantri is the first Indian to have won this award.

     

    Nitin Mantri, CEO, Avian Media, said: “We are a homegrown, independent agency and we are proud of our heritage. This gives us the freedom and nimbleness to deliver result-oriented campaigns for our clients. Hence, it is a matter of great honour to win the ‘Independent Consultancy of the Year’ award. This has been a milestone year for us. We have won the ‘Indian Consultancy of the Year’ Award at the 2015 Sabre Awards in September, and now these prestigious awards on a global platform like ICCO, reiterate our belief that Avian Media is on the right path. We owe our success to our hard-working team of employees, our partners who support us, and our clients who trust and encourage us to scale greater heights. These awards will further motivate us to achieve our goal to become ‘The Most Trusted Advocacy Firm in India’.”

     

    Nikhil Khanna, Managing Director, Avian Media, said: “There is no doubt that Nitin is an outstanding professional, but I have always maintained that he should first be viewed as a remarkable leader. His novel approach to PR has set the roadmap for Avian Media’s success. And, the results – two agency of the year awards in the span of two months – are here to see. Nitin has not only charted Avian’s growth, but has been a leader for the profession. As President of the PRCAI, he has championed the cause of PR both at home and at global platforms. I cannot think of a more suitable Global PR Leader of the Year. I am extremely proud and happy for both my agency and its CEO.”

     

    The ICCO Global PR Awards benchmark the finest excellence in PR, and is globally recognised by 33 PR trade associations across the world. This is an internationally recognised awards programme purely based on effectiveness, measurement, results and impact for the global PR industry.

     

  • Girish Balachandran appointed as Chief Strategy Officer, Neha Mehrotra and Shalmana Tendulkar as Regional Heads for Avian North & West respectively

    Avian Media rejigs leadership team

    By A Correspondent

     

    Avian Media has announced new roles for its leadership team as it prepares to take on new growth from existing and new clients.

     

    Girish Balachandran

    Girish Balachandran has been promoted as Chief Strategy Officer. In the last eight months at Avian Media he has held responsibility for marquee client relationships, winning new business and championing LEAP, an agency-wide, employee-led movement to build a culture of achieving unreasonable results. In his new role, Girish will continue building a growth roadmap for the agency including incubating newer business units – Digital & Content Marketing and CSR, Advocacy and Development sector work. Prior to joining Avian Media, Girish served as Europe, Middle East and Africa Client Development Director at Waggener Edstrom and worked with Ketchum as a Board Director in London.

     

    Neha Mehrotra

    Neha Mehrotra, an Avian Media veteran has been appointed as Regional Head for North. She is one of the first employees of Avian Media and recently completed 11 years with the company. Neha has helped build a robust team in Delhi looking after key clients across aviation and defense, consumer electronics, automotive and e-commerce among others. In her new role, Neha will be responsible for leading strategy and creating standards and processes to ensure a consistency in service for large Indian and multinational clients as well as manage operations for Avian Media in north India.

     

    Shalmana Tendulkar

    Shalmana Tendulkar, has taken the reins of Avian West as Regional Head. With over eighteen years’ experience, she joined Avian Media in Jan 2014 to lead its consumer practice out of Mumbai. In her new role, Shalmana will also oversee operations for Pune and Mumbai offices and ensure seamless quality in client servicing across its corporate, consumer, and technology and healthcare practices. Prior to Avian Media, Shalmana has worked at Genesis Burson Marsteller and as an independent communications consultant in India.

     

    Subramaniam M continues leading operations for Avian Media in the South as Regional Head of its business across offices in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.

     

    Commenting on the new structure, Avian Media CEO, Nitin Mantri said, “Brands in India are increasingly looking for agencies that can understand the role of communications within a broad stakeholder environment. By uniting our functions under single regional heads we’re bringing together the best mix of expertise and experience to bear on client challenges in an integrated way, beyond the silos of practices and functions. This new realignment will help us not only focus better to run the business and also integrate teams better within and across offices.”

     

    The firm continues to have Nikhil Khanna, MD and Nitin Mantri as CEO at its helm. In the last year, Avian Media won 48 new clients including BMW, Sony, BlaBlaCar and Sesame Workshop.

     

  • The PR mandate includes re-iterating and emphasizing Sony's business strengths and technology leadership

    Sony India appoints Avian Media to handle strategic communications

    By A Correspondent

     

    Avian Media has been awarded the PR mandate for Sony India. The development comes in the backdrop of a multi-agency pitch process held in New Delhi.

     

    It will be responsible for developing and managing strategic communications for the company. The PR mandate includes re-iterating and emphasizing Sony’s business strengths and technology leadership, as well as building online advocacy amongst the relevant stakeholders.

     

    Nitin Mantri

    Commenting on the new business win, Nitin Mantri, CEO, Avian Media said, “We have a diverse portfolio across industries and geographies. A new win in the space where our rich experience and expertise provides us a winning edge over competition will further augment and strengthen our position in the market. Working for a brand like Sony India is a great honor and it will amplify our capabilities with innovative planning and execution of successful campaigns for the brand.”

     

    Ryusuke Fukushima, Deputy General Manager Marketing Communications, Sony India said, “We look forward to work with Avian Media in successfully driving the strategic communications campaign in India.  We wanted a public relations partner which has a deep understanding of our sector and could support us strategically to meet our business goals.”