MxMIndia

Tag: Prema Sagar

  • New national mandate covers Corporate, CSR, Products and Services

    Genesis BCW to manage PR of Maruti Suzuki

    By A Correspondent

     

    Genesis BCW has announced its appointment as agency of record for Maruti Suzuki India Limited. The agency will work with Maruti Suzuki to enhance its local brand image and create positive impact across corporate, products and services, as well as its CSR portfolios.

     

    “We are happy to welcome Genesis BCW as our new communications partner and look forward to a positive and successful partnership,” said Sanjeev Handa, Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications, Maruti Suzuki India Limited. “With the breadth and depth of their expertise in handling cross category corporates and brand image for clients, we are confident about their ability to deliver strategic communications that align with our business objectives.”

     

    Added Prema Sagar, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Genesis BCW: “Over three decades ago, Maruti Suzuki revolutionised the four-wheeler industry in India and it continues to build on its legacy today with the largest market share and a diverse portfolio of premium cars, providing customers with great value for their money,” “We are delighted to have the opportunity to take that story forward. Our team is ready to push the boundaries of creativity, agility and imagination to deliver impact for Maruti Suzuki.”

     

     

  • The rebranding follows the February 2018 merger of Burson-Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe to form BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe)

    Genesis Burson-Marsteller rebrands as Genesis BCW

    By A Correspondent

     

    Genesis Burson-Marsteller in India has announced its formal rebranding as Genesis BCW, effective immediately. The rebranding follows the February 2018 merger of Burson-Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe to form BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe).

     

    Said Prema Sagar, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Genesis BCW: “We are excited to take on the BCW brand proposition as part of our new identity. The respect, credibility and leadership that brand Genesis has established in India will only grow further with the vision, energy and fresh offerings of BCW. We are incredibly excited for this next chapter.”

     

    Genesis BCW will continue to be led by Sagar along with newly appointed Managing Director Deepshikha Dharmaraj.

     

    Added Matt Stafford, President, Asia-Pacific, BCW, to whom Sagar reports: “In India, the Genesis brand is synonymous with PR excellence and as an employer of choice for up and coming communicators. The brand will continue to thrive and resonate in our industry as Genesis BCW. Our India team is on a roll. The end of year financial results for 2018 have just been finalised and Genesis BCW achieved its highest annual revenue growth in its 26 years of existence.”

     

     

  • As a part of this partnership, client servicing teams at Hill+Knowlton Strategies will get better media analytics tools

    H+K announces strategic partnership with Impact Research & Measurement

    By A Correspondent

     

    Leading public relations firm Hill+Knowlton Strategies has announced a strategic partnership with specialist news monitoring and analysis services company – Impact Research & Measurement to deliver media research and monitoring services for the India market.

     

    Notes a communique: “Not only will Impact service all of H+K Strategies’ current clients, Impact will also be the preferred partner for media analytics requirements of all future clients signed up by H+K Strategies. Effective October 1, 2018, The Resource Center (TRC), will cease to offer media monitoring and analysis services to clients. All team members of TRC which was an internal division of H+K Strategies have already been offered new roles at Impact.”

     

    Interestingly, WPP via Kantar (and TAM) has 50 per cent ownership of Eikona which is also in a similar space. That the WPP-owned H+K Strategies has aligned with Impact and not Eikona and also junked ops of TRC assumes significance. Eikona of course doesn’t offer daily monitoring service, but that an observer noted could’ve been acquired with the resources from TRC. The move also assumes significance given that WPP is attempting to consolidate its functional business and shed extra flab in the system.

     

    Impact, incidentally, has as per unverified data thrown up by company registration information site Zaubacorp, Prema Sagar, senior PR professional Ashwani Singla and Impact Research & Measurement CEO Aseem Sood as its Directors. Sagar runs Genesis Burson Marsteller in India and as per a communique we had received on Rao’s appointment earlier this year, we were informed that Sagar would also be an adviser and mentor to H+K Strategies.

     

    Kavita Rao

    Meanwhile, speaking about the partnership, Kavita Rao, President & CEO – Hill+Knowlton Strategies- India, said: “Data and analytics is an important part of all communication campaigns. This partnership enables H+K Strategies and its clients access to advanced tools, analyses and insights to help run communication campaigns better. With our teams having a strong understanding of our clients’ requirements and Impact offering the best-in-class tools based on latest technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning, this partnership will enable us to offer better business outcomes for our clients. We are thrilled to partner with Impact Research & Measurement to provide our clients a truly integrated and enhanced level of service.”

     

    Aseem Sood

    Added Sood in a communique: “Clients are no longer interested in just understanding how they did in the past. They want to use data and analysis to understand what could be done better and differently to achieve better success in the future. They also want to make sense of news and trends in a faster and better way. Impact has always been a pioneer – with several firsts in the news monitoring and analysis business industry. We were the first to introduce same-day multi-city monitoring, online repository, real-time dashboards and a mobile app. We are continuing to improve our services and features with investments in news technologies (AI and machine learning). Given the volume of noise out there, it becomes very important to scope the need and use the right charts and visuals to present research results. And this needs to be done in a way that relates to the client’s communication objectives as closely as possible. Our partnership with Hill+Knowlton Strategies will enable them to deliver impactful campaigns for their clients.”

     

     

  • GBM will manage PR and digital communications for its corporate brand as well as products and services

    Genesis Burson-Marstellar wins Tata SkyPR mandate

    By A Correspondent

     

    Genesis Burson-Marsteller(GBM) has won the mandate to handle public relations for the leading content distribution platform providing Pay TV and OTT services, Tata Sky Ltd. Adfactors Public Relations was the incumbent agency.

     

    Interestingly, Adfactors has been mandated with most of the Tata group business, but this jv with Sky has exited the mandate. Also, while GBM handles the bulk of the Zee group mandate, but not Dish TV, the group’s DTH business.

     

    Said Chief Communications Officer of Tata Sky Ltd, Malay Dikshit:  “We are looking forward to having Genesis Burson-Marsteller as our communications partner with their expertise in handling corporate and brand image. We are confident about their ability to deliver well planned strategic communications that align with our business objectives.”

     

    Speaking on the win, Prema Sagar, Vice Chair, Burson-Marsteller Asia Pacific & Principal/Founder, Genesis Burson-Marsteller, added: “Tata Sky Ltd. has done well to dominate the entertainment and broadcasting industry since its launch in 2006. Today, Tata Sky is a household phenomenon when it comes to high resolution Pay TV services. We are delighted to be a part of Tata Sky’s journey in managing the strategic communications of their corporate brand, products and services. With committed teams that constantly endeavour to push boundaries, our strength is driven by evidence, results and ideas. I am sure that this partnership will help further solidify Tata Sky’s reputation in India.”

     

     

  • Prema Sagar will continue to serve as an advisor and mentor in India

    Hill+Knowlton Strategies announces leadership change in India

    By A Correspondent

     

    Kavita Rao

    H+K Strategies has announced that Kavita Rao has been named Interim Chief Executive of H+K Strategies India, effective immediately. Current India CEO, Chetan Mahajan is leaving to pursue personal interests.

     

    Commenting on the executive shift, Jack Martin, Global Executive Chairman and CEO, said: “We welcome Kavita Rao, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the areas of Strategic Public Relations and Corporate Communications. Kavita will be working closely with me and my team as she moves our India operation forward.”

     

    “To achieve success in today’s business environment,” Martin continued, “companies must look beyond traditional sources of insight and advice. At Hill+Knowlton, we believe in the importance of the public; we also understand how to use this powerful platform to leverage our wisdom in clear and actionable ways – regarding management, finance, law and other core areas of interest to our clients.”

     

    Regarding India, one of the largest and most dynamic communications markets in the world, Martin said: “We believe that we have the knowledge and the expertise to play a significant role in India, and Kavita is joining us at a very interesting time in terms of our going-forward prospects. In recognition, Kavita will be working directly with me over the next few months to deliver on our shared vision for H+K in India.”

     

    Prema Sagar

    “I also want to acknowledge and personally thank Prema Sagar, Vice Chair, Burson-Marsteller Asia Pacific & Principal/Founder of Genesis Burson-Marsteller, who has played a key role during this transition,” Martin added.

     

    Sagar will continue to serve as an advisor and mentor in India.

     

     

  • Genesis Foundation works towards supporting the treatment of critically ill, under-privileged children with heart disorders

    Genesis announces 18th edition of CEOs Sing for GF Kids on June 17

     

     

    The 18th edition of Genesis Foundation’s CEOs Sing for GF Kids will be held on Saturday, June 17 in Mumbai. The rehearsals are on in full swin and corporate leaders are getting set to take the stage by a storm.

     

    Genesis Foundation works towards supporting the treatment of critically ill, under-privileged children with heart disorders. Corporate leaders from across the spectrum of industries come together every year to support and help raise funds for the cause. The line-up for this year’s edition of CEOs Sing For GF Kids is:

    :: Dennis Taraporewala, Managing Director, Criesse Communications
    :: Geetu Verma, Exec-Director, Hindustan Unilever
    :: Vinit Store, CEO, The Quadron Business Park
    :: V Vaidyanathan, Chairman, Capital First
    :: Kerman Lalkaka, GM, ITC, Grand Central, Mumbai
    :: Dinesh Mirchandani, Managing Partner, Boyden
    :: Subhash Kamath, Managing Partner, BBH India
    :: VinodiniLulla, Trustee, CMCA
    :: Ashwin Deo, MD, Trinity Vintners
    :: Mehmood Curmally, MD, Rhythm House
    :: Kuldeep Bhartee, GM, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
    :: Ramesh Iyer, Vice-chairman, MD & President, Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd.

     

    Speaking about the event, Prema Sagar, Founder, Genesis Foundation said: “I am grateful to each of these lovely friends and leaders who volunteer for this cause. We are overwhelmed by the encouragement we get each year. Some of these CEOs have been with us for the past 16 years with as much enthusiasm as they had in the first year, and their music and talent always leaves us spellbound. It’s truly a great feeling. The support of these leaders is invaluable in our endeavour to raise funds for the little hearts who need them.”

     

  • Telecom and technology splits into focused Consumer Technology and Enterprise Technology practices

    Genesis Burson-Marsteller adds new specialised practices

    By A Correspondent

     

    With a continuous endeavour to address evolving client needs, Genesis Burson-Marsteller has announced an expansion in its public relations practices. The Telecom and Technology practice has been bifurcated into ‘Consumer Technology’ and ‘Enterprise Technology’. Growing the canvas, Sports and Entertainment sector get focus with renaming the Brand and Consumer practice to ‘Brands, Sports and Entertainment’. The other practices continue as Corporate and Financial and Health and Wellness.

     

    The consultancy also announced the appointment of new India Practice Chairs (IPC) – Piyal Banerjee for Consumer Technology, Shivaram Lakshminarayan for Enterprise Technology and Dolly Tayal for Brands, Sports and Entertainment respectively.

     

    Said Prema Sagar, Vice Chair, Burson-Marsteller Asia Pacific & Founder, Genesis Burson-Marsteller: “Over the past 25 years, Genesis Burson-Marsteller has pushed boundaries and pioneered ways to add value and build strong partnerships with our clients. With the communications landscape fast evolving and the sports, entertainment and technology industries clocking in positive growth, we are happy to be ahead of the curve by offering in-depth domain knowledge and insights to our clients through our five specialised practices.”

     

    “We are proud of Piyal Banerjee, IPC for the Consumer Technology practice and Shivaram Lakshminarayan for taking on the mantle of Enterprise Technology practice. They have been a key part of our journey and I wish them all the very best in their new roles. We also welcome back to the Genesis Burson-Marsteller family Dolly Tayal to lead Brands, Sports and Entertainment,” she added.

     

  • Prema Sagar, Founder of Genesis Burson-Marsteller and Vice Chair, Burson Marsteller Asia Pacific on Harold Burson, Founding Chairman of Burson-Marsteller, as he turns 96 today (Feb 16)

    Prema Sagar on Harold Burson@96: Harold has been and is our Idol

    Harold Burson. Picture courtesy www.burson-marsteller.com

     

    Special to MxMIndia: Prema Sagar, Founder of Genesis Burson-Marsteller and Vice Chair, Burson Marsteller Asia Pacific writes on Harold Burson, Founding Chairman of Burson-Marsteller, as he turns 96 today (Feb 16)


    By Prema Sagar

    People variously describe him as the godfather of public relations, the grandmaster of PR, “the century’s most influential PR figure”, “an industry icon”, and so on. He is all that, of course. But for me, even if you forget about all the professional achievements, Harold is an inspiring man with boundless energy—a personal idol. Every time I feel tired or overwhelmed by everything around me, I just have to remind myself that here is a 96-year-young man who goes to work every day. Clients still turn to Harold for counsel even in the age of dizzying changes in communication. Who is an active member of the community, chairing various social development bodies and initiatives? Who remembers every person he comes across and doesn’t hesitate to learn from anyone?

    I first met Harold way back in the first couple of years of the new millennium. He was already past the usual ‘retirement age’. We were in talks with Burson-Marsteller over an issue that a joint venture between an Indian and an American firm had. We were managing the Indian firm, while Burson-Marsteller was managing the American firm. As we worked together, we realised that nine of our clients were part of their Top 20 list of clients! I also realised that our way of working, and most importantly, our work ethos, were very similar.

    It all stemmed from Harold’s own work ethic. That’s when I knew that we wanted to partner with them for longer than just the immediate issue. I went to the US and met Harold for the first time. He just said one thing: “We need to do business together to be partners, not just have a partnership.” His clarity of thought, passion for what he does, and exuberant warmth had me in his thrall in no time. Bill Rylance, former CEO, Burson-Marsteller Asia Pacific charmed us in partnering with an exclusive affiliation and over time realised that the partnership was working well. And then we decided to go ahead with being part of Burson-Marsteller.

    Every year since then, I meet Harold as often as I can. I see the energy in him only increase further. I spent many hours with him recently in New York and I continue to feel blessed with his simple yet impactful thoughts.  His ability to cut through the clutter and arrive at the heart of the matter quickly—and politely—is something I admire a lot. And that sharpness has not dimmed a bit over the years.

     

    Prema Sagar

     

    One of the leading lights of the Indian public relations and communications industry, Prema Sagar is Vice Chair, Burson Marsteller Asia Pacific & Founder, Genesis Burson Marsteller

     

    Also watch: Prema Sagar on ‘When Genesis PR met Burson-Marsteller’

     

  • … of critically ill under-privileged children in the areas of heart, cancer & thalassaemia, conducted by the Genesis Foundation (text+video)

    CEOs sing a song in support…

     

    Genesis Foundation held the second edition of its one-of-a-kind fundraiser – 40 CEOs Sing for GF Kids, in Mumbai last Saturday. Business leaders from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru came together once again to compete as teams, singing old, new, Hindi and English songs, to support the treatment of critically ill under-privileged children in the areas of heart, cancer and thalassaemia.

     

    The Delhi team, comprising CEOs from Jubilant Foodworks, SAP, iBus Network, Global Access Learning Solutions, Cargill India, Napino Auto and Electronics, Modern Foods and McKinsey were announced winners. The performances were evaluated by Zila Khan, Indian Sufi and classical singer, Lesle Lewis, Indian and Western fusion singer, and Ashish Manchanda, accomplisthed mixing and recording engineer, remixer and music producer.

     

    Speaking at the event, Prema Sagar, Founder Trustee, Genesis Foundation expressed her gratitude and delight, “A delightful event with every person giving their time, effort and best wishes to support critically ill children. What more can one ask for! Just like last year, I am amazed at the commitment that our CEO supporters have for the cause to come all the way from different parts of India to participate in this event. It has been an incredible year for us and I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to each person associated with not just tonight’s event but with the Foundation in any big or small way. The task at hand is huge, but our supporters give us the reassurance that it’s not impossible.”

     

    In keeping with the Genesis Foundation’s core to build a participatory culture of giving, musically inclined CEOs come together each year to raise funds for the critically ill and underprivileged children. “Over the years, the CEOs Sing events have created a community of supporters who don’t just give their time to participate in the singing events, like tonight’s 40 CEOs Sing For GF Kids, but with their influence, they also inspire their colleagues and other people to give their support to the cause of Genesis Foundation,” said Jyoti Sagar, Founder Trustee, Genesis Foundation.

     

    We spoke with the Sagars and three industry captains.

     

    Prema Sagar, Founder Trustee, Genesis Foundation

    How has the journey of Genesis Foundation been so far?

    The journey has been quite long actually. Started working with children in orphanages and then it became about thalassaemia, cancer and heart and so we started expanding and it has expanded right across the country mostly, so it has gone particularly to the South, the West and the North.

     

    Having 40 CEOs singing for a cause

    The reason why we got into music is because we wanted the children to survive and be happy and not be serious about fund raising. A lot of CEOs are bathroom singers or dinner singers so we thought why not get them on the stage. This has been going on for a few years and its been exciting not only for them but for us as well. We all become like one family because we all know each other and we get together even when we are not doing an event.

     

    Dia Mirza’s association with the Foundation

    Dia is a wonderful wonderful wonderful person whether it is about environment or about children she really believes in it and so you know that what she is giving to the foundation is also fantastic for everybody else and so I don’t want somebody who is just a brand but somebody who is really part of it and that is what Dia is all about.

     

    Jyoti Sagar, Founder Trustee, Genesis Foundation

    The Genesis Foundation journey so far?

    First of all, a bit of what Genesis Foundation does is we provide or facilitate critical medical assistance to orphans and to children from underprivileged sections of the society which we define as families whose monthly income is Rs.10000 or less and there are three areas in which we work – heart, cancer and thalassaemia major. In the last six to seven years we have been much more active. So, the journey has been amazing. This September we crossed a milestone of 1000 children lives being saved and it’s been fantastic.

     

    CEOs participation in the fundraising event.

    We have used music as medium to reach out to our supporters at large and even for fund raising and the corporate engagement in that has been quite interesting because we discovered that there were many CEOs who are very talented in music. So it turned out to be a very wonderful combination because we ended up providing this platform for CEOs to come out of the closet, so to say and to come out and perform for a very good cause. We have been doing in cities individually in Gurgaon, Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. The CEOs sing event for last six years now and last year we started with this idea of getting teams from banalise, Mumbai and Delhi to perform together. This one is our second edition of the 40 CEOs sing for genesis foundation.

     

    How was the response about CEOs for singing for this cause ?

    All the CEOs that you see here perform today are very kind-hearted and generous people and they are very happy to give their time. In the beginning of course when we started the process there was reluctance not that they didn’t want to do it but the typical reluctance that you have for doing something different but these people are very very willing participants and very generous supporters. We are here in Mumbai and we have CEOs who have come all the way from Bangalore, who have come all the way from Delhi and Gurgaon and these people have not only given their time but have flown here, they are going to stay here overnight and go back tomorrow on a weekend. For us, its just their commitment and their generosity which really matters and its very gratifying to see all these people give so much time for the cause of the foundation.

     

    Geetu Verma, Executive Director Foods & Refreshments, Hindustan Unilever

    Association with Genesis Foundation:

    I have actually lost count of the number of years I have been associated with Genesis. I think ever since Genesis started this particular event I have been associated with Genesis and I feel fiercely proud about the association. I think it’s a symbiotic association and I think it’s an incredible way how Prema and the Genesis team have brought passion at one level along with purpose together in such a sweet spot and in a wonderful way.

     

    How much time do you give to social causes?

    There are two causes very close to my heart, one cause is to do with women and having more women in the workplace and thats something that I advocate and promote a lot in the course of my work and wherever I get opportunities outside my workplace as well. The second cause is children, there are two causes that I support, one is Genesis Foundation for kids and the other one is St. Jude child centres. Both of these are really for giving life to children and I think it works quite seamlessly. I give whatever time I can give, sometimes have spells which are extremely busy and sometimes it’s a bit leaner but irrespective I think whatever I am able to do it gives me a lot of satisfaction.

     

    How was the experience of singing and your view on the need to unwind?

    I think everybody needs to have some creative outlet. You could be a painter, you could be a singer, you could play an instrument and I think it’s the best way to destress. I have had days which have been extremely tuff but when you come back in the evening and you switch on your own, whether its Kishor Kumar music or Sinatra and you can just sit back and chill you get transported to a different world. I love music. Music is god, music is life for me. So having opportunities like these are not something that I would ever pass out.

     

    Shireesh Joshi, COO, Strategic Marketing, Godrej Group

    Association with Genesis Foundation:

    I have been associated with Genesis Foundation and their CEO event right from the time they started back in Gurgaon in 2010. I have had the honour and pleasure of being with them in Delhi events, in Mumbai events, in Bangalore events and its been awesome trying to give back to the cause and the support through music which is my first love as well. So it’s the best of everything. A chance to give and a chance to have great fun in music with friends you love being with.

     

    How much time do you give to social causes?

    Well I have not kept count and most of the ones that I have done have of course been with Genesis and there have been quite a few over the years. So six years and counting. So yeah, I have done quite a few with them and I have managed to do a few others as well.

     

    How was the experience of singing and your view on the need to unwind?

    Many CEOs that I know have some hobby or the other. A lot of them have singing as a hobby but others have other things to do. Some paint, some write, I know people who publish books quite a bit. So people manage to do everything they love with passion no matter what or how responsible position they are in and I think if you do that it makes you do best for both. You get to be a better writer, musician or a sportsperson and you get to be a better geo because you are able to express yourself much better.

     

    Sanjiv Sarin, Managing Director & CEO, Tata Coffee

    Association with Genesis Foundation:

    I first got introduced with them because of what they have put together which I think is an awesome platform. Everybody has a brilliant time and yet is going for a good cause and over a period of time  I have seen the kind of work they are doing. I think its moved from entertainment to really appreciate and understand the depth of work that genesis has been doing.

     

    How much time do you give to social causes?

    I am actually pretty deeply involved with the Art of Living foundation. I am a corporate teacher with them and I am also involved with social projects. So it’s not that it’s only genesis foundation. Genesis is contributing of my time to somebody who is doing all this but I do tend to spend as much time as I can juggling work life and putting back to society.

     

    How was the experience of singing and your view on the need to unwind?

    I think it’s exceedingly important. One is besides the work that genesis is doing, each of the CEOs here for one day believes they can become a rockstar which I think is awesome and having been through a little bit of training and getting ready for this entire thing just shuts you off and puts you in a creative space which I think is absolutely critical for anybody right now.

     

  • The 2016 conference will be bringing together more than 24 dynamic speakers from across India and the world under one roof

    TEDxGateway partners with Genesis Burson-Marsteller for fourth consec year

    By A Correspondent

     

    The seventh edition of TEDxGateway will be held on December 4 in Mumbai and will feature an interesting line-up of speakers. A nanotechnologist, a 12-year-old singing prodigy, a microscopist, a global artist and photographer, a social media intelligence CEO, an augmented reality futurist, a quantum researcher, a peace activist, young innovators and scientists will tell their inspiring stories to a live audience of over 1300 and many more across the world through live-streaming.

     

    To amplify the TEDx platform and to showcase its electric line-up of speakers and their inspiring stories, Genesis Burson-Marsteller is collaborating with TEDxGateway as its official communications partner. This partnership marks Genesis Burson-Marsteller’s fourth year of association with the TEDxGateway platform, having successfully popularised the main event held last year as well as the first ever TEDxGatewayWomen held in early 2015.

     

    Celebrating TED’s mission, “Ideas Worth Spreading”, the TEDxGateway 2016 conference will be bringing together more than 24 dynamic speakers from across India and the world under one roof.

     

    On partnering with TEDxGateway 2016, Prema Sagar, Vice Chair, Burson-Marsteller, Asia-Pacific and Principal Founder, Genesis Burson-Marsteller, said: “TED is universally celebrated as a unique platform bringing to fore some of the most brilliant minds in the world, and TEDxGateway has been successfully bringing that experience to India year after year. It is a privilege for Genesis Burson-Marsteller to be associated with a platform like TEDxGateway and provide our support for creating a social movement.”

     

    Yashraj S Akashi, Curator of TEDxGateway and Senior Ambassador of TEDx in India said, “It gives me immense pleasure to continue our partnership with Genesis Burson-Marsteller for the fourth year and gives us confidence that we are building right kind of profile and communication for this seventh edition of TEDxGateway. We believe Prema Sagar and Genesis Burson-Marsteller not only bring the best communication expertise to the table but also help us define the essence of TEDxGateway’s journey in India.”

     

  • 'Music for a Cause', includes a series of unique, participative musical events where people come together to indulge in their love for music, while contributing to a cause

    ‘Music for a Cause’ campaign wins at 2016 Asia Pacific Excellence awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    Genesis Burson-Marsteller’s integrated communications campaign for Genesis Foundation has won top honours at the 2016 Asia Pacific Excellence Awards. The campaign has been adjudged as a winner in the Non-Government Organisation category of the awards, which recognise outstanding achievement in the field of Public Relations and Communications.

     

    Genesis Foundation, a not-for-profit, has been raising funds for the treatment of critically ill under-privileged children. Prema Sagar is a Founder Trustee with the Foundation and has been actively involved to provide access to world-class medical care for abandoned and underprivileged children facing life-threatening ailments in the area of cancer, heart, thalassemia, organ failure and extreme deformities. Genesis Burson-Marsteller’s integrated communication campaign, ‘Music for a Cause’, includes a series of unique, participative musical events where people come together to indulge in their love for music, while contributing to a cause.

     

    Prema Sagar, Vice Chair, Burson-Marsteller, Asia Pacific & Principal/Founder, Genesis Burson-Marsteller, Genesis Burson-Marsteller, said, “It’s a great feeling to realise that our work is directly contributing by providing critical medical intervention to these children and giving them a chance to live. This campaign has provided more people with the opportunity of knowing about the Foundation’s work. To win industry awards over and above this, is fantastic. On behalf of the entire Genesis Foundation and the Genesis Burson-Marsteller team, my colleagues and I am extremely thankful for this honour.”

     

  • Nikhil Dey will continue to play a key role overseeing the firm’s client growth strategy in addition to scaling up the recently launched Centres of Expertise

    Genesis Burson-Marsteller announces leadership appointments for 2016

    By A Correspondent

     

    Genesis Burson-Marsteller has announced senior leadership appointments, which will be effective from January 1, 2016.

     

    Nikhil Dey is now President, Public Relations & Public Affairs. He will continue to play a key role overseeing the firm’s client growth strategy in addition to scaling up the recently launched Centres of Expertise and will now also focus on mentoring the public affairs business.

     

    Atul Sharma has been promoted as Chief Operating Officer and will now be a part of the India Management Team at Genesis Burson-Marsteller. Having spent over twelve years at Genesis Burson-Marsteller, Atul has counseled diverse businesses, Indian and multinational, on corporate reputation and brand reputation programmes. In his new role, Atul will focus on improving the operational excellence of the firm while continuing to serve as India Practice Chair, Telecom & Technology.

     

    Vandana Sandhir, currently India Practice Chair, Corporate & Financial, is moving to a new leadership role in the WPP network after ten years with the firm. Sanjay Arora, who has been with the firm for over six years, will take on the India Practice Chair role from Vandana. With a total of sixteen years of experience, Sanjay has led corporate reputation management campaigns for many of the firm’s Fortune 500 companies. As the India Practice Chair, Sanjay will be responsible for ensuring business growth of the Corporate & Financial business in line with the firm’s strategy, providing leadership and guidance to the teams to ensure high quality of service delivery and customer satisfaction.

     

    Former journalist Ajit Sahi, who joined the firm last year as Director, Thought Leadership will now take on the mandate of Public Affair. With nearly three decades of in-depth and extensive experience in journalism, ranging from being an investigative reporter to heading newsrooms at TV news stations, newsmagazines, news agencies and newspapers, Ajit brings with him a thorough understanding of the Indian and international political environment. This experience is crucial as the requirements of clients pertaining to government relations, advocacy and stakeholder outreach continue to grow with the maturing of the regulatory and compliance environment in India.

     

    As the firm is strengthening its focus on the Technology domain, it will now have two separate leaders driving Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B) Technology domains in 2016. Piyal Banerjee and Shivaram Lakshminarayan have been appointed as the new domain leads.

     

    Piyal will be Managing Partner with a focus on B2C Telecom & Technology Practice, nationally, as it is a fast-growing area. In addition, she also takes on the mantle of Business Leader, Step Up, a unique offering focused towards helping start-ups to take the next leap by narrating their story through creative communication campaigns. With over twelve years of experience, Piyal has brand and corporate communications experience across top Asian markets including India, China, Malaysia and Singapore. She brings strong leadership skills to this new position given her credentials in the Consumer Technology space. Piyal will continue to co-anchor the Corporate & Financial Practice for West.

     

    An old Genesis Burson-Marsteller hand, Shivaram has been with the firm in Bengaluru for over a decade and has served as the technology lead in the southern markets. Shivaram will now be the Head of the B2B vertical of the Telecom & Technology Practice, nationally, given his strong credentials in the IT & ITeS space. In addition, Shivaram is also taking over the stewardship of the Corporate & Financial Practice for South and will be working closely with Sanjay Arora.

     

    Prema Sagar, Vice Chair, Burson-Marsteller, Asia Pacific & Principal/Founder said, “Over the last twelve months, the consultancy has reinvented itself into a new-age communications firm to meet the growing requirements of our clients. As the year draws to a close, I am happy about the great leaps we have taken in 2015 and excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. To support the continuing growth of our firm in 2016, we are promoting our talented and experienced leaders who have demonstrated that they make a difference to our clients business. I am confident that these leaders will further strengthen our India leadership team.”