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Tag: Roger Darashah

  • New practice designed to bridge the worlds of innovation and civic society

    Adfactors PR launches ‘Frontier Technologies’ practice

    By A Correspondent

     

    Adfactors PR has launched a specialist offering, the Frontier Technologies practice, to address new and emerging technology sectors including artificial intelligence, big data, machine learning and nano technology.

     

    The offering will specifically serve the requirements and opportunities facing emerging technology companies, in addition to mainstream businesses deploying next-generation technologies such as Blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning and autonomous mobility across their operations.

     

    The practice will be led nationally by the firm’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Roger Darashah, supported by a team of specialists. In Mumbai, it will be led by Sandeep Ajgaonkar, Vice-President, Adfactors PR, who was formerly Senior General Manager, Digital & Direct Marketing at Sun Pharmaceutical and, earlier, Editor & Marketing Head for Express Computer Magazine. In Bengaluru, by T V Mahalingam, Senior Group Head and former National Technology Editor at The Economic Times and in Delhi by Priti Setia, Group Head, who recently joined the firm from Edelman where she was Co-Lead, Integration, Delhi. The practice will be supported by Adfactors PR’s extended team including data scientists, programmers and developers.

     

    Adfactors PR Co-Founder and Managing Director Madan Bahal explained that the practice reflected the distinct communications challenges facing companies incorporating and deploying emerging technologies: “In this field, technical understanding is a crucial but insufficient competence.  Communicators also need to be able to understand public sentiment – informed or otherwise, anticipate risks and opportunities, and navigate incomplete regulatory frameworks,” he noted.

     

    Added Darashah: “While such technologies are becoming increasingly complex and impenetrable to non-specialists, discussions about their impact are actually becoming more mainstream.  Today, the requirement for technologists to explain and address the societal implications of their offerings to broader audiences – customers, partners and employees as well as regulators – has never been more crucial.”

     

     

  • Darashah brings over 23 years of international communications experience to Adfactors PR

    Adfactors PR appoints Roger Darashah as COO

    By A Correspondent

     

    Roger Darashah, an international senior communications professional with stints in Europe, India and Brazil, has joined Adfactors PR as its Chief Operating Officer (COO).

     

    Darashah brings over 23 years of international communications experience to Adfactors PR. Most recently, he worked with Edelman as Executive Vice President – Technology & Global Business Director in Brazil.

     

    As Chief Operating Officer, Darashah’s role will be to ensure consistent and industry-leading levels of service across all client relationships. He will be also responsible for delivery of insight-based campaigns that drive results and support clients’ business objectives. In addition, he will support Adfactors PR’s globalisation initiatives – scale operations internationally as well as bring an international, best-practice approach to all aspects of client service in India.

     

    Said Madan Bahal, co-founder and Managing Director of Adfactors PR:  “We are proud to have someone of Roger’s calibre and perspective joining us. His global experience will strengthen our service offering and as we embark on launching new Practices to fill the void in the Indian market place.”

     

    On his new role, Darashah commented, “I am excited to be here at Adfactors PR. The consultancy has all the right ingredients to attain a leadership position in the Asian public relations industry and beyond. The Indian market’s growth and potential provides an excellent platform from which to scale a global, integrated offering to support clients looking for a truly global approach. And, with its current market leading position and ambitions, it is an opportunity which Adfactors PR is wonderfully positioned to realise.”

     

    Darashah started his career with Weber Shandwick in London in 1993. His other stints include Managing Director of Hotwire Paris, where he established the boutique agency as among the top three tech agencies in France. In 2008, he moved to Spain to join Edelman as Deputy Managing Director (Europe). He also served as Director for Rediffusion/Edelman managing the Tata Group mandate in India during 2012-15.