Welcome to the inaugural episode of our podcast series, where we delve into "The Art of Staying Relevant." In today's fast-paced, ever-evolving world, staying relevant is more crucial than ever, both personally and professionally. To kick off this exciting journey, we have a distinguished guest with us, Ajey Maharaj, the Head of Corporate Communications at Fortis Healthcare. With over 24 years of rich experience in the power and telecom sectors, Ajey brings a treasure trove of strategic insights and a relentless commitment to excellence in communication.Before his tenure at Fortis Healthcare, Ajey held significant positions at renowned companies such as Bharti Tele Ventures, Reliance Energy, and Tata Power Delhi Distribution. Today, we have the privilege of exploring his remarkable journey, his strategic approach to communications, and his insights on staying relevant in today's dynamic environment.Exploring Relevance: Personal and Professional PerspectivesStarting off, we discuss what the term 'relevance' means to him. Ajey believes that relevance is synonymous with continuous growth and adaptability. In a world that is constantly evolving, staying relevant means being able to adapt to the myriad changes around us. Over the past few years, we've witnessed a digital revolution, compelling us to embrace new technologies and trends. Ajey emphasizes the importance of being agile and receptive to these transformations to maintain relevance.For Ajey Maharaj, the mantra for staying relevant in the ecosystem is "continuous learning and adaptability." He asserts that learning should be a lifelong endeavor. By staying curious and proactive, we can navigate the ever-changing landscape effectively and maintain our relevance.Ajey's career, spanning over 25 years, has witnessed tremendous changes. From the era of fax machines to the advent of computers and digital communication, he has seen various transformations. Each sector has imparted valuable lessons in strategic planning, business development, team management, and crisis management. The key takeaway, according to Ajey, is the ability to adapt to these changes and leverage them for growth.Ajey's extensive background across different sectors has equipped him with a broad perspective and a versatile skill set. He believes that while deep expertise in specific areas is valuable, a diverse background fosters adaptability and a more comprehensive understanding of the business landscape.Join us as we delve deeper into these fascinating topics and gain valuable insights from Ajey Maharaj's extensive experience and strategic vision. This is just the beginning of our journey into understanding "The Art of Staying Relevant." Stay tuned for more enlightening episodes!<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8dAPOdfSChs?si=ZpMuX5BX2oJcMZoN" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Media Corridors, Public Relations & Online Reputation Management agency, has been appointed by Incuspaze, a leading managed office space provider, as its communications and public relations partner in India. This strategic partnership aims to amplify Incuspaze’s brand presence and enhance its visibility in the dynamic real estate and managed office industry. Incuspaze has revolutionized the way professionals and businesses operate by providing state-of-the-art, flexible workspaces that foster creativity and collaboration. With an expansive network of locations across India, Incuspaze is committed to empowering startups, MSMEs, and established enterprises with work spaces that inspire innovation. “We are excited to partner with Media Corridors, a team that understands our vision and has the expertise to elevate our brand narrative,” said Mr. Sanjay Chathrath, Managing Partner, Incuspaze. “Their strategic approach and proven track record in the PR domain makes them the perfect fit for us as we continue to grow and expand our footprint.” “As we embark on this journey with Media Corridors, we look forward to crafting compelling narratives that resonate with our community and stakeholders,” said Ms. Ekta Dewan, AVP Marketing and Communication, Incuspaze. “This partnership is a significant step towards achieving our mission of transforming workspaces and empowering businesses to thrive.” “We are delighted to have Incuspaze on board and are committed to delivering impactful PR campaigns that drive brand awareness and engagement,” said Ms. Ayushi Arora Gulyani, Founder & CEO, Media Corridors. “Incuspaze’s innovative approach to co-working aligns perfectly with our goal of promoting brands that make a difference in their industries. We are excited to be part of their growth journey.” With this partnership, Media Corridors and Incuspaze aim to create a strong, positive brand presence that not only attracts new clients but also fosters a sense of community among existing members. Both companies are enthusiastic about the possibilities this collaboration holds and are dedicated to achieving exceptional results.

Golin has named Kim Allain as associate creative director, further strengthening its creative team in London.Kim Allain joins Golin from MSL UK, where she served as creative lead for four years. During her tenure, Allain spearheaded multiple award-winning campaigns, including Puma’s Cali Star Challenge. Her extensive experience also includes roles at Talker Tailor Trouble Maker and Cake, where she developed creative strategies for clients such as Deliveroo, Subway, and Currys. Additionally, Allain has managed high-profile talent partnerships for Mastercard, notably its sponsorship of The Brit Awards.In her new position at Golin, Allain will report to Al Wood, who was recently promoted to chief creative officer. She will play a key role in driving creative excellence across Golin’s diverse client portfolio."Kim is a brilliant and passionate creative with an impressive portfolio of culturally-connected work," said Al Wood. "As we continue to grow our team and expand our ambition for earned-led, integrated creative solutions, Kim was the natural choice. I’m excited to see the innovative contributions she will bring to our agency."Allain expressed her enthusiasm for joining Golin: "Our industry is in a time of significant change and evolution, and Golin felt like the perfect place for me to continue my professional growth. The work from Al and the team is incredibly impressive, and I’m eager to bring my experience in culture, entertainment, and audience engagement to Golin’s creative offerings."

UK public transport operator First Bus has appointed Ready10 to handle its PR and communications after a competitive selection process.Ready10 will be responsible for consumer and trade media relations, as well as supporting First Bus with corporate reputation management and crisis communications. The agency will also run the day-to-day press office and develop creative campaigns to promote bus travel.This comes as First Bus announced an £89 million investment in zero-emission buses, with the goal of operating a fully electric fleet by 2035."We are on an exciting journey to transform our business and to do that we need a completely fresh approach to how we present ourselves as a brand," said Charlotte Butler, (pictured), First Bus's director of communications and engagement. "The team at Ready10 instantly got what we are trying to achieve and bought into the challenge ahead. Their blend of insight-driven creativity, coupled with a thorough understanding of not only our business, but also the commercial and political factors our business is facing, is exactly what we're looking for in a new agency partner."Ready10 founder and MD David Fraser (pictured), said: “The bus itself is a great connector, part of the fabric of our culture and something really important to millions of people. That makes it an incredibly rich territory for PR that will enable us to conduct some memorable campaigns. We’ve already built a strong relationship with the PR and comms team who were so helpful and collaborative from the get-go – we’re excited to get out of the depot and onto the road.”

Dawn Tappy has joined Mayo Clinic as the new Chief Communications Officer (CCO), marking a significant step in her career within the healthcare industry. Tappy expressed her excitement and dedication to serving Mayo Clinic, an organization known globally for its innovative health solutions and transformative healthcare practices. Her appointment reflects Mayo Clinic's ongoing commitment to excellence and leadership in healthcare.Tappy's extensive experience includes 13 years at Humana, where she held various roles and most recently served as the Chief of Staff to Chief Administrative Officer Tim Huval, with additional support for CEO Bruce Broussard. Her responsibilities at Humana encompassed delivering strategic planning guidance, executive communications, and business intelligence for key initiatives and recurring business processes.At Mayo Clinic, Tappy's role as CCO will involve leading the communications department alongside the medical director, Halena Gazelka, who has decided to return to a more active role in patient care. Gazelka, who previously held the CCO position, expressed gratitude for her time in the role and looks forward to collaborating with Tappy in her new capacity.Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit organization renowned for its dedication to clinical innovation, education, and research, continues to uphold its mission of providing compassionate care and expertise to patients worldwide. With major campuses in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota, Mayo Clinic serves over 1.3 million patients annually from more than 130 countries, embodying its commitment to healing and healthcare excellence.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide has recently appointed Slide Nine as its corporate communications Agency of Record (AOR). This decision followed a rigorous evaluation of agencies through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process aimed at enhancing external communications. Slide Nine will focus on areas such as business performance, community investment, corporate responsibility, and industry outlook, as stated in their announcement.The RFP process occurred late last year, with Slide Nine being selected in January and commencing collaboration in March. Their partnership aims to amplify corporate narratives that bolster Marriott Vacations Worldwide's market standing. The goal is to showcase the company as the leading provider of vacation ownership and an exceptional workplace, according to the statement.

Authored by Akshaara Lalwani, Founder & CEO, Communicate IndiaThe global PR market surpassed 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2022 and is projected to grow by one-third within five years. Public relations, or "PR," involves the strategic communication efforts of an organisation to shape its public image and respond to public discourse. There's an old saying: "Advertising is what you pay for; publicity is what you pray for." But is it really about prayer, or is there a strategic process behind achieving great publicity? Well, this all comes down to one word- Networking! According to a recent survey, 80% of PR professionals believe that networking is crucial for their success. The PR industry flourishes on the strength of relationships, connections, and collaborations; and networking is the key element that brings these aspects together. Building Authentic RelationshipsNetworking in PR is all about creating and nurturing genuine relationships. It goes beyond the surface-level exchange of business cards and LinkedIn connections; it's about developing deep, meaningful bonds with peers, clients, journalists, influencers, and other industry stakeholders. These relationships are essential for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual support. When you have the right connections, you gain access to their expertise and resources, significantly boosting your PR efforts.For instance, strong connections with journalists and media professionals can greatly increase your chances of securing media coverage. A direct line to a trusted journalist can transform a typical press release into a featured story. Similarly, relationships with industry experts provide invaluable insights and advice, keeping you ahead of market trends.Gaining Access to Valuable ResourcesEffective networking opens doors to a plethora of valuable resources that can enhance your PR strategies:Media Databases: Personal connections with journalists and media professionals can give you access to media databases that are far more effective than impersonal pitches.Industry Reports: Networking with industry insiders can grant you access to exclusive reports, market insights, and competitor analyses that inform your PR strategies.Expert Advice: Attending networking events and conferences allows you to seek advice from experienced PR practitioners, gaining insights that guide your actions and decisions.These resources are helpful and often critical in crafting successful PR campaigns that resonate with your audience and achieve your goals.Gaining Industry InsightsNetworking is an essential means of gaining critical industry insights. By connecting with thought leaders and influencers at industry events or through online platforms, you gain access to firsthand knowledge about industry trends and best practices. This knowledge is crucial for tailoring your pitches to journalists and building stronger media relationships, ultimately increasing your chances of successful placements.Effective networking goes beyond mere conversation; it necessitates active listening. Understanding others' challenges and experiences can build genuine connections that position you as a supportive and insightful colleague. This empathy and mutual support enhance your reputation within the industry and make your network more effective.Advancing Your CareerNetworking is also a powerful tool for career advancement in PR. It can reveal unadvertised job opportunities and connect you with senior professionals who can provide mentorship and guidance. Strong professional relationships can lead to recommendations for promotions or new roles within your current organisation. Essentially, a robust network can significantly enhance your career trajectory by offering opportunities that might otherwise be inaccessible, instilling a sense of achievement and inspiring further growth.Mentorship, in particular, is invaluable. Learning from those who have successfully navigated the PR industry's challenges provides insights and advice that are instrumental to professional growth. A mentor can offer guidance on strategic decision-making, crisis management, and career development.ConclusionIn the evolving world of public relations, networking is beneficial and essential. It transforms good PR professionals into great ones by facilitating the building of authentic relationships, providing access to valuable resources, advancing careers, and offering critical industry insights. In a field where relationships are paramount, networking is the strategic process that ensures sustained success and growth. As the PR industry continues to expand, those who excel in networking will lead the way in shaping public perception and achieving lasting impact.  DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and PR POST does not necessarily subscribe to it.

Global Public Affairs Leader PPHC Makes Strategic Move into UK Market Public Policy Holding Company (PPHC), a US-based public affairs and lobbying giant listed on the London Stock Exchange, has acquired UK-based cross-party public affairs firm Pagefield Communications for up to £30 million. This move marks PPHC's first international expansion and strengthens its ability to serve its global client base, including nearly half of the Fortune 100 companies.Previously operating solely in the US, PPHC’s ten member companies boast a diverse client base spanning healthcare, finance, energy, technology, and more. Pagefield, founded in 2010, brings a team of 36 public affairs specialists and a strong track record of growth. The firm will retain its brand identity and operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of PPHC.This strategic acquisition benefits both parties. Pagefield gains access to PPHC’s extensive US network, expertise, and resources. PPHC, in turn, leverages Pagefield’s deep understanding of the UK political landscape to establish a foothold in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.Commenting on the acquisition, PPHC CEO Stewart Hall (pictured) highlighted the company's commitment to both organic growth and strategic acquisitions. With a strong balance sheet and a healthy pipeline of opportunities in the US, UK, and Europe, PPHC is well-positioned for continued expansion.

PR Professionals (PRP), the flagship of the PRP Group, announced that it has secured the public relations mandate of ACE — Action Construction Equipment Ltd., World’s largest Pick & Carry cranes manufacturer & India’s leading material handling and construction equipment manufacturer. With a rich history of innovation, ACE boasts an impressive portfolio encompassing Pick & Carry Cranes, Mobile/Fixed Tower Cranes, Backhoe Loaders, Crawler Cranes, Truck Mounted Cranes, and other essential Construction Equipment. PRP will be handling their PR mandate, pan India.This partnership reinforces PR Professionals' leading position in the infrastructure sector. The agency is known for its client-centric approach and deep understanding of India's infrastructure space. PR Professionals' impressive client roster includes notable names like National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO), Uttar Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRCL), Patna Metro, Rodic Consultants, Systra, RAILTECH, CIDCO, Rapid Metro, Gurgaon, and many others.“We're excited to collaborate with PR Professionals, a leader in infrastructure communications. Their strategic approach and understanding of our business will be key in raising awareness of our innovative equipment solutions and further solidifying our position as India's leading construction equipment manufacturer,” said Sorab Agarwal, Executive Director at ACE.Dr. Sarvesh Tiwari, Founder & Managing Director, PR Professionals shared, “India's infrastructure boom presents a dynamic landscape for construction equipment leaders like ACE. We're thrilled to join forces, leveraging our expertise to propel ACE's brand to the forefront of this thriving market.”PR Professionals is an integrated communications firm that has been delivering quality and excellence since 2011 and has also initiated several philanthropic activities. It provides end-to-end branding and customized public relations solutions that enable businesses to become market leaders. From humble beginnings, PRP today has 12 offices in India and six offices in offshore locations. The 150-member team shares Tiwari's passion for doing extraordinary things in PR and making a difference to the underprivileged through philanthropic activities.

There is a significant opportunity for business leaders to turn their AI vision into action by communicating it to both internal and external stakeholders, according to the India-specific findings from WE Communications’ (WE) latest ‘Brands in Motion’ (BIM) global study, “Bridging the AI Expectation Gap.” This new research, released in Bengaluru, reveals data and insights from the Indian market. The BIM study surveyed over 2,900 business executives across the globe - including India, Australia, Singapore, China, Germany, Singapore, the UK, and the USA - to gain insight into how AI is impacting organisational culture, trust, and business communications. Of the 2900 executives surveyed 500 were from India.Neha Mehrotra, Managing Director Avian WE, stated: “AI is not just a technological advancement; it is a transformative force reshaping business operations and customer engagement. For businesses, the crucial question is not whether to adopt AI, but how swiftly and effectively they can leverage this transformative power. While enthusiasm for AI is high, the implementation gap is concerning. This report highlights the critical need for strategic communication to bridge the AI expectation gap and provides a comprehensive roadmap for organizations to harness AI's full potential.”There was broad recognition of the opportunity for AI to drive impact across business functions. The leaders polled identified product development, customer service, and marketing and communications as the top three areas that would benefit most from greater adoption of AI.The study recommended four strategies to turn AI vision into action:  1. Build an AI Employee Engagement Strategy: Audit employee sentiment and optimize to address gaps and areas of interest in the build-out and implementation of the organization’s AI content and engagement strategy. 2. Link to the Company’s Transformation Journey: Modernize the company narrative and messaging to show how AI is advancing the overall transformational journey, demonstrating its potential to drive growth, change, and innovation. 3. Employ Executive Communications and Thought Leadership: C-level and company leadership messaging need to spotlight consistent AI progress updates and the specific behaviors and change management needed to fully harness AI. 4. Update Crisis and Issues Preparedness Plans: Conduct risk assessments and scenario planning on potential AI-related issues, incorporating these into overall preparedness plans.To achieve these goals, the study recommended greater transparency across stakeholders as a cornerstone for AI efforts: 84% of the study’s Indian participants believed their organization should be more or equally transparent about its use of AI compared with their vendors, partner businesses, and customers.“Although transparency is crucial for AI integration, our study showed only 39% of Indian organizations practiced it, and just 31% prioritized employee feedback. Leaders must commit to open communication to bridge the gap between AI vision and implementation. We hope the recommended strategies help businesses navigate tech transformations and leverage innovation for growth,” Mehrotra concluded.(Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay)

UM, a global media agency network of IPG Mediabrands, has been named media Agency of Record for Perplexity, the AI-native answer engine of choice, to launch its first major brand campaign, handle media buying duties, and serve as its US media advisor and partner on ad product development.  "We are thrilled to partner with Perplexity, an innovative brand poised for exponential growth in the exciting, rapidly evolving AI space," said Erin Quintana, US CEO, UM. "Together, we will create targeted, brand-safe media strategies that leverage audience insights to drive scale and unlock growth opportunities to deliver maximum value for their brand.""The UM team has a deep understanding of the AI space and our differentiators as Perplexity Enterprise Pro users. We appreciate UM's expertise in creating impactful media plans that will drive our brand and performance goals and fuel our expansion. Their proven industry-first capabilities will support our ongoing consumer adoption and enterprise growth" said Dmitry Shevelenko, Chief Business Officer, Perplexity. This news follows several high-profile announcements for UM including being named global media Agency of Record for Levi Strauss & Co. and General Mills, and being awarded Ad Age A-List 2024 Media Agency of the Year.

Juniper Green Energy, an independent renewable energy power producer announced its partnership with One Source, a leading integrated marketing consultancy. Involving reputation management, strategic counselling across corporate and government stakeholders, the mandate will cover corporate communication for Juniper Green Energy. Juniper Green Energy, a part of the AT Group, renowned for its extensive global investments in renewable energy, residential & commercial real estate, hospitality, and more, specializes in developing and operating solar, wind, and hybrid power projects. At One Source, the mandate will be spearheaded by lead counsel on the account, Dyutiman Basu, reporting into Co- lead for Corporate Communication, Debaman Guin and the national team. "We are delighted to partner with One Source as we embark on our journey to amplify awareness about renewable energy solutions and our commitment to sustainability," said Indranil Roy Choudhuri, Head of Corporate Communications, Juniper Green Energy. "Their proven track record in delivering impactful communication strategies aligned perfectly with our vision to create a greener, more sustainable future," he added. Sandeep Rao, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, One Source said, “Our focus as a consultancy is on growing our clients’ businesses and we see partners’ business objectives as our own. We are excited to collaborate with Juniper Green Energy and are eager to craft compelling narratives that resonate with audiences and drive meaningful change. We are committed to help elevate Juniper Green Energy's brand and champion the cause of sustainability”.One Source has offices across Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore which service Indian and global market leaders across BFSI, construction, manufacturing, business consulting, ICT, the start-up space and more. In the last year, the firm has signed on more than 20 clients across Branding & Films, Content Marketing, Digital Marketing and Corporate Communication.

Wing Communications, a leading digital, PR, and social media agency based in Hyderabad, has retained the integrated public relations mandate for XIPHIAS Immigration for the consecutive second year, which is a prominent immigration consultant in India. As part of this partnership, Wing Communications had always been responsible for crafting and executing innovative PR strategies to elevate XIPHIAS Immigration's brand presence and reputation in the market.The primary objective of this collaboration is to position XIPHIAS Immigration as the go-to immigration consultant for individuals and businesses seeking to expand globally. Wing Communications will focus on showcasing XIPHIAS Immigration's expertise in facilitating seamless immigration processes, highlighting their commitment to personalised services, and emphasising their extensive network of connections with immigration authorities worldwide."We are thrilled to continue our partnership with XIPHIAS Immigration, a company that shares our passion for innovation and customer satisfaction," said Shiva Bhavani, CEO & Co-founder of Wing Communications. "Over the past two years, we have worked closely with their team to develop and execute effective PR strategies that have significantly enhanced their brand visibility and credibility. We look forward to building on this success and further solidifying their position as a leader in the immigration consulting space.""XIPHIAS Immigration is committed to providing exceptional immigration services to our clients, and we believe that Wing Communications' expertise in PR will be instrumental in amplifying our brand message and reaching a wider audience," added Varun Singh, MD of XIPHIAS Immigration. "We are excited to work with their team to develop targeted PR campaigns that will help us stay ahead of the competition and continue to grow our business."

Little Moons, the mochi ice cream company, has appointed UAE-based PR agency, Current Global MENAT, to accelerate its Middle East expansion.Founded by Howard and Vivien Wong, Little Moons became a viral sensation in 2021 in the UK generating content viewed over 500 million times. Since then, the brand has disrupted the ice cream category pioneering the snackable ice cream segment with its artisan-quality mochi ice cream bites that are made without compromise and at less than 85kcal per ball.Little Moons is now one of the leading mochi ice cream in the world and the fastest-growing ice cream brand globally. Known for its delicious bite-sized mochi ball of perfection, Little Moons offers a variety of flavours such as passionfruit & mango, pistachio, and raspberry, catering to an array of tastebuds, with vegan options also available.Each Little Moon is a work of art, handmade using a 30-year-old family technique that expertly steams and pounds the rice dough until it reaches the perfect chewy texture. The gelato centres are then wrapped in a thin layer of mochi before being hand-rolled into their distinctive moon shape. The brand sources the finest ingredients worldwide to create artisan gelato ice cream bursting with flavour. Its gelato has a higher density, offering a more intense flavour than other ice creams.Commenting on the partnership, Amelia Butler, Senior Trade Marketing Manager, Little Moons, said, “We were in search of a modern, integrated creative partner to help us get as many eyeballs on our brand as possible, and the Current Global team stood out as the perfect fit. The passion of the Current Global shone through with their strategic insights, creative ideas, and understanding of the region. We look forward to working together as we grow the Little Moons brand across the Middle East.”Peter Jacob, Managing Director, Current Global MENAT, commented, “You can tell an awful lot about a client from the very first brief and we immediately knew this was a brand and a client that matched our mindset. Across the pitch process, the team did a lot of testing of the product in the name of research and on top of that, it’s a great story with two passionate founders driving the business forward where communications is at the centre of the business. We can’t wait to get started.”Current Global will work with Little Moons to deliver exceptional integrated communication solutions, engaging with key media and influencers, to build greater brand visibility and solidify its presence in the region.Launched in the UAE in May 2023, Little Moons is available all major retailers such as Carrefour, Lulu, Spinneys and Choithrams, as well as delivery apps like Amazon UAE, Instashop, Kibsons, Deliveroo, Noon, Talabat and Careem.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday strongly criticized PR agencies for their involvement with Big Oil, urging these firms to "stop acting as enablers to planetary destruction."In his speech commemorating World Environment Day in New York, Guterres condemned these agencies for aiding the fossil fuel industry in its attempts to delay climate action through greenwashing, legal threats, lobbying, and extensive advertising campaigns.“They have been aided and abetted by advertising and PR companies — Mad Men fueling the madness. I call on these companies to cease enabling planetary destruction. Stop taking on new fossil fuel clients from today and make plans to drop your existing ones. Fossil fuels are not only poisoning our planet but are also toxic for your brand,” Guterres declared.He emphasized that the sector is full of creative minds already mobilizing for the cause, moving towards companies that are protecting the planet instead of harming it.He called on countries to act. "Many governments restrict or prohibit advertising for products that harm human health, like tobacco. Some are now doing the same with fossil fuels. I urge every country to ban advertising from fossil fuel companies. And I urge news media and tech companies to stop accepting fossil fuel advertising,” he added.This was not the first time Guterres has rebuked the PR industry for its ties with fossil fuel clients. In a speech before the General Assembly in September 2022, he urged world leaders to tax fossil fuel companies and their supporters, including PR firms.Clean Creatives, an organisation advocating for agencies to sever ties with fossil fuel companies, praised Guterres’ speech.“UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ call for advertising and PR agencies to cut ties with fossil fuel polluters is historic. Today marks a turning point in the advertising and PR industry’s relationship with climate change and fossil fuels. Agencies can no longer claim they are doing the right thing when working with polluters. Everyone knows this is wrong, and everyone needs to act,” said executive director Duncan Meisel. Over 1,100 advertising, PR, and creative companies have taken the Clean Creatives pledge to refuse work from Big Oil, positioning them as true leaders on this issue. In contrast, Edelman renewed its global partnership with Shell in May, making it a primary target for climate activists. During the 2022 Climate Week, Clean Creatives covered parts of lower Manhattan with posters urging agencies, especially Edelman, to drop their fossil fuel clients.

Global marketing communications agency Archetype has announced the appointment of Liz Weselby as the new managing director for its Australian division.Weselby, who has been a key part of Archetype’s leadership team in Hong Kong since 2020 and a member of the APAC Regional Management Board since 2021, will now lead the agency’s operations in Sydney.“We’re delighted Liz has agreed to take up the opportunity to lead our brilliant team in Sydney. Over the last few years she’s made a real impact on our APAC business, helping drive strategic client consulting programmes and building out our content marketing offer,” said Lee Nugent, regional director, APAC.Expressing her enthusiasm, Weselby said : “I am thrilled to join the Sydney team and continue my journey with Archetype. Australia has long been my second home, and the Sydney team has made me feel most welcome –?together we are fostering a culture of creativity and strategic excellence. Our clients are true partners and I look forward to helping them grow their businesses in ANZ.”

Bali's unique Suara Music and Arts Festival has chosen Manifest, a global brand communications agency, to handle its public relations across Asia Pacific.The Melbourne office of Manifest will leverage its international network of partners, "Cartel," to generate buzz in key markets like Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, India, and Singapore.Isabel Thomson-Officer, who co-founded and leads Manifest's Melbourne studio, said: "Bespoke events and cultural experiences of this scale and meticulous attention to detail that the Do What You Love team is producing are rare - especially in this part of the world. Aside from the quality of its bookings, the incredible venue, and everything else that is on offer, it was the team’s commitment to creating a culture that was both respectful of the local people and the environment that really stood out to us. A festival of this nature can be quite transformative, even life-changing for those that attend. Being able to make that kind of positive impact on someone’s life is very aligned with our mission to build brands that change the world."Do What You Love's Co-Founder and Festival Director, Jason Swamy, said: "We want people who attend Suara to leave feeling inspired, and like they've connected to a creative community of like-minded individuals, and that's exactly how we felt when we first met the Manifest team. Like us, they are a very international team, who are as passionate about purpose-driven brand communications as we are about curating once in a lifetime experiences."

Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle East (MBCME) has appointed Taniya Chandra as the new Head of Marketing & Communication effective February 2024. Her responsibilities extend across the Mercedes-Benz General Distributor (MBGD) network. Headquartered in Dubai, MBGD is the central hub overseeing and steering strategy and business transformation, aiming to improve business operations and communication across Central Eastern Europe (CEE), the Middle East, Africa, Latin America (LATAM), and Southeast Asia (SEA). Taniya brings a wealth of experience and a dynamic approach to the role, succeeding Natalie Thompson, who has taken up the position of CEO of Mercedes-Benz Romania.An engineering graduate with a MBA from Singapore, Taniya possesses a diverse portfolio of international experience, showcasing exceptional passion and leadership throughout her career. As an inspiring, self-driven, target oriented – yet empathetic leader, she truly empowers her teams to push boundaries, reimagine engagement and deliver memorable and unique communications and customer experiences.Her journey with Mercedes-Benz began, as part of INspire – The Leader’s Lab management program. Since then, Taniya has embraced transformational roles to drive active change and innovation through dynamic shifts in the industry. Prior to relocating to the UAE, she was based in Stuttgart, leading Customer Experience across the Overseas markets and successfully setup an Overseas Experience Center for Customer Services in South-East Asia.Having grown up and worked in the region previously, she possesses a deep understanding of the market and brings a wealth of global experience to her role. Her professional journey reflects a commitment to drive positive change, enable sustainable business growth and maintain an unwavering focus on delivering meaningful and impactful marketing campaigns and customer experiences. Taniya is poised to contribute significantly to the strategic vision of Mercedes-Benz, leveraging her passion for transformation, customer-centric business growth and creative storytelling.Commenting on her appointment, Taniya Chandra stated, “I am excited and honoured to take on this role at Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle East. As Head of Marketing and Communication for MBGD, I am deeply committed to crafting a strategy that intertwines our diverse portfolio of luxury brands and our innovative and iconic product line up with the captivating stories and experiences of our customers, while honouring our rich heritage as pioneers in the mobility sector. I am grateful to collaborate with a very talented team and valued customers on this exciting journey.”Taniya Chandra's appointment underscores Mercedes-Benz's commitment to foster leadership talent within the organization and ensure a clear focus on customer centricity across business operations. Mercedes-Benz is poised to redefine the future of Marketing and Communication, setting new benchmarks for creativity and experiential storytelling in the automotive industry.

MSL Group Middle East, a best-in-class public relations agency integrated within Publicis Groupe, has unveiled a new line up of local and regional talent to grow its consumer practice division. The newly formed Brand Communications team comprises experts across consumer communications, social media influence, creativity, and delivery excellence to provide a holistic end-to-end solution for clients.Maclean Brodie, Chief Executive Officer for MSL Group Middle East said, “We have to lead with talent, and we have to lead with what the market requires. For us at MSL that means integrated mindsets, brand-first creative thinking, and a little fun. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to bring together such a high-performing team so seamlessly, and look forward to seeing the results with current and future clients.”The new Brand Communications team is built with an eye to the changing nature of the public relations industry, linking earned creativity, media, and influence together for higher impact in service of MSL clients. Sitting within the Publicis “Power of One” ecosystem, the team will also draw on the Groupe’s creative, content, performance media, and digital ecosystem.Mary Smiddy, Business Lead, MSL Group said: “While earned media remains the MSL superpower, having the full force of Publicis Groupe behind us allows us to face creative challenges with a wholly different mindset. Brands and clients today aren’t looking for PR per se. They’re looking for the ability to cut through the noise and make an impact on their audience in a lasting way. The team that we’re bringing together allows us to do just that, and they’re a joy to work with!”The Brand Communications team brings together a diverse pool of talent with industry experience with regional and international clients spanning hospitality, automotive, health &amp; wellness, food & beverage, luxury & fashion, travel & tourism, arts & culture, and sport sectors.The team lineup includes:* Mary Smiddy, Business Lead* Jemma Chalcroft, Business Director* Fatina Al-Arda, Business Director* Natasha George, Associate Business Director* Mohammad Almail, Senior Communications Manager* Nourhan Khalifa, Influencer Manager* Deema Kabrawi, Senior Communications Executive* Sakshi Sreewani, Communications Executive* Rim Haddad, Influencer Executive

Bridgers PR, a 360-degree communications agency based in New Delhi, has secured the corporate communications mandate of GUVI, an IIT-M & IIM-A incubated vernacular ed-tech platform, following a multi-agency pitch to the personalised learning solutions provider. The mandate encapsulates positioning GUVI’s spokesperson as a thought leader in the industry, as well as media relations and corporate communications. Bridgers will focus on leveraging its specialised data-driven initiatives and strategic campaigns to felicitate the spokesperson as an industry leader and position him as the critical factor behind the multi-crore firm’s innovation-driven growth plans.Anubhav Singh, Founder of Bridgers, said: “The ed-tech industry is rapidly becoming the enabler of thousands of Indian youths in their professional journey. Firms like GUVI are evidence of the transformation they are bringing — combining talent and desire while putting aside linguistic barriers, contributing to India’s meteoric growth to become the technological capital of the world. Everyone at Bridgers is thrilled to enhance and achieve the narrative of the firm’s corporate communication strategy and assist its management to chart new success and become domain experts, empowering the youth in new communities in the process.”Arun Prakash, Founder & CEO of GUVI, said: “As technology encompasses the world, the importance of new-age skills and professions in a supportive role becomes critical for the success of the global endeavour. GUVI is dedicated to providing innovative and customised learning solutions to learners in the comfort of their native languages and Bridgers will help boost our corporate communication strategies, positioning us as industry leaders in a highly competitive zone. We are pleased to onboard Bridgers PR as our corporate communications partner and remain confident that this partnership will put us in a unique position as an innovative force in the Ed-Tech domain. In today’s data and AI-driven world, combining our expertise with the dynamic and forward-thinking team of Bridgers will help us focus on establishing thought leadership in the industry, reevaluate benchmarks, felicitate innovation and change while reshaping the future of digital upskilling.”The partnership will ensure close collaboration between Bridgers and GUVI’s corporate communications and marketing team to enact an extensive strategy, focusing on corporate messaging and positioning the latter as a visionary and industry trendsetter in India.

Pure Consulting, a leading Saudi consulting firm, has launched a new international communications unit at the Saudi Management Consultants Association (SAMCA) Forum. The unit, inspired by Vision 2030, will bring together a deep understanding of the local context and vision, exceptional local and international insight, and the best of the worlds communicators to deliver Saudi Arabia’s narrative to the world.Anas Al Safi, Managing Partner, Pure Consulting, speaking at the SAMCA Forum, said: “At Pure Consulting we have always had a strong guiding vision to build a Saudi consulting firm that competes with the best of international firms. The launch of our new International Communications unit, aligned with Vision 2030, is a logical next step. Clients here in Saudi Arabia are looking for partners who understand the local context and vison, who contribute more substantially and sustainably to the growth and prosperity of the nation, and who can deliver Saudi Arabia’s narrative to the world in a highly relevant and effective manner. This new unit will do just that.”Pure International Communications will offer international communications strategy for Saudi clients looking to communicate with critical international audiences from investors to tourists.Pure Consulting is a leading Saudi consulting firm established in 2014 with 100+ employees in offices in Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With accumulated local and global expertise in strategy, marketing, and communications Pure Consulting empowers its team, partners, and community to realize the ambitious future of Saudi Arabia. An exceptional team of industry leaders in Saudi is driven by a profound purpose and passion to lead transformative endeavors, helping public and private organizations succeed in a rapidly evolving world. The team is inspired by a shared commitment to delivering enduring sustainable impact for people and the community through the crafting of strategies that resonate and drive positive change.

The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA), the region's leading body for public relations and communication professionals, has released the industry’s first whitepaper on artificial intelligence (AI) usage guidelines within the communications sector.Developed by MEPRA’s AI Committee - with ChatGPT helping to inform topline recommendations – the association identified 8 guiding points providing a framework for using AI for its members and others working in communications in the Middle East.The guidelines, which took regional and global AI guiding resources into consideration, are intended to be used alongside other guidance, policies and references to help inform ethical and legal use of the technology in the daily content production.Commenting on the release, Margaret Flanagan, Co-Founder of Tales & Heads and Head of MEPRA’s AI Committee, stated: “With the aim of optimising the use of AI and protecting the output of the public relations and communications industry in the region, we have developed the first framework that intends to help the industry standardise the way it benefits from the use of AI tools. We wanted to ensure that everyone working in communications in the region is aware of the ethical and legal ramifications of using these technologies, and the responsibilities we have to the organisations we work with and to other stakeholders, including media and the wider public. Given the speed at which AI is evolving, as well as the dynamic regulations that govern its use, we are aware that these guidelines and resources will also need to evolve. MEPRA will continue to provide practical guidance and updates in line with these changes”.The members of the MEPRA AI Committee are Ibrahim Al Mutawa, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Jummar PR; Tala Abu Taha, Director of PR, Viola Communications; Andrea Gissdal, Independent Communications Consultant; Natasha Hatherall-Shaw, Founder and CEO, TishTash; Henry Jakins SVP, Head of Brand & Business Marketing, First Abu Dhabi Bank; Professor Dahlia Mahmoud, University of Europe for Applied Sciences; Joseph Nalloor, Discipline Lead, School of Communications, Murdoch University Dubai; Kirsty O'Connor, Regional Director of Innovation, Hill & Knowlton; Neda Shelton, SVP Group Communications , Mubadala; Inka Stever Professor of Practice at Zayed University, College of Communication and Media Sciences; and Denise Yammine Chouity, Director of Operations at GREY Qatar.The guidelines released by MEPRA are listed below.1. Be honest and open: Always inform people when you're using AI in PR and communication to strengthen trust.This means having a conversation with your client or line manager to let them know if and how you are using AI, before you use it. This doesn’t necessarily mean informing them in each instance, but it does mean discussing parameters of use. If asked directly if you used AI on a specific project, be honest and transparent.If you are asked not to use AI for a specific project, don’t. We recommend looking at best practice guidelines, like Cambridge University’s, on how to best use text, audio and visual AI tools. It would be prudent to keep up on relevant legal articles, as change is constant when it comes to bills proposed to further define intellectual property and fair use of creative content.2. Be responsible and credible: It’s essential for our industry to be truthful about the use of AI in content shared with the media.It's important that transparency about our use of AI extends to materials shared with media. Media images, videos and audio created using AI should always be labelled accurately, while text content for media should ideally be written in whole by a human and at the very minimum, have significant human intervention. If not, it should be labelled as AI generated text.Concerns around misinformation and disinformation are increasing and trust in the media decreasing, and AI generated content has the potential to further undermine this trust. Communications professionals have a responsibility to the media outlets they work with to provide content that does not risk damaging an outlet’s reputation or lessening credibility among their audiences. It is important to have a plan in place to immediately rectify an issue or crisis caused by sharing AI generated content with media.3. Respect privacy: Make sure any AI tools you use follow the rules about keeping people's information private and their use of copyrighted content.It’s worth remembering that the data you give to AI tools – including prompts and files, as well as your own account information – is kept and used by the companies behind those tools as standard practice. Understanding privacy settings and what you need to opt in or out of to keep information safe is essential. As an industry we handle lots of sensitive information for clients and our organisations – including governments and listed companies. To reduce any risk, only input data and files that are non-confidential or already in the public realm. Your clients or organisation may also have data security protocols and NDAs relating to the use of AI that you need to adhere to, so make sure you are aware of your responsibilities.4. Get it right: Double-check that any content or data AI helps create is accurate before sharing it, so you don't spread false information.Always check facts using trusted sources. Reference scientific research, reputable third parties and trusted media. Look for original sources and research findings wherever possible rather than second-hand references. AI has been known to create facts and figures, and even links to non-existent media stories and research so don’t assume that the information provided is accurate. It’s important that our industry does not help to propagate misinformation. If your content is in Arabic, it’s also worth remembering that AI tools will be working with a much smaller content base than English language, so will need more human interaction and editing, as well as additional fact checking.5. Treat everyone fairly: Watch out for any unfair biases/cultural sensitivities in AI programmes and content and do your best to make sure everyone feels included and represented.Machine learning has a history of building on our own implicit human biases and magnifying them, which means that AI-generated content can be misrepresentative or exacerbate stereotypes. Always look at text, images, or audio created or complemented by AI with a critical eye. Using thoughtful prompts can help create more inclusive content, but as many of the biases need to be tackled within the existing technologies, it’s up to us to gatekeep what’s created and ensure it accurately represents our clients and our organisations as well as our cultures and communities. Consider whose voices are not represented in the AI generated content, and if there are other expert sources that should be included.6. Keep it real: Use AI to help your work but remember that real human creativity and connection are what make communication effective and genuine.Remember that AI is only able to draw on sources of existing material and references, rather than create. While detailed prompts provided can fine tune tone and technical outcomes, machines make links and connections in different ways to humans. They can’t see, they can’t smell, they can’t taste, they can’t feel. The best copy and the best images are the ones that stand out and make us think or feel differently. Right now, nothing does that better than creative people.7. Think about people: Your use of AI might affect society, so make sure you're using it in a way that helps people, not just your bottom line. Encourage your team and others in the industry to use AI responsibly and fairly.The implications of the use of AI are going to be huge and far reaching. Right now, they are also largely unknown and unforeseen. Whether they bring job losses or job gains, create greater equity or further division will only be known in time. In the meantime, we can ensure our own use of AI technologies remains considered. That means practical things like not billing clients or logging hours for work that was done by AI for the human equivalent. It means using the skills of human editors, copywriters, graphic designers, photographers and videographers where we know that the value and veracity this brings is critical (including in our submissions to media). And it means using AI to help us make better decisions, rather than outsourcing these decisions to the technology itself.8. Keep learning and improving: Stay on top of how AI is changing PR and communication. Be ready to adjust how you use it to make sure you're doing the right thing. Not only is AI itself constantly evolving, but so are the rules and regulations that govern its use across industries and markets. We’re likely to see many more changes in the future, as the technology changes, and as we apply its power in new ways. We’re also likely to see increased debates around ownership and copyright use – like the New York Times lawsuit with Microsoft, which could have significant implications for media and communications; as well as heightened concerns about AI’s use to support the spread of misinformation and disinformation. It’s up to all of us to be aware of what’s happening, and our own role in ensuring that our use of AI is both ethical and legal.(Image by Jernej Furman from Slovenia/ Wikimedia Commons)

Ruder Finn Asia , the award-winning  communications consultancy, today launched the latest version of its SONAR crisis  management simulation platform. SONAR 5.5 allows corporations to practise their level of  crisis preparedness in the face of evolving risks to share price, revenues and reputation. Multi  lingual, SONAR 5.5 can be operated in multiple languages including English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. The platform also incorporates new interactive features which identify potential  areas for future concern allowing for pre-emptive strategy and planning. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hoKO3U3r2K4?si=M7zLKCHply3mT-gW" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>When faced with a full-scale issue or crisis, management teams often discover the planning  they have in place fails under pressure. SONAR 5.5 is fast, effective and action-oriented,  designed to identify planning gaps and propose practical, workable, real-world solutions. With close to 100% client satisfaction rates, SONAR 5.5 creates an immersive crisis  environment allowing participants to experience every aspect of a fast-evolving crisis. The  versatile multimedia portal is internet-enabled: SONAR 5.5 simulations can be run for a single  market or global teams of up to 100 people allowing corporations to see where their crisis  planning works and where gaps exist.   SONAR 5.5 replicates every aspect of a crisis situation: negative media reports, share price  impact, stakeholder anger and employee protest. The platform is immersive meaning  participants quickly forget that SONAR is a simulation due to the reality of the created  environment. The output of every SONAR is a more experienced team, upgraded risk  planning, greater vigilance and preparedness for the future.  Ruder Finn Asia has identified the key operational implications of being unprepared for a crisis  or issue as a disorganised response, scattered decision making, absence of strategy and no  sense of mission. This translates to loss of narrative, loss of control and loss of value. Ruder  Finn Asia’s experience has also identified the hallmarks of companies who emerge well from  a crisis: preparation, leadership, action and communication. Charles Lankester, EVP, Global Risk at Ruder Finn Asia said today, “Together, we build  resilience and ensure our clients act with confidence whatever the circumstances. We have  delivered close to 150 SONARs since 2020 and consistently hear how much clients value the  experience and learning. The SONAR team are career experts in reputation and risk  management, ensuring our clients stay ahead of situations wherever possible. Reputation is  a primary global business risk, but most companies are unprepared and under-resourced in  the event of an issue. We are the risk management partner of choice for hundreds of  corporations and bring experience across Hong Kong, Mainland China, Asia-Pacific and  globally.”  David Ko, Managing Director at Ruder Finn Interactive (RFI), Ruder Finn’s digital  consultancy, said today, “SONAR 5.5 is the result of years of crisis management expertise  and learning, distilled into an actionable, high value platform, updated for the AI era. The crisis  landscape now evolves at an ever-faster pace, so we continually upgrade SONAR to reflect  this new environment. New threats such as deepfakes, voice cloning and bots now require  crisis management with technology that meets the challenge.   Previously, we embedded generative AI into SONAR’s operation, harnessing the power of  ChatGPT to create multimedia injects that simulate interactions with key stakeholders such as  government regulators, activist shareholders, protesting employees and consumer groups.  SONAR 5.5 now streamlines and presents additional interactions visually so that participants  can easily track and manage their crisis decisions and actions. The core of SONAR’s value,  however, remains the expert guidance and coaching conducted by trainers and their real-time  feedback on client team dynamics and effectiveness. This work also incorporates a significant  predictive component, identifying potential areas for future concern and pre-emptive strategy  and planning.” Atul Sharma, CEO Ruder Finn India and Head, Middle East said, “In today's dynamic  business landscape, proactive crisis preparedness is key to protecting your company's image  and strength. Leveraging cutting-edge AI capabilities, SONAR 5.5 isn't just a tool—it's our way  of giving businesses the power to steer through stormy seas. With its innovative features and  user-friendly interface, SONAR 5.5 equips teams with the foresight and confidence needed to  face challenges head-on.” 

Hill & Knowlton (H&K) has hired Kelli Parsons as its new global CEO, effective July 1. This transition comes as Hill & Knowlton prepares to operate under its own brand following its merger with BCW to form the newly established Burson entity.Parsons, currently the global chair of corporate affairs and advisory at H&K, will succeed AnnaMaria DeSalva, who has served as global chairman and CEO of Hill & Knowlton since June 2019. DeSalva will take on the role of global chairman of Burson following the merger.“Hill & Knowlton has played a seminal role in our industry since its inception, and our team has pursued a period of rigorous development over the last several years,” said DeSalva. “We are thrilled that H&K will continue to grow its central role in strategic communication as part of Burson, and that Kelli Parsons will lead the firm going forward. Kelli is a highly trusted and admired leader in our field. She has been a guiding force on our leadership team since rejoining H&K in 2020. Following her years in major client leadership roles and two substantial tours of duty as a senior leader at Hill & Knowlton, as CEO Kelli will bring deep knowledge of our industry, our people and clients, and vision for the opportunities ahead. I am proud to advance this leadership transition, and I look forward to continuing to work with Kelli and to supporting Hill & Knowlton’s future success in my new role."Parsons has been instrumental in expanding H&K’s global advisory business since rejoining the firm in 2020, after serving as chief communications officer for United Technologies. Her previous roles include chief communications and marketing officer at New York Life and chief communications officer at Fannie Mae. During her first tenure at H&K from 1998 to 2008, Parsons led the New York and Washington markets, corporate and technology practices, and managed the firm's largest global client relationships.Corey duBrowa, BCW global CEO and incoming global CEO of Burson, commented, “Hill & Knowlton brings exceptionally complementary expertise and brand equity to the flagship Burson and will serve as a powerful offering alongside Axicom, Buchanan Communications, and GCI Health in our group of brands, which together offer clients world-class expertise across every global industry and sector. H&K’s expert strategic counsel and focus on the business impact of reputation creates significant value for clients, and I look forward to its continued success under Kelli’s leadership.”Parsons also serves as the chair of Page (formerly the Page Society), reinforcing her prominent role in the communications industry.

Havas has appointed Dara Busch, former co-CEO of 5W Public Relations, as the CEO of North America PR. Busch will be responsible for overseeing the growth and strategic direction of Havas' PR network across North America, which includes Havas Formula and Havas Red US.“I’m thrilled to be joining Havas’ mission of making a meaningful difference to brands, businesses, and people,” said Busch. “I look forward to working with teams across North America to uphold these client-centric values while growing the Havas Formula and Havas Red footprints.”During her tenure at 5W, Busch held the role of co-CEO, where she managed all agency functions, including human resources, marketing, and business development. Her nine-year career at 5W also saw her serving as co-president and executive vice president. Prior to her time at 5W, Busch spent 16 years at Rubenstein PR, where she held the position of executive vice president and managing director.“It’s an honor to welcome Dara into the Havas family,” said Donna Murphy, global CEO of Havas Creative Network and Havas Health Network. “As Havas’ PR capabilities continue to evolve and develop, the strength of this leadership team reflects our commitment to remain at the forefront of innovation in global communications.”James Wright, global chair of Havas PR Network and global CEO of Havas Red, added: “We want to bring in the best talent to achieve our ambitious goals to become bigger, better, and bolder. In this next stage of our development, we want to maximize the potential for the Havas PR Network across North America and believe Dara has the ideal experience and enterprising attitude to help us achieve this.”With Busch's appointment, Havas aims to solidify its position as a leader in global communications, driving innovative and impactful PR solutions for clients across North America.

Aspectus Group, a global brand, marketing and communications agency, has announced its latest expansion, opening its first office in the Middle East, appointing Astrid French to lead.Located in Dubai, UAE, the move affirms the agency’s global growth plans and long-term commitment to the region, having supported clients in the market for over a decade. The UAE office will drive activity across strategic locations in the Middle East, for local firms seeking global support and global firms pursuing local impact. Aspectus will continue its focus on specialist B2B expertise in energy, marine and industrials; technology; financial and professional services; and capital markets.Astrid French, who joined Aspectus in 2021 following tenure at Weber Shandwick and Edelman, and who has since led the Energy & Industrials Practice, is expanding her role, appointed as Head of Middle East. Astrid commented: “The opportunity in this region cannot be overstated. Attractive business conditions and an appetite for innovation and investment is fueling economic growth in a way we simply aren’t seeing in other markets.“It’s particularly evident in our core sectors, with initiatives like the $500M UAE AI & emerging tech R&D programme, consistent double-digit growth in DIFC company registrations, and new CCUS and green hydrogen projects on the horizon.“This creates opportunities for both established heritage brands and vibrant emerging start-ups. But, it also significantly raises competition on the local and global stage. Storytelling always matters – but in this context, and in sectors where messaging must be handled with care, having a voice that is heard, remembered and advocated for, for the right reasons, becomes a non-negotiable.”Astrid will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of Aspectus’ activity in the Middle East across brand strategy, digital and media relations, as well as retaining her current lead role on a number of flagship global clients. The news follows Aspectus’ highly successful office opening in Singapore in January 2023, which has experienced impressive growth since launch.Alastair Turner, Global CEO of Aspectus Group, continued, “As an agency, we have lived by a commitment to unparalleled service for our clients; where they need us, that’s where we go. For a long time, we have supported in this region, but it has become increasingly clear the need to pivot from executional to strategic on-the-ground leadership. It will elevate our work not only in the Middle East, but across the world as we grow our network of offices that form a nexus of global support for our clients. We couldn’t have a better person representing the agency in Astrid. She is brilliant with clients from both a strategic and tactical point of view as well as being a fearless new business operator. She is endearingly geeky about our specialist sectors and passionate about people development. We are lucky to have her driving the business forward in the region.”

Sheetal Singh, Director, External Communications - Corporate Affairs, at Flipkart, has announced her departure after six years with the company.Singh's career at Flipkart has been marked by significant contributions to the company's communications strategy and reputation management. In her role, she has overseen a talented team of corporate affairs professionals, working closely with leadership to develop and execute impactful communication campaigns.In a heartfelt message to her colleagues, Singh expressed her gratitude for the learning opportunities and the special experience of working at Flipkart. She commended her team members, past and present, for their exceptional talent and collaborative spirit.She wrote on LinkedIN: "After 6 incredible years at Flipkart, my journey is taking a halt. As I look back at those years, I am filled with an emotion of gratitude for the immense learnings I have had. This has truly been a special chapter of my life. To the most brilliant minds in the industry including the leaders I got an opportunity to work with, the amazing Corporate Affairs talent, all past team members and the extended agency partner team members, thanks for lifting the bar high and making this journey worthwhile. Always cheering for @flipkart as I sign off as a Flipster."Singh's career in communications spans over 20 years. This includes stints at Micromax as Head of Communications, Account Director roles at MSL and Rediffusion, and senior consultant experience with Integral PR.

Edelman has joined forces with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to support their upcoming Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC) in Dalian, China. The event runs from June 25th to 27th, 2024.Edelman's role goes beyond traditional support. They'll be providing comprehensive communications assistance, including:Media Relations: Facilitating communication with both Chinese and international media outlets for the WEF media team.Content and Social Media Management: Assisting with the development and distribution of compelling content across the Forum's social media channels.On-Site Support: Providing logistical and communications expertise at the 15th AMNC.Warren Fernandez, Edelman’s CEO for Asia Pacific, said: “We are proud to continue our collaboration with the World Economic Forum, as they facilitate this critical discussion for the APAC region and the rest of the world. As a global firm, we have long been partnering with new champions from across the region to help them scale into international markets and therefore, the topic of this conference aligns closely with our interests and focus. We look forward to working with the team on the ground to share the important stories and developments from the conference with the rest of the world.”

The AFO Group, following a rebrand from Markettiers4DC after investment from Waterland Private Equity, has announced its official entry into the US market. The company, already generating $3 million annually in the US, has established its first North American office in New York City. This strategic move paves the way for a series of planned acquisitions across multiple states.Leading the US charge is Melissa Cruz, (pictured), who joins AFO from Cision. As the newly appointed Client Director, Cruz brings a wealth of experience in media relations strategy, having managed media tours for renowned clients like Ketchum, Ogilvy, and Merck. Her expertise spans diverse sectors, including entertainment, non-profit, pharmaceuticals, and lifestyle. Previously, Cruz honed her skills in event production and post-production, working with industry giants like HBO and Jim Henson Productions.AFO Group CEO Howard Kosky explains the US expansion as a client-driven initiative fueled by Waterland's investment. "We can service a significant portion of our US workload from the UK," says Kosky, highlighting AFO's content production arm, Sassy Create, which frequently collaborates with West Coast film distributors and clients like LinkedIn in San Francisco. "However," Kosky continues, "establishing a US presence is crucial for planned acquisitions on the West Coast and in Austin. We have a long-term vision, and growth won't solely depend on acquisitions. We prioritize finding the right people and cultural fit. While speed is important, we'll only pursue deals that align strategically."The AFO Group, with over 250 employees, boasts a diverse portfolio of agencies beyond broadcast PR specialist Markettiers. This includes international market research consultancy Censuswide, content production agency Through The I, media organization Radio News Hub, podcast consultancy 4DC, data and insights specialist Opinion Matters, and marketing strategist Hollr.

Notably, a boutique agency, has unveiled its all-encompassing content creation programme: the Notably Narrative Lab. This lab offers clients a comprehensive suite of custom content designed to elevate brand awareness, engage target audiences, and build brand credibility.The Notably Narrative Lab kicks off with a thorough assessment of clients' existing content strategy, pinpoint areas for improvement, and craft a personalized plan to maximize the content's impact.Notably's senior team will then shepherd the content creation journey, from brainstorming captivating ideas and crafting compelling copy to strategically distributing content and meticulously tracking key performance indicators (KPIs). The content spectrum encompasses blog posts, website copy, newsletters, thought leadership pieces (op-eds), case studies, white papers, captivating speeches, and more.“Content is the bedrock of any organisation. We created the Notably Narrative Lab to help brands tell their unique story and connect with audiences that matter,” says account director and head of content Emily Steates (pictured).

The Sidemen's cereal brand, Best Cereal, has appointed Sunny Side Up to handle all its corporate, consumer and trade communications, forgoing a competitive pitch process.This news comes after Best Cereal, a collaboration between the hugely popular Gen Z YouTube collective The Sidemen (with over 21 million subscribers) and British oat giants Mornflake, took the UK by storm. Launched in February this year at Tesco supermarkets, it quickly became the fastest-growing cereal brand in the country.The Sidemen, already boasting a successful clothing line, are expanding their foray into the FMCG segment. Their manager, Jordan Schwarzenberger, credits Sunny Side Up's Nick Woods (founder) and Nikita Takhar (account director) for the brand's successful launch.Woods echoes the sentiment, praising The Sidemen's disruptive approach: “Best is a great product, but you don’t have to know too much about the people behind it to understand that they are among the biggest shakers in the industry. Jordan and his team bring an energy, agility and comfort-with-speed that a lot of brands could learn from. It’s exciting to be on board.”Sunny Side Up's food portfolio already boasts impressive clients like Charlie Bigham's, New Covent Garden Market, Driscoll's, British Cherries, and Cheesegeek.c

Cloud TV, India’s first and only provider of white-labelled, turnkey Smart TV and OTT operations systems, has appointed Pitchfork Partners , – a Mumbai-based firm with operations across India – as its new communication partner. With this appointment, Pitchfork Partners will spearhead marketing communications and social media mandates for Cloud TV to build and elevate awareness about the company.Pitchfork Partners, a consultancy reputed for its strategic brilliance, entails a proven track record of successful collaborations with diverse clients. They will draw upon their experience to craft powerful messaging, execute impactful social media campaigns, and manage strategic media relations to further augment Cloud TV’s reputation. Speaking on the appointment, Abhijeet Rajpurohit, Co-founder & COO, Cloud TV, said, “As a company that is paving the way to make smart TVs affordable and digital content accessible on large screens to the Indian audience, we are excited to welcome Pitchfork Partners as our communications partner. Their experience and capabilities will be crucial to helping us achieve our communication objectives as we navigate the business landscape in India. We look forward to working with them to sharpen the brand narrative and create a distinct identity for the organisation.”Cloud TV is India's first TV Operating System (OS), developed by Mumbai-based software company CloudWalker Streaming Technologies. As India’s first and only provider, Cloud TV OS brings features typically available in high-end TV brands to the affordable TV segment in India. With over 200 Apps and Live TV channels, Cloud TV has close to 60 lakh users throughout India. Sharing his views on the appointment, Jaideep Shergill, Co-Founder, Pitchfork Partners, said, “Cloud TV is a pioneer for Smart TV OS in the Indian market. Being a homegrown brand, they’ve accomplished significant milestones over the years. We are proud to work with this Make in India brand, and I am confident that our expertise in managing strategic communication for businesses in the technology and entertainment sectors will play a role in helping them achieve their communication goals.” The collaboration with Pitchfork Partners is set to amplify Cloud TV’s impact, empowering them to reach a larger audience.

Adgully, in collaboration with Comms Adda, recently hosted a webinar titled "Building a Powerful Brand Narrative – The Science of Storytelling and Its Role in Creating a Strong Brand Identity that Resonates with Target Audiences." The session was moderated by Bhaskar Majumdar, Head of Marketing Communications, CSR & Digital at Egis South Asia, and featured insights from Arun Arora, Director Strategy, Communications & CSR at Chetak Group & Foundation, Bhumika Gupta Oberoi, Team Lead Marketing at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Priya Patankar, Head of Communications at PhonePe, and Rahul Gossain, Chief Strategy and Brand Officer at JSA.Evolution of Brand BuildingBhaskar Majumdar initiated the discussion by posing a question to Arun Arora: "In the last 30 years, how have you seen brand building as a subject change? When I started almost 23-24 years back, brand building used to be more of an advertising space, now it’s PR also, social media also. How do you think brand building has evolved over the years and become an integral part of the communication function?"Arun Arora responded by tracing the origins of storytelling back to ancient India, highlighting its long-standing role in communication. He noted, "If we get into our ancient history of India, storytelling started long ago. It was one of the best ways of communicating across generations, going as far as the time of Ramayana when Luv and Kush went around town narrating the tale of Ram and Sita. This was the way of educating people. There were a lot of literatures that we had, taught through oral recitations by saints, healers, gurus, and teachers. Thus, using story building as a tool to effectively communicate any niche for the story or character has survived. Even now, storytelling can take any form – oral, written, visual, digital, or street play. Ramayana is still played across India, year after year around Dusshera time. Storytelling is in our blood, and that’s how we have evolved."He continued, "This is not true only for India; almost 3000 years ago, the Egyptians started this concept. Even before that, cavemen used cave paintings to communicate. Storytelling is imbibed in human beings and keeps evolving, moving from cave paintings to ChatGPT, the AI tool that generates stories, sometimes more than what is required."The Role of Emotion in StorytellingArun Arora further elaborated on the structure of storytelling: "We all know how we define news in the newspaper using the inverted pyramid concept. Similarly, when we talk about a story, it begins with an interesting, insightful incident, followed by a turning point, a crisis, then the climax, and resolves with a happy ending, which is common in Hindi films. These are the basic tenets of storytelling. Eventually, we are touching the emotional chord of the listeners or the audiences. Once we touch the emotional chord, the brand establishes itself in the psyche of the audience. Converting a definition into a story form gives far greater acceptance. Even when teaching children, we start with storybooks and picture books because their acceptance and comprehension are greater."Purpose-Driven Brand NarrativesBhaskar Majumdar then asked Bhumika Gupta about her thoughts on the emotional aspect of storytelling. Bhumika Gupta responded by sharing a story: "There is a story of a janitor who said he put a man on the moon when President Kennedy visited NASA. The janitor put emotion into the story, defining his purpose. There are two things in the perspective of the story – purpose and emotion. If there is no purpose, you won't connect with the consumers' emotions, and the story won't attract the audience’s attention. The janitor could have just said he was cleaning, but he spoke about his role in a world-important event. That is the role emotions play in a story, making some ads or stories better than others."Strategic Narrative in Diverse MarketsBhaskar Majumdar shared his personal experience with storytelling and then directed a question to Priya Patankar about creating a brand narrative for different target audiences. Priya responded by discussing PhonePe’s approach: "We started strong in tier 2 and tier 3 markets. For us, the problem statement started right from our inception, ensuring the message was appealing. One of the first things was being multilingual from day one, as language is a key part of engagement. Money causes anxiety, so if troubleshooting is in English, vernacular users are lost. Our app, help center, and smart speakers are multilingual. Storytelling is engaging with the consumer at a level where they feel involved. Tailoring communication to the user’s language, style, age, and stage in life makes a lot of difference. AI might take over more DAU communication, but we humanize it as much as possible."She added, "Younger people are digital-savvy and fearless, while older generations need more visual aid. Tailoring our strategy over time to be as targeted as possible, we ensure regional campaigns are specific, like Pongal and New Year. Our CRM and PR strategies are tailored to different regions and occasions."Communication Strategy in Professional ServicesBhaskar Majumdar asked Rahul Gossain about brand building in his services. Rahul responded by explaining the need for an integrated framework: "A brand must have a clear purpose that appeals to various stakeholders, whether internal or external. Effective communication facilitates behavior and cultural change, aligning everyone with the brand’s aspirational values. This applies across professional services, corporates, B2B, B2C, or D2C contexts. The role of communication is to transcend defined aspirations and bind everyone together."The webinar underscored the timeless relevance of storytelling in brand building. With insights from seasoned professionals, it highlighted how purpose-driven and emotionally resonant narratives can create strong brand identities. The discussion provided valuable perspectives on adapting storytelling techniques to different markets and sectors, reaffirming storytelling as a powerful tool in modern brand communication.

Mou Chakravorty has been elevated as Deloitte’s Marketing communications Director. This significant milestone reflects Mou's exceptional contributions and dedication to the field, marking a new chapter in her illustrious career.Mou Chakravorty expresses her elation and enthusiasm about her new role: "I am super happy to share my elevation as Director of Marketing, Brand, and Communications at Deloitte! I am excited for the times ahead, contributing to the roaring success of our firm. This major milestone is a moment of reflection and gratitude."Mou extends her heartfelt gratitude to her colleagues and mentors within Deloitte and the broader marketing and communications industry: "I am grateful to life for the support I've received from Deloitte and my industry colleagues in the marketing and communications fraternity. Their investment in my success has made this achievement possible."With a rich career spanning over 18.5 years, Mou has established herself as a passionate marketer and diligent storyteller. She is keen on devising communication strategies that drive business outcomes. Her expertise lies in technology and consumer sectors, where she excels in demystifying jargon and crafting strategic messages.Mou brings a unique mix of strategic business acumen, subject matter expertise, and robust stakeholder management skills. Her experience has helped global and local brands evolve and reposition themselves in the marketplace through creative content marketing powered by compelling narratives.As Mou steps into her new role, she is poised to lead Deloitte's marketing and communications efforts with renewed vigor and a sharp focus on strategic messaging and measurement. Her leadership is expected to drive further success and innovation for the firm.

Interpublic Group agency Golin recently appointed Jeff Beringer as the company’s first-ever Chief AI Officer (CAIO). This newly created, focused leadership role underscores Golin’s commitment to integrating artificial intelligence (AI) across all aspects of its business operations and client services. The position is effective immediately and reports to Gary Rudnick, Chief Operating Officer, Golin.As CAIO, Beringer will architect and accelerate the implementation of a comprehensive, multi-year strategy to modernize the agency for the AI age. His responsibilities will include driving AI innovation, upskilling Golin’s workforce, and helping design future AI-driven client service models that solidify the agency’s competitive edge. He will also collaborate with IPG to leverage unique Interpublic assets, technologies and strategic partnerships for the benefit of Golin’s teams and clients.“Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way we work, communicate, and create,” said Matt Neale, CEO, Golin. “By appointing Jeff as our Chief AI Officer and embarking on an ambitious AI transformation plan, our clear goal is for Golin to be the first fully AI-integrated global PR agency, focused on delivering best-in-class, future-forward solutions that drive superior results for our clients.”A 20-year Golin veteran, Beringer has a proven track record of leveraging technology to redefine how marketing and communications work gets done. Throughout his career, he has spearheaded numerous initiatives that optimized operations, enhanced client services, and fostered innovation at global agencies. His focus has led to industry distinctions, including recognition as one of PRovoke Media’s 2023 Innovator 25, and a 40 Under 40 honoree by PRWeek in 2013.“Our founder Al Golin always said, ‘fix it before it breaks’—get a ahead of change rather than be disrupted by it. In 2010, this pioneering ambition gave our agency the courage and permission to restructure the traditional agency model from a hierarchy of generalists to communities of specialists under our G4 model,” said Rudnick. “That same forward-thinking spirit will drive AI integration across our organisation now. Jeff’s expertise will ensure a seamless adoption of AI capabilities that empower and equip our teams worldwide to operate at the cutting edge.”Beringer previously served as Golin’s Global President, Digital. As an early leader in digital PR, his foresight and strategic execution helped the firm navigate and thrive in the rise of social media, take its first steps with influencer marketing, and harness the power of data to earn coverage and drive conversations with The Bridge, Golin’s award-winning real-time engagement network. Recently, Jeff has been at the center of the introduction of AI-powered innovations and tools to uplevel Golin’s approach to content testing, campaign and reputation measurement, influencer identification and impact, and misinformation detection.“After two decades at Golin, I’m honored to work alongside our global teams to help drive the agency’s next transformation,” said Beringer. “Golin’s entrepreneurial culture, unique IP and collaborative client partnerships create the perfect conditions to thoughtfully implement AI for the benefit of our people and clients.”Beringer will continue to serve as a strategic advisor to Golin’s mature digital practice and its seasoned global digital leadership team. The award-winning group delivers a variety of services to clients spanning social strategy, content and campaigns, influencers, community engagement, paid media and analytics – all of which will benefit from the agency’s AI evolution.

PR agency Golin has announced the promotion of Rafidah Rashid to Group Managing Director. In this newly created role, Rashid will provide centralized leadership and strategic direction for the agency's Singapore operations.Rashid brings over 13 years of experience in marketing communications to the role. Prior to her promotion, she served as Managing Director of Consumer, overseeing various sectors including beauty, lifestyle, education, and entertainment. Rashid is also a champion for diversity and inclusion, having recently been appointed co-lead of Golin's Asia Pacific Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council.Previously, Rashid honed her skills at DeVries Global, where she started as an Account Manager and eventually rose to become Managing Director within nine years. She brings a wealth of experience to Golin and will continue to report to Darren Burns, President of Asia Pacific.Expressing happiness over appointing Fidah to this role, Darren Burns, president of Asia Pacific, said that her unmatched energy for innovation, ability to create a vibrant culture, and her unique blend of experience, make her perfect for this role.“Under her leadership, we are evolving a new era that builds off our sustained success in Singapore,” Burns said. Rafidah Rashid said: “As a leader, my mission is to champion industry-first innovations for brands, while empowering our people to reach their full potential."

The Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB) is calling on individuals across the globe to participate in the 11th edition of the Sharjah Government Communication Award (SGCA). Individuals can compete in four distinct categories, focusing on ambitious young individuals with leading communication initiatives, official spokespersons representing government institutions, academics and researchers, and digital content creators transforming the media landscape with their creativity. Nominations are open until August 1st through the website www.igcc.ae.Best Youth InitiativeThe Best Youth Initiative in Government Communication category is dedicated to individuals or youth groups that have launched impactful communication initiatives to strengthen and advance government communication. These initiatives should enhance government communication programmes through innovative tools, effective communication with the public, or inspiring governments to launch projects aligned with the youth campaign’s message.Eligibility criteria include alignment with the general objectives of government communication, such as promoting transparency, raising public awareness, and encouraging youth participation in public affairs. Sustainability, with a clear plan for continuity and development, is also preferred. Additionally, inclusivity and diversity in age, gender, and cultural background are integral criteria, along with compliance with local and international laws and adherence to high ethical standards.Best Official SpokespersonThe Best Official Spokesperson (employed in a government agency) award honours second-line official spokespersons who have demonstrated impactful delivery of government messages, efficiently managing crises, professionalism and innovation, and creating significant positive impact. The winner will be determined based on the media presence, use of various media platforms to enhance their organisation’s image and achieve strategic goals, commitment to ethical and professional standards, adaptability to changes, and the ability to present information innovatively and creatively.Best Purposeful Digital Content CreatorThe Best Purposeful Digital Content Creator awards recognize exceptional individuals in two age categories: one for creators over 18 and another for those under 18. These awards honor content creators who use digital media to make a positive impact. The content must have a tangible impact on society. Applicants are expected to showcase exceptional skills and creativity using digital tools to publish content on social media platforms and achieve wide interaction and continuous engagement.Best Research in Communication SciencesThe Best Research in Communication Sciences is awarded to research that contributes to the development of government communication and presents new and innovative communication technologies, methodologies, and applications. Eligible research must be endorsed by reputable academic institutions or have gained wide recognition and appreciation among readers and professionals, demonstrating a deep understanding of government communication objectives and effectively contributing to achieving them.Submission criteriaTo ensure a successful submission to the SGCA, applicants are advised to submit an executive summary not exceeding 250 words, as well as a comprehensive and organised 1,000 words file that uses headings, paragraphs, and illustrations to support the submission in addition to a summary or table of contents as an overview of the file. It is also recommended that the award file include introductory attachments such as infographics, videos, and photos, all of which must meet the specific criteria of the award category. Participants can submit their works that meet the award's criteria through the website, where comprehensive details about the categories, criteria, and participation requirements for each have been provided.

Steve Miller, who recently stepped down as commercial director at the PRCA, is rejoining the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) after a 14-year-long hiatus. In his new role, Miller will concentrate on growing the CIPR's corporate membership base.Miller previously held a similar membership and commercial leadership position at both the PRCA and the ICCO (International Communications Consultancy Organisation). In his newly created role as corporate affiliate consultant, he will target increasing the number of UK PR agencies affiliated with the CIPR.This homecoming marks a return to familiar territory for Miller, who previously dedicated a decade to the CIPR before joining the PRCA in 2010.The CIPR boasts nearly 11,000 individual members alongside a strong corporate membership of 250. This includes agencies like Weber Shandwick (which left the PRCA in 2023), BlackHouse Media, Hard Numbers, Curzon and Jargon, alongside in-house communications teams from Barclays, Balfour Beattie, Centrica, Deloitte, and IKEA. The PRCA currently maintains a corporate membership of around 570.

Storytelling agency Enthral has bolstered its creative prowess with the appointment of Mark Tompkins as Creative Director.Tompkins brings a wealth of experience to the table, boasting 20 years in the industry across agencies like TBWA, DDB, Clemenger, and Ogilvy in both Australia and London.This hire signifies a strategic shift for Enthral, traditionally known for its journalistic storytelling approach. Managing Director Cameron Smith explains the decision:Tompkins said: “I started freelancing with Enthral and quickly realised I wanted to make the agency my next permanent move in my career. Beyond Enthral’s impressive client list, they produce quality work that I know I will be proud to be a part of.”This move positions Enthral to expand its creative offerings while staying true to its storytelling roots.

Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies, a player in the beauty and wellness industry, has hired Supreme Support Consultants, a PR agency specializing in beauty, wellness, and lifestyle, in order to refine and elevate public relations strategies.This collaboration represents a convergence of shared values and beliefs, with both companies deeply rooted in the philosophy of promoting holistic well-being and advocating for 100% natural and sustainable lifestyles. Blossom Kochhar Group's legacy of excellence in beauty and wellness aligns seamlessly with Supreme Support Consultants' expertise in crafting strategic communication tailored to the beauty, wellness, and lifestyle sectors."I am delighted to have associated with Supreme Support Consultants for our PR requirements. It would be an interesting journey with a group of young, like-minded professionals focusing on wellness, beauty, and sustainability,” said Dr Blossom Kochhar, Chairperson Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies.The partnership between Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies and Supreme Support Consultants underscores a shared commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability. Together, they are poised to redefine standards in public relations within the beauty, wellness, and lifestyle sectors, inspiring individuals to embrace a lifestyle that nurtures their well-being and the planet."We are excited to embark on this strategic partnership with Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies, a visionary leader in the beauty and wellness industry. With our specialized expertise in beauty, wellness, and lifestyle PR, we are well-positioned to elevate and amplify the brand's messaging, resonating with audiences who share our passion for holistic well-being and sustainability," remarked Sheetal Sharma, Director at Supreme Support Consultants.

Fintech giant Block, encompassing Cash App, Afterpay, TIDAL, and Square, has appointed Alice Coulthard to head its Corporate Communications for the Asia-Pacific region.Coulthard joins Block, owned by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, after a successful two-and-a-half-year stint as General Manager at social media agency We Are Social.This move marks Coulthard's first foray into the client-side, taking responsibility for the entire Block brand portfolio."I couldn't be more excited to jump into the world of fintech," said Coulthard. Previously the GM at We Are Social, Coulthard embarks on a new chapter, transitioning from agency work to leading corporate communications for Block across APAC.

By Ashwani Singla, Founding Managing Partner, AstrumDisinformation, the deliberate spread of false or misleading information, has emerged as a major threat in our interconnected world. The World Economic Forum's 2024 Global Risks Report highlights this concern, even above climate change and war on its short-term risk list. Disinformation poses a significant danger to democratic processes, institutional trust, and the stability of businesses and their leaders, across the globe. The Amplification Machine: Social Media and DisinformationSocial media platforms, with their echo chambers and confirmation bias algorithms, act as powerful amplifiers for disinformation. A 2023 study by Astrum titled “Technology Shaping Communications” revealed the rise of Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour (CIB) by malicious actors. These tactics involve building fake accounts with seemingly harmless content to establish trust, before using them to spread disinformation. Large follower bases then amplify these messages through likes, shares, and comments, further deceiving social media algorithms and propelling the false narratives. Disinformation campaigns are designed to hijack our emotions with fear, anger, and "us vs. them" narratives, exploiting our natural biases and bypassing critical thinking, making us act, share, without checking facts. The rise of AI-generated news outlets creates a veneer of legitimacy for fabricated stories, making it more difficult to identify and stop the spread of misinformation.Disinformation the new Kingmaker?Advancements in Generative Artificial Intelligence (GPT) are lowering the cost and barriers for producing manipulative content. Deepfakes, voice clones, and synthetic media are becoming increasingly accessible and realistic, posing challenges for verification and trust. This is particularly concerning in the context of elections. For example, YouTube in India has seen a surge in unlabelled content, including deepfakes targeting prominent politicians. The short-form video format encourages rapid scrolling and engagement, potentially exposing viewers to a flood of disinformation without proper context. Platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp are used to further amplify these issues, as legitimate regulatory guidelines to remove such fabricated content within 24 hours may not be fast enough to prevent significant damage.Take the example of Taiwanese Elections. In the buildup Taiwan elections, a flood of video content inundated social media platforms, all under the banner of 'the secret history of Tsai Ing-Wen.' These videos, featuring news anchors fluent in both English and Chinese, propagated a series of false claims concerning missile activities and the outgoing president and her party. On the election day itself, January 13th, an audio clip surfaced allegedly depicting Terry Gou, a candidate who had withdrawn from the race in November, endorsing the KMT Party. It was later observed that Mr. Gou had not made any such endorsement.According to media reports, operating behind these coordinated efforts were propaganda groups, known under various aliases such as Spamouflage, Dragonbridge, and Strom 1376. According to the disclosures made by the threat intelligence team at Microsoft, this marked the first instance of a state backed actors utilizing AI-generated content to influence a foreign election. Notably, the videos' news anchors were created using CapCut, an app developed by ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. At their peak, these videos were shared at an astonishing rate of 100 times per minute. The Taiwan election serves as a warning of the future, where AI-driven disinformation campaigns pose a significant threat, particularly in a year where over 60% of the world population will vote to elect their governments including those in India and the upcoming one in the USA.The consequences of a disinformation-rigged election are dire. They can plummet democracy, deepen social divisions, weaken institutions and public trust in them, strain international relations, further rupturing our RUPT(ured) world. The Corporate Labyrinth: Disinformation as a Reputational MinefieldCompanies and CXOs are not immune to the threat of disinformation. Malicious campaigns can damage corporate reputation, finances, and even lead to operational disruptions. A prominent example is the 2016 deepfake attack targeting PepsiCo and its CEO, Indra Nooyi. Trump supporters snubbed PepsiCo on account of false reports that CEO Indra Nooyi told Americans who voted for him to “take their business elsewhere.” The PepsiCo incident prominent as it may be, was before the era of GPTs. Between this and the Cancel-Culture, companies and executives are navigating a minefield of reputation and risk, inviting more scrutiny from the regulators.Publicly traded companies lose an estimated USD 39 Billion annually due to disinformation-related stock market losses. A single deepfake, like the one depicting an explosion at the Pentagon in May 2023, can cause temporary stock market dips of half a trillion dollars. With rise in phishing and targeted cyber security breaches, deep fakes can also be used to trick employees into giving away sensitive information. Not hard to imagine the legal, reputational and financial consequences of such acts!Combating the Puppet Master: Strategies for a Disinformation-Resilient WorldFortunately, we're not powerless. In the face of disinformation campaigns, companies need both peacetime and wartime tools. During peacetime, it's crucial to build trust and understanding with stakeholders. This means proactively acting on and communicating the company's purpose and values, showcasing the ‘walking our talk’ leadership of the C Suite, and fostering a strong brand identity. By "being known for something" positive, companies establish a baseline reputation that can be defended when disinformation strikes.Wartime, however, demands a different approach. Since speed and responsiveness is of essence, foremost is the “Crisis Preparedness” of an organization. Is the management team ready to respond effectively to a crisis? Are their established protocols? Designated Roles and Responsibilities? Scenarios gamed out? Content ready to distribute? Just a peek into what it takes to just avoid playing catch up to the news and social media cycles. Readiness is the key to an effective Response.During wartime, a range of tactics come into play. For e.g. Crisis Response Team (CRT) can swiftly address false narratives, while support from credible external advocates including press bolsters the flow of verified information and generate much needed endorsements. Besides, tables can be turned by using the same tools and technology used by bad actors to narrowcast authentic content at scale. By being ‘prepared and ready’ companies can effectively counter disinformation and protect their reputations. Dealing successfully with disinformation has to be management responsibility as important as any business continuity plan. “Character is like a tree, and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.”  -Abraham LincolnOrganizations need to focus on the tree, a strong shadow makes weathering the storms of wartime disinformation much more manageable.

Bharatendu Kabi, who served as the head of corporate communications at Hero MotoCorp, has recently stepped down from his position after more than 19 years with the company, according to sources close to Adgully.Throughout his extensive tenure, Kabi played a crucial role in shaping and managing Hero MotoCorp's communication strategies, significantly contributing to the company's public image and stakeholder relations. Prior to his role at Hero MotoCorp, he worked as a corporate communications manager at PepsiCo for five years, bringing valuable experience to his subsequent position.

WA Communications, a London-based strategic communications consultancy, has hired Jennifer Gerber as a Senior Political Adviser, bringing more than 20 years of experience at the heart of Labour governments, election campaigns, and policy development. During the last Labour government, Jen was a special adviser across three high-profile cabinet portfolios, providing strategic advice to Ministers at HM Treasury, the Department of Health, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Across all three departments, Gerber was the principal adviser to Andy Burnham (now the Mayor of Greater Manchester). In recent years she has provided strategic political, policy and media counsel, working on some of the highest profile issues in Britain – including advising top NHS Trusts during Covid 19 and leading the Refugee Council’s response to the government’s immigration bill and ‘Rwanda flights’ policy. In addition, she headed the parliamentary campaign group Labour Friends of Israel for more than a decade, and also previously led the prominent centre-left think tank, Progress (now Progressive Britain). Jen has worked at Labour HQ on a number of successful Labour general election campaigns, and in the party’s media and business relations teams. At WA, Jen will advise clients on political and media engagement strategies, working across WA's financial and professional services, health, investor relations, energy, transport, and education teams. Commenting on her appointment, Jennifer Gerber, Senior Political Adviser, WA, said: “From helping public transport operators communicate the journey to net zero, driving access to innovative medicines, or campaigning to secure access to cash for communities across the UK, WA understand how joined-up political and media engagement can drive policy change on issues that are crucial for society and business. I’m delighted to be joining the team and look forward to bringing my political and campaigning experience to bear across WA.” Dominic Church, Managing Director, WA, added: “There are few people who match Jennifer’s understanding of the Labour party at every level – from the frontlines of an election campaign, and managing the relationship with the business community, to operating at the highest levels of government; and her network across the Party, from the Leader’s office and Metro Mayors, to new PPCs and the key policy thinkers that will shape the next Parliament. Her expertise will be invaluable as clients seek to understand how a Labour government would work in practice, and I’m delighted that she’s chosen to join WA.”

The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) successfully hosted its 9th edition of the UAE Leadership Majlis. The prestigious event gathered more than 100 industry leaders, under the theme "The Potential and Dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI)" at the New York University Abu Dhabi, The Arts Centre, Abu Dhabi. The event also saw the launch of the MEPRA AI Guidelines; Developed by MEPRA’s AI Committee the guidelines aim to provide a framework for using AI for communications professionals in the Middle East. The guidelines are intended to be used alongside direction, policies and references to help inform ethical and legal use of the technology in our working lives.The Leadership Majlis explored the multidimensional aspects of AI, where it hosted experts from across the industry that brought insight through the diversity of their expertise and knowledge. The Majlis provided the optimum platform to explore opportunities and solutions for the communications industry in supporting the ever evolving incorporation of AI in daily practices in the communications industry and beyond. “At G42, we are deeply committed to shaping the future of AI, ensuring it acts as a catalyst for positive change. MEPRA's event allowed us to have productive conversations about the opportunities and challenges brought forth by AI for communications and marketing professionals. AI is not just enhancing storytelling, streamlining processes and supporting creativity; it's redefining our thinking patterns, consumer behaviour and the way we communicate with one another. Our dedication to advancing these technologies responsibly underscores our mission, as we continue to innovate with a strong emphasis on ethical practices and societal well-being in collaboration with industry associations,” commented Faheem Ahamed, Group Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at G42Huda Buhumaid, Chief Impact Officer, Dubai Holding, and Jonty Summers, Managing Director, Hanover Middle East were honoured with the MEPRA Fellowship award for their outstanding contributions to the communications industry."As this year's MEPRA Majlis concludes, we are pleased that this year's theme 'The Potential and Dangers of Artificial Intelligence' produced profound discussions and insights that have emerged from our exploration of the event. It has not only served as a platform for thought leadership but also as a catalyst for actionable strategies within the communications industry. The engagement and enthusiasm from our community have been truly inspiring! Together, we have taken a significant step forward in understanding how AI can be harnessed responsibly to enhance our work and the businesses we support. MEPRA remains committed to leading these essential conversations, ensuring our members are at the cutting edge of communication trends and technologies." highlighted Kate Midttun, MEPRA Chairperson and Founder/CEO, Acorn Strategy."The MEPRA UAE Leadership Majlis 2024 partners included CARMA, Mubadala, and APCO.MEPRA is the leading industry body for the public relations and communications industry in the Middle East, with over 1,000 members. Founded in 2001, MEPRA drives growth, sets standards of excellence, and fosters a strong, connected community of PR professionals.

EatMoreFruit, a leading UK healthcare communications agency (formerly Road Communications), has launched the EatMoreFruit European Network. This network brings together select boutique agencies across Europe to provide comprehensive support for clients in the diagnostics, medtech, life sciences, and pharmaceutical sectors.The network fosters collaboration between member agencies, allowing them to combine their expertise and creativity to deliver lasting results for clients.Paul Jarman, (pictured), CEO of EatMoreFruit, emphasizes the network's ability to leverage diverse strengths and offer a comprehensive service.The network's initial members include:  PR-B: Covers France, Italy, and Spain.  SER Communications: Covers DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) regions.  Agenda CPH: Serves the Nordic countries.Benefits for clients:Local Expertise: Gain insights into local healthcare policies, practices, cultures, and media landscapes.Clinical & Commercial Connections: Access valuable clinical and commercial networks within each region.Event & Conference Support: Receive assistance with organizing and executing impactful local conferences and events.

Beverage giant Britvic has named Coolr its new social media agency of record.Coolr will be responsible for developing and executing social media campaigns across all of Britvic's brands, including well-known names like Tango, Robinsons, and J2O. The agency will focus on creating fresh, innovative content that taps into current trends to better connect with Britvic's audience.Previously, Britvic's social media efforts were handled in-house by Infused, their digital agency. Britvic's head of digital marketing, Callum Watt, expressed his enthusiasm about partnering with Coolr, citing the agency's team's passion and creative ideas during the selection process.Coolr's UK managing director, Olivia Blairman, (pictured), echoed the sentiment, highlighting the exciting opportunity to work with Britvic's established brands. Blairman, who recently took on her new role, also mentioned Coolr's team of over 100 creatives who are eager to bring their ideas to life. This appointment comes after Coolr bolstered its creative leadership team, signaling a focus on innovation for the agency.

Gilead Sciences, a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines, has appointed Houbara Communications as its official public relations and communications partner in the GCC. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for both companies and underscores their commitment to advancing healthcare communication in the region.“At Gilead Sciences, we view ourselves as a partner to government, medical, and industry stakeholders across the Middle East, working collaboratively to achieve healthcare goals and create a healthier world for all. In this journey, we are confident that Houbara Communications is the right partner to develop and tell our story across key markets, and I look forward to working closely with the team to achieve this,” said Alexey Brevnov, Public Affairs Director Middle East, Gilead."As a leading biopharmaceutical company, dedicated to improving patient outcomes, Gilead's work aligns perfectly with our agency's mission to drive positive change through strategic communication. We look forward to leveraging our expertise to support Gilead achieve its communication objectives and make a meaningful impact," added Loretta Ahmed, CEO of Houbara Communications.Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company strives to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world.Houbara Communications is an independent, award-winning, integrated, and creative communications consultancy with partners across the Middle East. The agency has an entrepreneurial approach combined with deep, global agency experience. Promising a very personal service to clients, Houbara has a relentless commitment to delivering results and driving positive change.

Ash McEnaney has joined the independent PR agency Undertow Media as Group Account Director. Undertow Media is a PR, influencer relations & social media agency in Auckland, New Zealand. McEnaney brings a wealth of experience leading successful campaigns for global and local brands at Thrive PR + Communications. Her impressive client list includes LEGO, Airbnb, HelloFresh, and more.Prior to her agency work, McEnaney honed her writing and editorial skills as Assistant Editor at Woman's Day magazine. At Undertow Media, she'll leverage her expertise to champion new clients like Crocs, MOTAT, and TrailLite, while also managing the long-standing Logitech account.“I’ve long been a fan of Undertow Media and their impressive knack for delivering innovative, high-impact work that gets people talking. I’m joining the team at an exciting time; we’re growing at pace with a roster of ambitious clients and exciting projects in the works. And with such a stellar reputation in the industry, I couldn’t be more thrilled to make good things happen with this brilliant bunch,” said McEnaney. Greer Bland, Founder & Managing Director of Undertow Media, said: “We had a long courting period with Ash so I’m beyond stoked to have her finally in the fold. Not only is she incredibly cool, clever and connected, Ash has an innate understanding of what makes the media tick. She’s all about storytelling that sticks and has already hit the ground running with many a media win. As a key member of our management team, we have been thrilled to learn she is also incredibly process-driven – something we shamelessly geek out on as an agency.”

Today, we have Deepanshi Tandon, Director- Edelman Middle East, a highly motivated and results-oriented communications professional with a passion for brand building. Deepanshi’s journey with Edelman ME began just over a year ago, and in that short time, her dedication and expertise have propelled her to a well-deserved promotion to Director. Prior to joining Edelman, Deepanshi spent 14 years honing her skills in a diverse range of industries, from travel and hospitality to luxury and consumer health. Throughout her career, she's consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic and a commitment to continuous learning.Deepanshi thrives in cross-cultural environments and brings a global mindset to everything she does. Her ability to leverage diverse perspectives has been instrumental in delivering exceptional results for Edelman's clients. Let's delve deeper into Deepanshi's impressive career and her exciting future with Edelman ME.Congratulations on your promotion to Director role! Please share something about your journey.Thank you for your kind words. Reflecting on my journey, I can't help but feel immensely grateful for the experiences that have shaped me along the way.One standout highlight is from my time at OYO, when I was spearheading user engagement and influencer marketing initiatives for the brand. We embarked on a unique project, collaborating with an up-and-coming artist to create a rap song called "O YoYo". From brainstorming sessions to crafting the lyrics and fine-tuning the production with the artist, it felt less like work and more like a creative endeavor fueled by passion.Our goal was to resonate with OYO's audience in Tier I and Tier II towns in India, while also exploring influencer marketing as a revenue-generating avenue. The response surpassed our expectations; within just 24 hours of its release, the song went viral, leading to a remarkable 50,000 app downloads. Not only did this campaign yield significant returns on investment, but it also reinforced our brand's presence and resonance within our target demographic.The sheer joy of hearing colleagues chant "O YoYo" around the office and witnessing the song's widespread impact online validated the countless hours invested in ideation and execution. It served as a testament to the power of creative thinking and strategic marketing in driving tangible results.What made you shift to the UAE?I've always been drawn to working in environments that foster diversity, where people from various backgrounds and nationalities come together, crossing geographical boundaries. This dynamic atmosphere not only enriches my personal growth but also enhances my adaptability and understanding of different perspectives and cultural nuances.During my tenure as Brand Director at OYO, overseeing the European region, I had the privilege of working with a team comprised of individuals from Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Italy, and beyond. Collaborating with such a diverse group was an enriching experience, as each member brought their unique cultural insights and perspectives to the table.With this appreciation for diversity in mind, I saw the UAE as the ideal next step for both my personal and professional aspirations. The UAE epitomizes diversity, with people from a multitude of regions calling it home. It offered an unparalleled opportunity to immerse myself in a melting pot of cultures and perspectives, aligning perfectly with my values and goals.As the Director of Edelman Middle East, what strategies will you be implementing to navigate the unique cultural and business landscape of the region, and how will they differ from global strategies?At Edelman, our philosophy is rooted in the principle of thinking globally but acting locally. This means that while we draw upon our global expertise and best practices, we recognize the need to customize our approach to suit the specific needs and objectives of each client. There is no one-size-fits-all solution in our approach; instead, we prioritize understanding the client's business objectives, identifying the core issues at hand, and assessing any associated risks.In practice, this may entail taking a step back to reassess the situation with a fresh perspective, asking critical questions such as: What are the overarching objectives? What challenges are we aiming to address? Are there any potential risks involved?By adopting this client-centric approach, we can deliver tailored solutions that not only meet the business objectives but also effectively differentiate the brand or client we are serving. This strategy enables us to navigate the complexities of the Middle Eastern market while leveraging our global resources and expertise to drive success for our clients. Your career trajectory showcases a diverse range of industries, from lifestyle to FMCG to luxury. How has this breadth of experience shaped your approach to brand building and communications, particularly in the Middle East market?The Middle East presents a unique landscape where each country is deeply entrenched in its own rich culture and values, yet there exists a common thread that binds them together. This juxtaposition of cultural diversity and shared experiences makes brand building in the region both challenging and captivating.Despite the diversity of industries I've worked in, I’ve found that while the fundamentals of brand building remain constant, it's the execution and the ability to perceive strategies through a cultural lens that truly determines success. Delving into the intricacies of local customs, traditions, and consumer behaviors is essential in crafting compelling brand narratives and communication strategies that resonate deeply with the target audience.For me, this aspect of the job is particularly rewarding. Whether it's weaving captivating stories for lifestyle brands, driving market penetration for FMCG products, or cultivating an aura of exclusivity and allure for luxury offerings, the multidisciplinary nature of the work is where creativity thrives.Could you walk us through a project where you faced significant challenges and how you navigated them to ensure the delivery of high-quality results, maintaining both strategic vision and agility?This example is particularly interesting because it extends beyond the typical challenges encountered in office environments. When confronted with a crisis situation firsthand, alongside a group of media and clients, the true test of resolution emerges. This instance pertained to a cola brand, where the objective was to transcend conventional PR strategies, aiming for more impactful coverage, especially in mainstream newspapers and digital platforms.Spotting an opportune moment within one of their campaigns featuring a young mountaineer's attempt to summit Mt. Kanchenjunga, we saw a chance to showcase the brand's ethos of risk-taking in an innovative light. Thus, we orchestrated a groundbreaking press meet at the base camp of Mt. Kanchenjunga in Nepal with the mountaineer himself, striving for an authentic brand experience as he was returning from the summit.However, the unpredictability of nature and mountains is beyond human control. Unforeseen weather conditions left us stranded in the mountains for four days, presenting numerous challenges. Despite the adversity, we seized the opportunity to capture compelling content and forge genuine connections among the traveling group. Personally, it underscored the importance of mental and physical endurance. Quick thinking, compassionate leadership, and ensuring the safety of all became paramount.Fortunately, on the fourth day, we conducted interviews with the mountaineer in the most authentic setting amidst the valleys, resulting in over 500 stories across various media outlets, including front-page coverage in leading newspapers. This experience not only underscored the brand's adventurous spirit but also imparted valuable lessons in leadership, resilience, and self-awareness. Edelman is known for its emphasis on trust and reputation management.How do you ensure that these principles are effectively communicated and upheld in a diverse market like the Middle East?Trust and reputation management are fundamental pillars for Edelman globally, and we continue to prioritize them in the region. Our approach revolves around fostering open communication, understanding local insights, and upholding ethical standards to ensure these principles are effectively communicated and maintained.Firstly, by fostering transparent and authentic interactions with all stakeholders involved, we lay the foundation for trust to flourish. Secondly, we tailor our strategies to resonate with the unique cultural and social dynamics of each market within the Middle East. This entails conducting thorough research, engaging with local groups, and integrating cultural insights into our communication initiatives.Furthermore, we adhere to stringent ethical standards and best practices in all our endeavors. Upholding integrity and transparency in our actions not only reinforces trust with our clients and stakeholders but also strengthens our reputation as a trusted advisor in the region.With the rapid evolution of digital communication platforms, how do you ensure that Edelman stays ahead in leveraging these technologies for client engagement while respecting cultural sensitivities of the region?Edelman remains at the forefront in leveraging technologies for client engagement. In addition to having a dedicated digital practice led by a senior digital leader, we also integrate technologies across the group. Recognizing the significance of digital channels in engaging audiences, we continually harness the power of various platforms and tools to provide optimal solutions for our clients.Our commitment to staying ahead in digital engagement is further reinforced by our in-house platform, which offers comprehensive modules and training sessions. These resources empower our teams to navigate digital landscapes effectively, ensuring agility and responsiveness to evolving client needs, audience preferences and behaviors.