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Tag: Nitin Mantri

  • The association will also promote SCoRe among its members, other stakeholders and public at large

    SCoRe gets PRCAI endorsement, both to collaborate

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Indian School of COmmunications and REputation (SCoRe), India’s first school of Strategic Communications located in Gurgaon and the Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) formally announced a collaboration. By way of the collaboration, PRCAI has formally endorsed the programme offered by SCoRe making it the only Public Relations programme in the country endorsed by the association. The association will also promote SCoRe among its members, other stakeholders and public at large.

     

    Nitin Mantri, President, Public Relations Consultants Association of India said “I am very excited to announce our partnership with India’s first school dedicated to Public Relations. The launch of a Public Relations school was the need of the hour for the industry, as there is a huge scarcity for young and well-rounded talent in our profession. We hope that SCoRe will fill this gap and the communications profession will be able to benefit from this initiative in the long run.”

     

    As a part of the collaboration, the PRCAI President will be the ex-officio member of the Advisory Board. At least four representatives from PRCAI member firms will be part of the Academic Council. There will be two PRCAI scholarships, where the seats are offered at half the fee.

     

    Amith Prabhu

    Amith Prabhu, Founding Dean, SCoRe said, “It is great to be supported by the only Public Relations Association of India that represents consulting firms. As the first post-graduate school of Public Relations we have a responsibility to offer a high quality programme. We are fortunate to have the backing of PRCAI. We hope this collaboration stands the test of time and we are able to deliver best in class talent in the coming years.”

     

    SCoRe was launched earlier this year and will commence its first batch in July. Admissions to the 10 month full-time programme are open. The school will have a focus on corporate communications and political communications. The school is governed by an advisory board and an academic council.

     

    PRCAI is the association of the leading PR consultancies in India. It consists of various chapters and has over 20 member firms.

     

  • Mantri moves from Vice President to President of PRCAI

    Nitin Mantri appointed President of PRCAI

    By A Correspondent

     

    Nitin Mantri

    The Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) has appointed Nitin Mantri, CEO and Managing Partner, Avian Media, as President till May 2016 when the term of the present Managing Committee ends. Mantri moves from Vice President to President of PRCAI.

     

    The decision was taken by the Managing Committee members after present incumbent Sharif D Rangnekar, CEO and Director of Integral PR, stepped down from the position of President.

     

    On being appointed President, Mantri said:  “Sharif (Rangnekar) in last three years has done some great work for the industry and I hope to continue the momentum. PRCAI is a fantastic organisation. I have enjoyed a long and fruitful association with it. In my role as President, I will continue to underline the importance of high professional standards, support communications professionals across the country and try to improve the public perception of public relations.”

     

    Mantri has been in the public relations industry for over 19 years. He has been one of the most visible proponents of a common code of conduct for the industry in India. To increase awareness about the profession at the grassroot level and stimulate the learning process, he regularly delivers lectures at prominent mass communication colleges in the country.

     

  • Girish will work closely with the leadership team at Avian Media to further align and strengthen company’s operations in India

    Girish Balachandran joins Avian Media

    By A Correspondent

     

    Girish Balachandran

    Avian Media has announced the appointment of Girish Balachandran as National Head of Marketing and Group Business Director. In his new role, Balachandran will lead the agency’s business development and marketing efforts across India while advising clients on their communication strategy. Girish will work closely with the leadership team at Avian Media to further align and strengthen company’s operations in India, thereby driving growth and profitability for the firm.

     

    Nitin Mantri, CEO, Avian Media, said, “Over the past few years, Avian Media has achieved steady growth as we focused on adding more marquee businesses to our client portfolio across centres. The company has grown rapidly in the last ten years and the time has come for our next big leap. Girish will initiate a new marketing drive for Avian as well as manage key client relationships. With his vast experience and business expertise, we aim to further strengthen our capabilities to become India’s Most Trusted Advocacy Firm by 2025.”

     

    An industry veteran with over 14 years of international experience in business development and marketing communication, Balachandran returned to India after 9 years in the UK and 3 years in the Middle East. In 2011, Girish was appointed as a Board Director at Ketchum UK to lead the firm’s business development and oversee key account growth for Oracle. In his six years of employment with Omnicom agencies, Pleon and Ketchum from 2006 – 2012, he served as a core member of the leadership teams responsible for growing the business, developing new offerings in change communications, field marketing and digital consulting.

     

  • The association re-elected Sharif D Rangnekar, CEO & Director, Integral PR, for the post of President

    PRCAI elects new committee; Sharif Rangnekar continues term as President

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) has elected a new management committee and regional chapter heads for 2014-2016.

     

    The association re-elected Sharif D Rangnekar, CEO & Director, Integral PR, for the post of President. Nitin Mantri, CEO, Avian Media, was elected as Vice-President and Jaideep Shergill, CEO, MSL India, as Secretary.

     

    As part of its national outreach, the regional chapter heads elected are Pulkit Srivastava, Director, Perfect Relations, as Chairperson, North; Julie Joseph, Vice-President, Technology Vertical, The Practice as Chairperson, South; Madhuri Sen, MD, Waggener Edstrom, as Chairperson, West; and Basav Bhattacharya, Strategic Consultant, Integral PR as Chairperson, East.

     

    Commenting on being re-elected President, Mr Rangnekar said: “The dynamics of communications are changing at a very fast pace. The PR industry continues to gain prominence as demand for credible branding, positioning and communications is growing rapidly. In a scenario such as this, the industry association intends to underline the importance of good work, our role and ethics. We, at PRCAI intend to take these factors seriously to our stakeholders, and address these on top priority.”

     

  • The agency appoints Mehul Mehta as Group Business Director to spearhead vertical

    Avian Media launches financial communications practice

    By A Correspondent

     

    PR firm Avian Media has launched a specialized financial communications practice. It has appointed Mehul Mehta  as the Group Business Director to head the vertical.

     

    Nitin Mantri

    Said Nitin Mantri, CEO and Business Partner, Avian Media: “The setting up of a dedicated financial communications practice is a logical and strategic next step for us. The new initiative leverages Avian Media’s expertise and experience, including deep and varied industry knowledge, to offer clients innovative and result-oriented strategic communications campaigns. We are delighted to welcome Mehul on board to spearhead this exciting new vertical. His extensive experience in the IR and BFSI sector coupled with our experience in corporate PR, ideally positions this practice for growth and success.”

     

    A chartered accountant by qualification, Mr Mehta has worked with many communications firms in the recent past. He was last with Penn Schoen Berland, ValueSmith Consulting (which he founded), Adfactors PR and Tatva Public Relations.

     

    Commenting on his appointment, Mr Mehta, said, “I look forward to developing and growing Avian Media’s financial services offering. BFSI companies need fresh thinking and strategic counselling while communicating with different set of stakeholders. Building on from Avian Media’s extensive expertise across various sectors, through this new offering, we hope to bring clients, deep insights and result-oriented financial communications campaigns.”

     

  • Avian Media has launched its Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability practice, in another step to establish itself as a full service communications agency and strengthen its existing portfolio of services

    Corporate responsibility to drive future growth at Avian Media

    By A Correspondent

     

    Avian Media, a specialist communications consultancy, officially launched its Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability practice. This is another step by the firm to establish itself as a full service communications agency and strengthen its existing portfolio of services for its clients.

     

    Nitin Mantri, CEO, Avian Media said, “As we grow and expand our business, we will make investments that would enable us to enhance the value proposition for our clients and drive growth of the company. Today our clients have turned to us for help in understanding their strengths in community relations, enhance their corporate reputation and reach the right stakeholders. We are confident, that with our experience and guidance from our social advisory board, the firm will be able to build and implement successful CSR programmes for its clients.”

     

    Avian Media is an eight-year-old company with offices across five cities in India.

     

    About Avian Media:

    Avian Media is a specialist communications consultancy that drives its reputation from delivering high quality Public Relations. We conceptualize, build and implement communications programme that provide our clients with a sustainable competitive advantage, far exceeding what is delivered by others today in the market. We are committed to our clients’ success and like to measure our success with their business growth. We are a passionate team of people who are dedicated to deliver the highest quality in what we do, thus giving Avian Media enviable reputation in the market.

     

    For further information, please contact:

    Asha Gopal/ 9769917314/ asha@avian-media.com

    Somdatta Sen/9833596410/ somdatta@avian-media.com

     

     

  • 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.