Queen's University Belfast, one of the United Kingdom's leading research-intensive universities and the first Russell Group university to establish a campus in India, has appointed Redhill India as its strategic communications partner to strengthen its presence and stakeholder engagement across the country. Under the mandate, Redhill India will lead integrated strategic communications for Queen's University Belfast in India, including corporate communications, media relations, executive profiling, thought leadership, stakeholder engagement and reputation building. The agency will work closely with the University to amplify its academic achievements, research impact, industry collaborations and student success stories while supporting its broader growth ambitions in the Indian market.The appointment marks the next chapter in Queen's University's India journey as it expands its engagement with students, academia, industry and policymakers following the launch of its campus in GIFT City, Gujarat. The communications mandate will support the University's vision of building greater awareness around its academic excellence, research leadership, innovation ecosystem and long-term commitment to India's higher education landscape.As international collaboration in higher education continues to gain momentum under India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Queen's University Belfast is strengthening its role as a partner in developing globally relevant talent, advancing research collaborations and creating opportunities for academic and industry engagement between India and the United Kingdom.Located in GIFT City, India's emerging international education and financial hub, the University's campus offers postgraduate programmes in future-focused disciplines including Artificial Intelligence, FinTech, Cybersecurity and Business Analytics, enabling students to access a globally recognised Queen's education within India.Prof. M. Satish Kumar, Dean of Queen’s University Belfast – GIFT City Campus, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, said: "India is a strategically important market for Queen's University Belfast and central to our long-term international vision. Our presence in GIFT City reflects our commitment to creating meaningful academic partnerships, nurturing future talent and contributing to innovation and economic growth. As we continue to strengthen our engagement across India, it is important that we build lasting connections with students, educators, industry and government. We are pleased to partner with Redhill India to help tell this important story."Ankita Juneja, Country Head – India, Redhill, said: "India is witnessing a transformation in higher education, with increasing demand for globally recognised learning experiences and stronger international collaboration. Queen's University Belfast brings together academic excellence, pioneering research and a clear commitment to India's growth story. We are delighted to partner with the University and look forward to shaping meaningful conversations that enhance its visibility and strengthen engagement with students, academia, industry and policymakers across the country."The partnership underscores the growing importance of strategic communications as leading global universities establish a stronger presence in India and seek to engage meaningfully with an increasingly discerning student community and a rapidly evolving higher education ecosystem.

Sagility, a leading tech-enabled healthcare operations and transformation company, has appointed Srushti Rao as Vice President, Global Corporate Communications and PR.  In her new role, Srushti will lead Sagility’s global and corporate communications, with a mandate including public relations and investor communications, as well as workplace and employer branding.  This will include playing a key role in strengthening the company’s brand narrative and creating consistent thought leadership, media engagement and brand experience across its global ecosystem. Prior to this, Srushti Rao has held senior marketing and communications roles at XBP Global, IKS Health, and Pearl Academy. An alumna of the IIM-Ahmedabad, Srushti also holds a degree in Fine Arts. Commenting on the appointment, Srushti said, “I am excited about my new journey with Sagility where I will focus on strengthening the organization’s brand story, its technology-driven services, customer-centric approach and vibrant work culture.”

Astrum, India’s first research-based strategic communications consulting firm, today announced the appointment of Dr. K. N. Raghavan as Senior Advisor. A decorated former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer with more than three decades of distinguished service across customs, taxation, trade, and diplomacy, Dr. Raghavan will strengthen Astrum’s counsel to clients operating in a complex policy environment that invite intense regulatory scrutiny.Dr. Raghavan joins Astrum’s distinguished roster of Senior Advisors to deepens Astrum’s policy and regulatory governance practice at a moment when boards, CEOs, and leadership teams are navigating an increasingly complex risk, regulation, and reputation landscape, from trade and tax policy to ESG and stakeholder governance.Ashwani Singla, Founding Managing Partner, Astrum, said, “Dr. Raghavan brings a rare combination of frontline policy and governance experience, regulatory sophistication, and cross-sector insight. Having operated at the highest levels of customs, taxation, trade, and diplomacy, he meaningfully deepens our ability to help clients communicate with clarity and credibility in today’s risk, regulation, and reputation landscape.”Dr. K. N. Raghavan said “I am pleased to be associated with Astrum, a recognised thought leader in research-based strategic communications. Its disciplined and ethical approach in helping clients articulate their narratives in a complex regulatory and governance environment is particularly relevant for organisations today. I look forward to working with Astrum’s dynamic team.”About Dr Raghavan: A career at the frontline of policy, trade, and governanceDr. Raghavan superannuated from the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) in 2024 after a 34-year career, spanning anti-smuggling operations, GST enforcement, commodity board leadership, and diplomatic representation. As Executive Director of the Rubber Board, he simultaneously held charge of the Tea Board, the Tobacco Board, and the Marine Products Export Development Authority.As Director General of the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN), he oversaw the completion and inauguration of a new national training campus by the Prime Minister in January 2024. His diplomatic and stakeholder-engagement experience includes serving as First Secretary (Commerce) at the High Commission of India in Singapore, and as CEO of NORKA-Roots, the Government of Kerala’s agency for non-resident Keralite welfare. He currently serves as Secretary General of the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI), leading the industry’s policy, regulatory, and stakeholder engagement.An MBBS graduate from Calicut Medical College, Kerala, Dr. Raghavan combines an unusual breadth of disciplinary training with frontline regulatory and diplomatic experience.

Benedicct PR & Brand Building has entered the UAE market through an exclusive partnership with DigifyMe IT Solutions, offering brands in the Emirates a single mandate that runs from newsroom relationships through to digital distribution.The partnership splits the work along clear lines and joins it at the output. Benedicct brings earned media, crisis communication and strategic storytelling, the practice it has built across clients in India spanning startups, SMEs and corporates. DigifyMe brings UAE market expertise and on-ground distribution across its digital media landscape. The narrative that earns a brand its coverage will be the same one carried across its owned and social channels, rather than the two running on separate tracks, which is where most integrated pitches break down. A client gets one strategy, one measurement framework and one point of accountability.The move marks Benedicct's first international expansion since its inception.Anjali Sehwwag, Founder & CEO, Benedicct PR & Brand Building, said: "There is a particular joy in watching something you wrote down as an ambition turn into an actual address. But I want to be clear about why we came. Dubai does not reward volume; it rewards clarity. Every brand here is competing for the same inches of editorial space against global capital, and most are still leading with product specs instead of a point of view. That gap is our opportunity. What we needed was a partner who already understood how attention moves in this market, and the moment we met the DigifyMe team, that question answered itself. New market, new opportunities, same commitment to excellence."Equally enthused about the tie-up, Aaryan Kapur, Founder, DigifyMe IT Solutions, said, "Brands in the UAE are competing hard for attention, and digital visibility alone no longer settles the question of whether a brand is taken seriously. That comes from earned coverage, and it is what Benedicct does well. Bringing our digital capability together with their media practice gives clients here something more complete than either of us could offer separately. We are looking forward to building this market with them."

Anjali D’Mello has joined Mastercard as Director, ESEA Communications, taking charge of communications across East and Southeast Asia.D’Mello announced the appointment on LinkedIn, stating that her new role will involve building connections across the region’s markets and working with Mastercard’s leadership team to shape the communications narrative and direction for ESEA.Prior to Mastercard, D’Mello spent over five years at Nium, where she held several communications and public relations roles. Most recently, she served as Global Head of PR & Communications from February 2025 to July 2026. Before that, she was Head of PR for APAC, Middle East & Africa from August 2023 to April 2025, and previously served as Head of PR at Instarem and Nium.D’Mello began her tenure at Instarem in August 2021 as Head of PR & Social before moving into broader communications responsibilities within Nium.Earlier in her career, she held senior communications and marketing roles at Circles.Life, TenX and Lazada Group in Singapore. At Lazada, she worked across branding, social and communications, including brand positioning, integrated campaigns, PR, media, events and influencer engagement.Her earlier experience also includes roles at Social@Ogilvy, Tickled Media, Cosmopolitan TV and IndiaSe Media, along with editorial internships at WGSN and ACP Magazines.

Imogen Long has been appointed Director at Edelman, marking her latest leadership step at the communications firm.Long has been with Edelman for nearly a decade, having joined the company in March 2018 as an Intern in Corporate Reputation. She has since held several roles across corporate affairs, strategic partnerships and account management.Before taking on her current role, Long served as Associate Director from April 2024 to August 2026. She previously held the position of Account Director between January 2023 and April 2024.Her earlier roles at Edelman include Senior Account Manager, Account Manager, Senior Account Executive, Account Executive and Assistant Account Executive.Long began her professional career in communications at STOP THE TRAFFIK Global, where she worked as a Digital Communications Assistant and Communications and Operations Intern.

Global technology major Lenovo has appointed Kiran Balasubramanian as its new Head of Communications for India.Balasubramanian took to LinkedIn to announce his new role, which encompasses the brand's external communications, internal communications, and analyst relations mandates. He takes over the role following the elevation of Shirley Coses Dsilva to Asia Pacific Commercial Communications Lead at Lenovo.In his new capacity, Balasubramanian will work closely with Lenovo’s leadership team to drive and communicate the brand's Hybrid AI roadmap, which spans both personal and enterprise AI solutions. His mandate also includes strengthening brand affinity and strategic positioning across Lenovo’s portfolio, including ThinkPad, IdeaPad, Yoga, Legion and Motorola.Sharing the announcement on LinkedIn, Balasubramanian highlighted that India remains a crucial growth hub for Lenovo, not only in terms of revenue, but also across R&D innovation, manufacturing scale and supply chain capabilities.Balasubramanian brings over 23 years of rich experience across corporate communications, technology public relations and analyst relations. Prior to joining Lenovo, he served as the Director of Communications at DigitalOcean. He also spent six years at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in key PR leadership roles, including Principal – Public Relations and PR Lead for Public Sector & Government (India & South Asia). Earlier in his career, Balasubramanian held senior communications and PR roles at Accenture, Six Degrees PR and Synergy PR.

Strategic communications firm Burson has named Ross Hall to the newly created role of EMEA Chief Client Officer, assigning him direct oversight of client leadership, retention, and organic expansion across the region.Hall, who has served as the agency’s EMEA head of clients since July 2025, will lead strategic management for Burson’s top-tier client relationships. Working alongside practice and regional market leaders, his mandate centers on improving service delivery, embedding unified client leadership practices, and driving long-term account growth.The appointment rounds out a structural split in Burson's regional expansion strategy, following the recent elevation of Helen Searle to EMEA Chief Growth Officer and Global Growth Partner. While Searle previously managed a dual client and growth remit, her focus now shifts exclusively to new business acquisitions and international pitches, leaving Hall to concentrate on deepening existing client partnerships.Hall’s background across the agency network includes key milestones:• Burson Tenure: Joined in 2023 to lead the EMEA corporate and public affairs practice—a role now co-led by Lisa Welsh and Peter Gitmark—before shifting to head of clients in 2025.• Prior Experience: Served as Edelman’s regional client services director for EMEA, alongside senior leadership stints at Ketchum and FTI Consulting.Burson EMEA CEO Jon Hughes noted that the structural shift highlights the agency's commitment to delivering client value in the current intelligence era. Hall added that the agency's focus remains on seamlessly connecting internal expertise to client goals, ensuring organic growth stems directly from delivered value rather than sales targets.The executive restructuring is the latest step in refining Burson's regional leadership model following Hughes’ appointment as EMEA CEO in mid-2025, a year after WPP merged BCW and Hill & Knowlton to establish the brand.

Veritas Reputation PR has appointed Amit Dalvi as Senior Account Director, strengthening its senior leadership team and communications capabilities. Amit brings over 14 years of experience across public relations and strategic communications, with expertise spanning client stakeholder, media relations, reputation management, strategic counsel and new development. In his new role, he will work closely with clients and internal teams to deliver integrated communication programmes and build impactful, insight-led reputation strategies.Prior to joining Veritas Reputation PR, Amit was associated with leading communications firms including Adfactors PR, Fortuna PR and P4C. Over the course of his career, he has successfully integrated communication strategies for a diverse portfolio of marquee clients, including Kotak Bank, HDFC Bank, Tata Capital, NIIF, NARCL, Manappuram Finance, Vedanta Group, Ananya Birla and Hinduja Group. His experience across financial services, infrastructure, corporate and diversified businesses has enabled him to develop a nuanced understanding of stakeholder expectations and deliver communications that support business and reputation objectives.A graduate of the University of Mumbai, Amit has further strengthened his expertise through certification programmes in Public Relations, Corporate Communications and Digital Marketing from NMIMS and MICA. A seasoned communications professional with a keen interest in sports, Amit also enjoys networking and building meaningful professional relationships in his free time. His appointment reflects Veritas Reputation PR’s continued focus on bringing experienced communications professionals into its leadership team as the firm expands its client partnerships and strategic advisory capabilities.

Chicago-based independent communications agency Motion Agency has acquired Cincinnati-based integrated marketing and PR firm Vehr Communications, strengthening its presence in the US Midwest.The acquisition will take effect on October 1. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.Following the deal, Motion will have nearly 90 employees across three US offices in Cincinnati, Chicago and Nashville.Vehr founder and CEO Nick Vehr will join Motion as Executive Vice President. In his new role, he will focus on business development and driving growth for the combined agency.Expanding in CincinnatiThe acquisition builds on Motion's existing presence in Cincinnati. The agency entered the market in 2023, when it acquired Rick Miller Communications.Motion is now also looking to appoint its first Creative Director based in Cincinnati, indicating plans to further develop its local capabilities.Founded in 2006, Vehr Communications provides integrated marketing and public relations services to businesses and nonprofit organisations. The agency has also been part of the IPREX communications network since 2018.Motion Agency was established in the same year and provides integrated communications services across sectors including consumer, healthcare, nonprofit, manufacturing and B2B.The agency is also a certified woman-owned business.The acquisition gives Motion an expanded platform in Cincinnati while adding Vehr's client relationships, communications expertise and local market presence to its wider US operation.With the integration of the two businesses, Motion is positioned to broaden its capabilities and scale its independent agency model across the Midwest and other key US markets.

EMOMEE, the fast-growing children’s entertainment brand helping young audiences build essential life skills through its beloved characters E, Mo & Mee, has appointed Maars Communicates, a leading integrated communications and digital marketing agency, as its strategic communications partner in India.The mandate comes at an important phase in EMOMEE’s growth journey, following the brand’s debut on Netflix with EMOMEE: Big Skills for Little Ones, Minis. The first Netflix series features 20 curated 11-minute episodes centred around life skills including confidence, kindness, curiosity, emotional intelligence, resilience and problem-solving.The appointment will see Maars Communicates lead EMOMEE’s communications and PR strategy, while also leveraging its expertise in social media and digital marketing to strengthen the brand’s visibility across business, entertainment, lifestyle, parenting, education and digital media.Through the mandate, Maars Communicates, co-founded by sibling duo Mausam Shah and Aayush Shah, will work closely with the EMOMEE team to build the brand’s narrative as it expands beyond content into streaming, consumer products, licensing, live experiences and international markets. The communications strategy will also spotlight the entrepreneurial journey of founders Pooja Jauhari and Varun Duggirala, while highlighting EMOMEE’s larger vision of building an Indian-origin children’s IP with global relevance.Speaking about the mandate, Mausam Shah, Founder & Director- PR, Maars Communicates, said, “EMOMEE is an exciting example of how an Indian-origin IP can think globally from day one. We’re delighted to partner with the team to build a strong and differentiated narrative around its growth and global ambitions.”Aayush Shah, Co-Founder & Director- Digital & Business Development, Maars Communicates, added, “EMOMEE’s unique blend of entertainment, life-skill learning and global ambition makes it a compelling homegrown IP with tremendous potential. We’re excited to bring its story to wider audiences and support its growth across markets and formats.”Pooja Jauhari, Founder & CEO, EMOMEE, said, “As EMOMEE enters its next phase of growth, communications will play an important role in helping us articulate our vision of building a global children's franchise from India. Maars Communicates brings strong experience across entertainment, consumer and kids’ brands, and we look forward to working together to tell the EMOMEE story to audiences, partners and the larger ecosystem.”For Maars Communicates, the mandate further strengthens its growing portfolio across entertainment, children’s brands, consumer businesses and social-impact-led organisations. With over a decade of experience, the agency has spearheaded communications for leading brands and platforms including MX Player, EPIC Channel and IVM Podcasts, India’s podcasting pioneer, and has also handled the PR mandate for the launch of Billboard India. Its portfolio further includes marquee IPs such as the Lux Golden Rose Awards and Event Capital’s properties including WindMill Festival and PetFed.Alongside its PR and strategic communications expertise, the agency has a strong focus on social media and digital marketing, developing digital-first narratives, content strategies and audience engagement campaigns for brands across categories.Its consumer and social-impact experience includes communications for leading kids and parenting brands such as R for Rabbit and BabyOrgano, as well as social-impact initiatives of the Aditya Birla Group, including Mpower, Ujaas by Neerja Birla and Aditya Birla Education Trust. The agency has also worked on Project Naveli by Navya Naveli Nanda, which focuses on promoting gender equality and empowering women across India.The EMOMEE mandate adds another high-growth children’s entertainment brand to Maars Communicates’ portfolio and reinforces the agency’s focus on building integrated communications and digital strategies for brands at significant stages of growth, expansion and transformation.

Language strategy consultancy Maslansky + Partners has elevated founding partner Keith Yazmir to president as part of a broader executive leadership expansion aimed at accelerating growth in healthcare and synthetic research.Yazmir, a 20-year veteran of the firm, will steer growth initiatives and drive deeper integration across Omnicom Public Relations Group and the wider Omnicom network. His background spans executive communications and marketing roles across the pharmaceutical, technology, automotive, and travel sectors.To reinforce its footprint in life sciences, the Omnicom-owned agency promoted Katherine Hettrich and Amanda Kealey to partners. Hettrich brings over two decades of healthcare experience from ZS Associates, Ogilvy, and Publicis Healthcare. Kealey, a trained anthropologist with 20 years in strategy and insight, previously held senior roles at Hall & Partners, Brado, and Shapiro+Raj.The firm is also doubling down on research technology and client management:• Jaime Hodges, Senior Vice President and Head of Research & Innovation, sees her mandate expand to oversee quantitative and synthetic research capabilities, including the proprietary Chorus platform.• Catherine Farr, a 12-year agency veteran based in Washington, D.C., has been promoted to Executive Vice President. She will oversee core language strategy initiatives and key client relationships alongside her existing team leadership.Chief Executive Officer Michael Maslansky noted that the leadership shuffle aligns directly with the firm's strategic focus on scaling its high-growth healthcare and research verticals.

Prajesh Kalathil has announced his departure from Bharti Airtel Limited after a 23-year career with the telecom company.Kalathil joined Airtel at a time when mobile phones were primarily used for calls and SMS, and went on to hold leadership roles across B2C, SME, enterprise and government businesses.In his most recent role as Enterprise Business Head, he was responsible for the enterprise business. His experience at Airtel also included serving as Senior Vice President and Business Head for the enterprise business, where he managed the P&L for enterprise and government operations across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.During his tenure, Kalathil worked across business operations, sales, distribution, customer acquisition and enterprise solutions. His responsibilities included leading teams, driving business growth, managing customer relationships and expanding the adoption of digital products across areas such as cloud, cybersecurity, CPaaS, IoT, SD-WAN and private LTE.Prior to his enterprise leadership roles, Kalathil served as Vice President and Business Head for Emerging and Enterprise Business, managing operations across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. He also held the position of General Manager and Zonal Business Manager, overseeing sales, distribution and customer acquisition across multiple product categories, including mobility, fixed-line services, DTH and Airtel Payments Bank.Reflecting on his 23 years with Airtel, Kalathil highlighted the company's evolution from 2G to 5G and from voice and data services towards digital and AI-led technologies.He also credited the people he worked with, including leaders, mentors, teams, customers, partners and colleagues, for shaping his professional journey.

Shirley Coses Dsilva has taken on a new role as AP Communications Lead, Commercial at Lenovo, marking a transition from her previous position as India Communications Head.Dsilva announced the new role on LinkedIn, stating that she will lead communications for Lenovo’s Asia Pacific commercial business. Her responsibilities will include developing communications strategy aligned with commercial business priorities, shaping the commercial narrative and executive positioning, and strengthening storytelling around enterprise technology and Hybrid AI.She will work closely with Sumir Bhatia and the broader Commercial leadership team in the new role.Dsilva joined Lenovo India as India Communications Head in April 2022 and held the position for over four years. Prior to Lenovo, she served as Vice President, PR Practice at Strategic Growth Advisors Pvt. Ltd.Her earlier experience includes roles at Prose Integrated Private Limited, Parle Agro, Reliance Capital, Larsen & Toubro, Saimatex Lda, DB Realty and Le Royal Meridien. She began her career as a Management Trainee at IPAN Public Relations & Public Affairs Company in 2004.

Communication and Public Relations Australia (CPRA) has announced Alastair Campbell as the keynote speaker for the CPRA Conference 2026.Taking place on Wednesday, 18 November at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Alastair will deliver the conference keynote titled "The Communicator Now”, exploring communicationsleadership amid shifting trust, accelerating technology, and increasingly complex public discourse.Alastair previously served as former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's adviser and chief spokesman for a decade. Since leaving frontline politics, he has written more than 20 books spanning political diaries, fiction, and analysis of leadership and performance, and is co-host of The Rest Is Politics.Alastair will join delegates live in the room, with dedicated time for audience questions.Louise Harland-Cox, CEO of CPRA, said the announcement reflected the ambition of this year's conference programme."Alastair Campbell is one of the most recognised communicators of his generation. He's been in the room when the stakes were highest, and he's spent years reflecting on what that experience teaches us. We're delighted to welcome him to Melbourne and to give our delegates the chance to hear from him directly."(Source: telummedia)

Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) brings its third edition of PRana 2026: India Inside, a brand-India reputation summit and story convention that gathers the country’s bold thinkers, builders, and storytellers for conversations on how India’s reputation is shaped from within.As the world watches India march towards Viksit Bharat, PRana 2026 brings together the voices shaping the country’s reputation under the theme India Inside: Shaping Reputation From Within. At its heart is a simple conviction - India’s next global story will not be shaped by narrative alone, but by what India does, what its people believe, how institutions are built and which voices the world chooses to trust. Through this lens, PRana 2026 asks a defining question: What is shaping India’s reputation story?“PRana 2026 turns the lens inward this year to understand the many forces shaping India’s reputation today. From the institutions we build and the businesses we create to our culture, technology, talent and the voices that command trust, India’s reputation is being shaped in many places at once. PRana brings these perspectives together to explore what they reveal about India that the world will come to know next,” said Kunal Kishore, President, PRCAI.PRana 2026 will feature more than fifteen eminent voices across diverse spheres of influence. The prominent speaker line-up includes Manu Joseph, Columnist, Novelist and Screenwriter; Shri Abhinav Kumar, DG Intelligence & Security and DG Prisons, Uttarakhand; Lt. Gen. Ajai Kumar Singh (Retd.), Former Army Commander, Southern Command; Present Member, NSAB; Advaita Kala, Author, Columnist, Screenwriter and Founder, InkSight Advisory; Bhaskar Bhat, Former Managing Director, Titan Company; Vinay Kamath, Author of TITAN and Former Senior Associate Editor, The Hindu Business Line; Vibha Paul Rishi, Independent Director, ICICI Bank; Harish Bhat, Former Brand Custodian, Tata Sons and Bestselling Author; Harish Bijoor, Brand & Business Strategy Expert and Founder, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc.; Sahiba Bali, Actor, Marketeer and Sports Broadcaster; Vineet Nayar, Founder, Sampark Foundation and Former CEO, HCL Technologies; Aman Gupta, Co-founder, boAt and Founder, OFF/BEAT; Padma Bhushan Pullela Gopichand, Chief National Badminton Coach; Sharda Ugra, Veteran Sports Journalist; and Anjali Bansal, Partner, Avaana Capital.The story convention will feature four curated conversation tracks, namely ‘What India Says. What India Does’; ‘Trust Is Not a Campaign’; ‘The Future That Cannot Be Imported’; and ‘The People the World Already Believes In’, brought to life through fireside dialogues, in-conversation panels, and PRana’s signature 300Wise speech format, led by India’s Catalysts, Pragmatists and Pathfinders.These conversations convene reputation architects, institution-builders and cultural voices alike, from leaders asking what makes a company worth believing in, to pioneers reframing the soft power India keeps on the bench, founders decoding what young Indian brands know that incumbents miss, and voices confronting the choices India must make about AI. Together, they turn one question over from every angle - what shapes India’s reputation, and how is it built from within.PRana 2026 continues to build defining moments for the industry, bringing business leaders and communicators together to address the role reputation management will play in business growth and authentic narratives. PRCAI SPRINT 2026, the Public Relations industry’s flagship study conducted with IPSOS, finds that reputation now drives measurable business outcomes. 96% of respondents credit Public Relations with building investor confidence, an equal 96% with strengthening customer loyalty, and 83% with crisis resilience. Nearly half say Public Relations now plays a direct role in driving business results, and more than 40% report that CEOs are actively seeking strategic counsel from their communications advisors. The Indian Public Relations industry grew 11% in FY26 to ?3,230 crore and is projected to reach ?4,500 crore by 2030. “India has never had more visibility, influence or ambition. But visibility is not reputation, and ambition is not trust. Reputation Capital is built when what we promise matches what we do. PRana 2026: India Inside brings this conversation to the heart of leadership, asking whether the India we project to the world is truly reflected in the India we build at home. In an AI-transformed world, reputation is built every day and tested every hour. This is no longer the job of communicators alone; it is the defining leadership challenge of our time,” said Deeptie Sethi, CEO, PRCAI.A meticulously curated, by-invitation-only gathering of communication industry leaders, C-Suite, cultural and social architects, PRana 2026 will be held on Wednesday, 2 September 2026 at The Leela, Gurugram.

Singapore-headquartered independent communications agency Bud Communications has expanded into North Asia with the opening of a new office in Hong Kong and the appointment of communications veteran Cynthia Chan as its Hong Kong and North Asia lead.The move gives Bud a presence in Hong Kong alongside its existing operations in Australia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. The agency said the new hub will focus on supporting technology companies operating across the Greater Bay Area and Southeast Asia.Chan brings more than two decades of experience across corporate positioning, reputation management and change communications. She joins Bud from FleishmanHillard Hong Kong, where she served as senior vice-president and partner and led the agency's corporate practice.Her career has also included a senior communications role at materials company Covestro in Shanghai, where she was head of communications for Greater China. During her tenure, she led communications around the company's sustainability and circular economy positioning, as well as organisational restructuring and regional change.Bud Communications founder and CEO Oliver Budgen said Hong Kong had been part of the agency's expansion plans since its early stages.“Hong Kong has been part of Bud’s growth ambitions from day one,” Budgen said. “Given how significant this market is within the wider APAC picture, we always knew success would come down to two things: timing and talent.”He said Chan's experience in reputation management and change leadership would be important in building Bud's North Asia operation.Chan said the Greater Bay Area-to-APAC corridor was increasingly important for technology companies looking to build credibility and manage communications across complex, multi-market environments.“I look forward to establishing Bud as the go-to strategic communications partner for tech innovators in Hong Kong and North Asia,” she said.The Hong Kong expansion marks another step in Bud Communications' regional growth as independent agencies seek to strengthen their presence across Asia-Pacific. For Bud, the new office is intended to create a bridge between technology companies in North Asia and markets across Southeast Asia, while providing strategic communications support for businesses navigating regional expansion, reputation challenges and organisational change.

Authored by: Dr Robin Ireland, Public Health Activist and Honorary Research Fellow, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of GlasgowFor many of us, the recent FIFA World Cup was a chance to enjoy football at its best in front of a global audience. But our pleasure was tempered by football’s governing body doing its utmost to commercialise every aspect of their money-spinning event. The fans at the games could be heard ‘booing’ every so-called hydration break,which were clearly created by FIFA to provide even more advertising slots in matches. The breaks themselves were sponsored by Powerade, a ‘sports drink’ owned by Coca-Cola.Alcohol producers were also prominent at the World Cup through FIFA’s commercial partnerships, with their brands (Budweiser and Michelob Ultra) featuring in television broadcasts, social media, and digital platforms. Historically, sport’s organisers have never been too embarrassed at who they get into bed with to ensure their competitions take place; never mind the consequences on our health. FIFA’s actions in creating new rules to benefit their commercial partners were also a feature of cricket’s governing body’s activities 60 years’ ago. Whilst limited overs cricket began in India in 1951, England introduced made-for-television commercialised versions in the 1960s with early sponsorship provided by Gilette and then the tobacco brands Rothman’s and John Player.The introduction of Twenty20 (T20) cricket in 2001 provided a perfect platform for television audiences, and fast-food companies were quick to associate their brands with this entertainment-focused section of the sport. Since the Indian Premier League (IPL) began in 2008, it has become the richest and most spectacular T20 competition. Its format and business model have helped create new marketing opportunities globally. The Australian T20 league has been called the KFC Big Bash League since it launched in 2011. Logos appear everywhere from players’ uniforms, in reports featuring match statistics, and even on the playing surface itself. In England, a new cricket competition modelled on the IPL, the Hundred (matches feature100 balls faced by each team) was introduced in 2021 with its main sponsor being KP Snacks. Its brands (including products high in fat and salt) appeared prominently on the players’ shirts.The 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games, which is taking part in Glasgow, Scotland, in July and August this year, is being attended by athletes from 74 nations and territories. Unlike either the FIFA Men’s World Cup or the Indian Premier League, it will have been much harder for the Games organisers’, the Commonwealth Games Federation, to secure financial backing. Indeed, the intended hosts, the Australian state of Victoria, dropped out in 2023 citing mounting costs. Glasgow agreed to host the competition on the proviso that no public money would be involved. According to the press, the Games will cost £150m with £50m coming from “ticketing, sponsorship, broadcast rights and merchandise” (BBC Scotland, 22 July 2026).The Glasgow Games have a number of ‘Official Event Partners’ (or sponsors) including the Indian dairy conglomerate, Amul. More concerningly though, Coca-Cola are acting as the Official Soft Drinks Partner and Jubel as the Games’ Official Beer. The link between sugary drinks and the worldwide increase in the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes is well known. Even beyond the impact on personal health, the negative effects of soft drinks on environmental health are less well discussed. In a time of rapid and damaging climate change, the water footprint of a can of coke is high. If we include its raw ingredients, its packaging, and its factory production, it may take 15 to 35 litres of water to produce per can. There is a strong argument that alcohol sponsorship should not be allowed anywhere near sport with its large audience of young people. Alcohol companies have become adept at promoting their zero-brand options and using ‘alibi’ marketing techniques which rely on slogans, familiar colours and logos of brands to avoid explicit references to alcohol. In both instances though, research shows that young people still see them simply as advertising for alcohol.Whilst I am sympathetic to sports organisers, surely events should simply not take place if they are driven by alcohol and ultra-processed food company financing, which by its very nature, is designed to encourage consumption of unhealthy products? We need to seek better healthier alternatives. If tobacco company sponsorship has been largely driven out of sport, surely we can take the same position on alcohol, unhealthy food and drinks?The development of international sport has been driven by media platforms and the marketing activity of multinational corporations. Commodification of all aspects of sport – FIFA are even selling small pieces of the MetLife Stadium pitch where the World Cup Final took place – is being prioritised over any semblance of morality and ethics. However, as we have seen at the World Cup, sports fans may just start pushing back at this overt commercialisation. The long-term consequences for brands wishing to benefit from the feelgood aspects of live sport might make companies start to think twice!

The Tourism Development Fund (TDF), Saudi Arabia’s national steward of tourism investment, has announced the appointment of Mashail Mohammed Alkarni as its Official Spokesperson. The appointment forms part of TDF’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its corporate communications framework and enhance its media engagement channels, helping ensure consistent messaging and stronger engagement with the media and the wider public.In her new role, Alkarni will represent TDF in its media engagements, coordinate with media organizations, and oversee communications relating to official statements and announcements, ensuring that TDF’s institutional messages are communicated effectively and consistently while further strengthening its media presence.Alkarni serves as Associate Director of Enterprise Risk Governance at TDF. She brings professional experience across governance, risk management, and corporate compliance, and has contributed throughout her career to developing regulatory frameworks and strengthening governance practices that support institutional efficiency and long-term sustainability.The appointment reflects TDF’s commitment to applying best practices in corporate communications and establishing a clear and effective channel of engagement with the media. It will help enhance transparency, support timely and accurate responses to media enquiries, and keep pace with TDF’s growing role in enabling tourism investment across Saudi Arabia.The Tourism Development Fund (TDF)The Tourism Development Fund (TDF) is the National Steward of Tourism Investment in Saudi Arabia, going beyond financing to drive high-impact investments and enhance the competitiveness of the Saudi’s tourism destinations.TDF enables entrepreneurs and tourism businesses with tailored financial solutions and non-financial support programs while attracting local and international investors to develop landmark tourism projects.With a vision to create a dynamic and attractive investment environment, TDF fosters strategic partnerships, supports economic diversification, enriches visitor experiences, and strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading global tourism destination. Committed to advancing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Tourism Strategy, TDF remains a trusted partner, working closely with investors and key stakeholders across the sector.

Apostrophe Ventures, the global communications and advisory platform founded by Ameer Ismail, today announced Divya Narayan, Leila Bilimoria Surti and Saji Abraham as Managing Partners, marking a significant step in the firm’s plans to build a senior-led, mutli-disciplinary platform for a rapidly evolving communications landscape. The leadersip team will drive Apostrophe Ventures' integrated offering across corporate and communications, public relations, reputation and crisis management, brand and marketing strategy, creative and content solutions, digital and social influence. The appointments bring together more than seven decades of leadership and cross functional experience Together, the three Managing Partners will work closely with Ameer Ismail to shape Apostrophe Ventures' growth, deepen senior client partnerships and build capabilities across its service offerings. Apostrophe Ventures today also announced its Chief Technology and AI Advisor, Hardev Dhindsa. Hardev is a technology entrepreneur who has built successful global businesses. He will work closely with the leadership team to create unique AI enabled platforms and solutions that which will sit at the core of the offering and he will also advise on emerging technology solutions as it evoles.Commenting on the leadership team, Ameer Ismail, Founder & CEO, Apostrophe Ventures, said: "Apostrophe Ventures was created to help organizations navigate an increasingly complex communications landscape. Divya, Leila and Saji are some of the best leaders in the business and they share my vision and values and have the depth of experience to help deliver this promise. They bring their cross functional experience, entrepreneurial energy and a deep understanding of brands, businesses and reputation to help build Apostrophe Ventures growth and recognition. Hardev is a passionate technology leader who has committed himself to use AI and Technology tools to transform our capabilities. I am delighted to welcome them on board and look forward to a great journey together."Divya Narayan is a senior communications leader with over two decades of experience spanning corporate communications, reputation, brand storytelling and agency leadership. Most recently, she was a part of the senior communications team at Amazon India, where she led integrated communications, executive positioning and reputation management across key consumer businesses, helping shape the company's brand narrative and strategic visibility. Earlier, she held leadership roles at Lintas Live (formerly known as GolinOpinion), Edelman and Ruder Finn, where she helped build and grow PR and integrated communications practices across verticals. Leila Bilimoria Surti brings over two decades of experience across corporate communications, public relations and brand marketing. Most recently, she ran her own marketing and communications firm. Prior to this, she spent over twelve years at Lintas Live (formerly known as GolinOpinion), advising leading brands across corporate and financial communications, lifestyle, hospitality, travel, FMCG and food & beverage. Leila also spent two years leading the External Communications for Barclays Global Retail and Commercial Bank in India, driving corporate communications and stakeholder engagement. She started her communications career at Edelman in New York, building expertise in global communications and integrated brand strategy.Saji Abraham is a seasoned advertising and brand strategist and a respected marketing leader with over three decades of experience helping organisations build enduring brands and accelerate business growth. Most recently, he served as Chief Marketing Officer at Classic Legends, leading the revival and growth of iconic motorcycle brands including Jawa, Yezdi and BSA. Earlier, during a distinguished career at Lowe Lintas, he advised some of India's leading and global brands across FMCG, automotive, banking and other sectors, driving brand transformation, business strategy and integrated marketing. For the past five years, Saji has also been running Fighting Fit Brands, his independent strategy consulting firm specialising in brand and communication consulting. He is also the recipient of several prestigious global and Indian effectiveness and creative awards, including Effies, WARC, AME and Cannes.The announcement marks an important milestone in Ameer Ismail's vision of building a senior-led, integrated communications platform for a convergent world. With its leadership architecture now in place, the firm will focus on building differentiated capabilities, expanding its client portfolio and partnering with organisations on the issues that matter most to their growth, reputation and long-term relevance.

Aussie brand experience agency Darkhorse has secured the account for Veuve Clicquot’s upcoming brand activation in Australia following a competitive pitch, alongside the appointment of three senior leaders across its Asia-Pacific offices.The luxury champagne brand joins a client roster that includes Jaguar Land Rover and Sephora.To support its expansion, Darkhorse added two new experiential directors to its ANZ operations. Maxine Reed joins the Sydney office after four years leading the brand experience team at Havas Red across accounts including Lexus, Toyota, and Netflix. In Auckland, Olivia Muir joins from Mango Communications (now FleishmanHillard), bringing prior experience from McDonald’s, New Balance, and telecom provider Spark.Additionally, Elizabeth O’Leary has been named creative director in Singapore, joining from Avantgarde MENA to strengthen the agency's multidisciplinary storytelling capabilities."Darkhorse has become the brand experience agency iconic brands continue to choose across APAC," said Darkhorse founder and CEO Mike Hewitt. "Our new partnership with Veuve Clicquot, and the appointments of Maxine, Olivia and Elizabeth are all moments to celebrate."Darkhorse operates across Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, delivering brand experiences, PR, influencer marketing, and social media services. The agency is part of Project, a global network of 13 independent agencies.

Memac Ogilvy has named Yasser Hamdy as Managing Partner of its PR business, promoting a company veteran to spearhead client operations and integrated communications across key regional accounts.Based in Dubai, Hamdy will oversee the agency's public relations portfolio while providing strategic counsel to senior leaders across global, regional, and government clients.Hamdy brings more than seven years of experience at Memac Ogilvy to the position, having previously held senior roles across Dubai and the broader Middle East. His career spans key markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt. Before joining Ogilvy, he held senior positions at PR firm BLJ Worldwide and communications agency Grey Group in Qatar."I’m excited to take on this role and continue building on the work we’ve done across the region," Hamdy said regarding his appointment. "We have an incredible portfolio of clients and a hugely talented team, and I’m looking forward to working with both to deliver work that has a real impact, at a time when the region’s influence and relevance on the global stage continues to grow."

Suman Hughes has been promoted to senior vice president and head of communications for Europe at Mastercard, succeeding Jim Issokson, who recently retired after two decades with the company.Hughes will lead Mastercard’s communications team across Europe, overseeing corporate affairs, reputation, issues management, product communications, brand, employee communications and social media. Mastercard employs around 9,000 people across 30 offices in the region.She will report to Jennifer Erickson, Mastercard’s global head of communications, based at the company’s headquarters in Purchase, New York.Hughes joined Mastercard in 2019 as director of communications for the UK and most recently served as vice president of communications for Europe. Earlier in her career, she spent seven years at HSBC and held agency roles at Instinctif Partners, FTI Consulting and Consolidated.Issokson began his career in political campaigns before moving into the agency sector, working at Edelman and Shift Communications. He joined Mastercard in 2006 as vice president of reputation management and public affairs communications and was appointed to lead communications for Europe in 2021.Reflecting on his retirement in a LinkedIn post, Issokson said his communications career had brought new challenges and opportunities, including managing media issues, adding that he had taken pride in serving as the company’s voice.

Walmart Chief Communications Officer Allyson Park is set to leave the retail giant early next year, with the company planning an external search for her successor, according to Bloomberg News.Park, who has spent more than three years at Walmart, will transition to an advisory role on September 1 and leave the company on February 1, 2027, Bloomberg reported, citing an internal memo.During her tenure, Park worked to strengthen the integration of communications with other areas of the business. Walmart also expanded its communications team and increased its use of artificial intelligence, according to the memo.Park played a key role in communications surrounding Walmart’s leadership transition last year, when John Furner succeeded Doug McMillon as CEO.Before joining Walmart, Park held senior communications positions at Yum! Brands and Mars.Her departure comes as Walmart undergoes several senior leadership changes. US Chief Operating Officer Kieran Shanahan left in July, while Sam’s Club COO Tom Ward and Walmart US store operations head Cedric Clark departed in May.Walmart did not immediately comment on Park’s planned departure.

Rheaa Jumaani and Mehek Singghi have launched Echo Collective, a new-age communications company bringing PR, social, digital, creators and partnerships together under one integrated strategy.  Built on a decade-long friendship and a shared vision, Echo Collective comes from the belief that need one clear story, not multiple disconnected versions of it. What started as two friends working in the same industry has evolved into a shared ambition to build a company where strategy and execution work together, relationships matter as much as results, and good stories are built to travel. The company is led by two founders with complementary experience across entertainment, lifestyle, fashion, hospitality, sports and digital platforms. Commenting on the launch, Rheaa Jumaani and Mehek Singghi, Co-Founders, Echo Collective, said, “We’ve both spent years on different sides of the same industry, building stories, launching brands and figuring out what makes people actually care. Echo Collective comes from wanting to do that work differently, with more ownership, more collaboration and fewer silos. After a decade of friendship, it felt like the right time to turn a shared vision into something of our own. We want to build a company that feels like a true partner to the people we work with, where a good idea doesn’t stop at PR or social, but finds its way into culture. At the end of the day, we want to create work that people remember, talk about and pass on.” Echo Collective currently works across PR, social and digital, with its broader model bringing together creators, partnerships and culture-led storytelling under a single strategic approach. The company is currently working with clients across entertainment, talent and emerging businesses, including Equinox Virtual, Z Studios, Manifest Films, GSEAMS Productions and artist Rani KoHEnur, among others. The company’s larger ambition is to help brands move beyond being part of the conversation to becoming part of culture, building visibility across traditional media, artificial intelligence, communities, creators and emerging platforms. 

Snap Inc. has officially promoted Rowan Saghayroun to the position of Head of Communications for Saudi Arabia (KSA), marking a strategic expansion of her leadership within the tech giant's regional operations.In her newly elevated role, Saghayroun is based out of Riyadh, where she will take direct charge of building Snap’s corporate story, leading regional media relations, and driving localized brand strategy across the Kingdom. She officially stepped into the position in July 2026 after previously serving as Communications Manager at Snap, where she helped establish and execute the platform's regional communication initiatives.Taking to LinkedIn to share the career update, Saghayroun expressed her enthusiasm for leading the market from the ground: "Excited to share that I’ve stepped into a new role as Head of Communications for KSA at Snap Inc. Looking forward to being on the ground in Riyadh and continuing to build Snap’s story here."Strategic Market Context• Riyadh Expansion: Placing senior executive leadership directly on the ground in Riyadh aligns with a broader trend among global tech firms tapping into Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiatives, which heavily emphasize digital transformation and creative industries.• Core Audience Engagement: Saudi Arabia represents one of Snapchat’s most active global markets per capita, with massive daily active user engagement and a highly vibrant creator economy. Having dedicated local leadership will enable Snap to manage cultural nuances and forge deeper partnerships within the Kingdom's booming advertising and tech ecosystem.

Independent marketing communications agency bSIDE has named Jasmine Choo as partner and head of experiential, effective August 2026, as the firm moves to expand its live events and brand activation capabilities.In her new role on bSIDE’s leadership team, Choo will spearhead the growth and development of the agency's experiential marketing division. She brings over 18 years of agency and in-house experience, with a heavy focus on the luxury and lifestyle sectors.Choo joins bSIDE from Access Communications, where she led the firm's culture and lifestyle portfolio while serving as head of events and experiences. During her tenure, she oversaw campaigns for high-profile clients including Chivas Regal, Leica, Onitsuka Tiger, Royal Salute, and Samsonite. Her background also includes luxury event management at Directions Group, where she managed private client events and galas for brands such as Audemars Piguet, Chopard, Piaget, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, and Van Cleef & Arpels."Choo has spent almost two decades creating and building memorable events and experiences for some of the most demanding brands in the region," said Charissa Guan, founder and managing partner at bSIDE. "Having her as partner will allow us to go deeper into work that not simply creates fame for brands, but allows them to build community."Choo noted that the agency's distinct approach drew her to the role. "In my conversations with Guan and the team, it was refreshing to have my perspectives challenged," Choo said. "They constantly have a unique point of view and a collective ability to approach briefs pointedly yet creatively. I'm looking forward to bringing that same relentlessness to how we design experiences that surprise and delight."The appointment comes during a period of growth for bSIDE. Earlier this year, Singapore-headquartered furniture brand Castlery appointed bSIDE as its strategic communications agency on a one-year contract to oversee global reputation management and core messaging as it expands internationally.

IVY PR has appointed Rhiannon Bulley as Associate Director in a newly created role, as the Australian communications agency continues to expand its business and client portfolio.Bulley will be responsible for developing and overseeing integrated earned media strategies and campaigns for IVY PR, while also supporting key client relationships and working with the agency’s leadership team to advance its business objectives.She brings more than 15 years of experience in public relations, with expertise spanning media relations, social media and influencer strategy, events and brand activations, and content marketing.Before joining IVY PR, Bulley was Account Director at Sabio. She has also held senior PR roles including Head of PR at McCann Australia and HERO, working across clients in lifestyle, beauty, hospitality, health, fashion and the not-for-profit sector.Her appointment comes as IVY PR reports continued growth, including 40% year-on-year revenue growth and a series of new client wins.Emma Bedsor, Co-Founder and Managing Director of IVY PR, said Bulley brings a broad communications skillset covering traditional media as well as digital, social and influencer marketing.“Rhiannon is a welcome addition to the IVY PR team. She is a highly skilled PR professional, whose career has successfully spanned traditional print media to digital, social media and influencer marketing,” Bedsor said.Bedsor added that Bulley’s hands-on approach to media relations and ability to develop earned media strategies would strengthen the agency’s offering while supporting its clients and wider team.Bulley said she had long admired IVY PR’s approach to earned media strategy in the B2C market and viewed the move as a natural progression in her career.“I’m proud to be joining IVY PR and grateful for the opportunity provided by Emma and Mia,” Bulley said. “I look forward to working with them and the broader BCM team to achieve outstanding results for our clients and to produce creative, multi-disciplinary PR campaigns that earn love, demand attention and achieve measurable impact.”Founded in 2021 as part of BCM Group, IVY PR specialises in earned media, public relations, social media, influencer marketing, content strategy, events and brand activations.The agency works with clients across tourism, retail, hospitality, fashion, FMCG, property, finance and lifestyle.Bulley’s appointment strengthens IVY PR’s senior team as the agency expands its integrated approach to earned media and brand communications.

Florence Guo has joined Galaxy Entertainment Group as Assistant Vice President – Media Relations, expanding the company’s communications leadership in Macau.In her new role, Guo will oversee media engagement strategies and communications partnerships, supporting Galaxy Entertainment Group’s corporate reputation and business objectives across key markets.Based in Macau, Guo brings experience spanning hospitality, integrated resorts and corporate communications. Before joining Galaxy Entertainment Group, she held communications and media-related leadership roles with Conrad Guangzhou and Wynn Resorts Macau, where she worked across brand, media and stakeholder engagement.Her move to Galaxy Entertainment Group comes as Macau’s integrated resort sector continues to evolve beyond traditional gaming, with operators placing greater emphasis on hospitality, entertainment, tourism, events and destination experiences.Guo’s background in hospitality communications is expected to support Galaxy Entertainment Group’s efforts to strengthen its media relationships and communicate its broader business and entertainment proposition to audiences in Macau and international markets.Galaxy Entertainment Group operates integrated resort, hospitality and entertainment businesses in Macau, including Galaxy Macau and Broadway Macau. The group has continued to expand its non-gaming offerings as Macau develops its positioning as a diversified tourism and leisure destination.Guo’s appointment adds to the communications expertise supporting the group’s corporate and brand engagement as it navigates an increasingly competitive regional hospitality and entertainment landscape.(Source: telummedia)

Authored by : Lalit Sharma, Founder-CEO, PR Companion and Ethane Web TechnologiesFor about 20 years, marketers have treated ranking first on Google as the end goal of creating brand visibility. It was always simple: rank number one of Google, get the traffic on the website, it will generate leads & sales, and visibility will follow on its own. That equation has started to break down since generative AI entered search, and the scale of the shift is now visible in the numbers.A study published in March 2026 tracked 863,000 keywords and 4 million AI Overview URLs. As per the study, merely 38% of pages cited in Google’s AI Overviews were ranked in the top 10 organic results for the same search term. While the number was at 76% just seven months ago. In less than a year, the link between ranking position and AI citation has roughly been cut in half. The question worth asking is why. What changed in that window was not how Google ranks pages. It was what AI systems are actually built to do with them. Google’s ranking system and an AI system’s citation logic are answering two different questions. Google questions which page best matches the purpose behind a search, based on the relevance, backlinks and authority signals built up over years. On the other hand, an AI tool goes narrower. It questions which piece of content can be pulled out cleanly, trusted, and used to construct a direct answer. A page can be written to win on the first question and still fail the second. Long intros, storytelling build-up, and a key insight buried in paragraph twelve. All of this can still rank well on Google. None of it helps when an AI model is scanning for something it can lift and use immediately.This is where the gap actually opens up. Earlier, the ranking algorithms were built on just one factor: a page as a whole, its backlinks, its age, its topical depth, and its overall authority on a subject. On the other hand, AI tools narrow it down, often a single paragraph or even a sentence, and ask if it can establish itself as a fact or an answer. A brand can still invest a huge amount in strong domain authority but consist of vague answers and rank on Google because of the SEO. However, will AI cite that page on its chat? It is the question that has come to the surface. Simultaneously, a lesser-known page will clear answers and facts, backed with sources and structural content, and has a true chance to appear in AI searches. In simple words, ranking rewards a page's overall weight. Citation rewards the clarity of a single passage within it. In 2024, Gartner anticipated that traditional search engine volume would drop 25% by 2026 as generative AI tools held a growing share of queries that once were “Googled”. Though the projection has not come to exactly the same, as Google still handles the overwhelming majority of search queries around the world. However, there has been an underlying shift. AI systems increasingly standing between a question and its answer are now well documented and measurable.There is also a separate question worth asking: once a citation happens, what kind of content is actually being cited? In a Muck Rack report, ‘What is AI Reading’, the research suggests more than 25 million links cited by ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. The finding has held steady across all three editions: earned media, meaning independent, non-paid coverage, accounts for 84 per cent of everything these AI systems cite. Paid or advertorial content barely registers, at 0.3 per cent. Journalism specifically makes up around 27 per cent of citations. Put these three findings together and a pattern emerges. Ranking position is losing its grip on AI visibility. Traditional search volume itself is shrinking as a share of how people find answers. When AI cites something, it is the result of independent reporting done on the basis of third-party coverage far more often than owned brand content, no matter how well that content ranks.It does not mean that search engine optimization is irrelevant. Factors like domain authority, technical health and well-structured content still matter and serve as a base for AI systems. The only change that has come is that ranking on Google is not enough on its own. Earlier, it was seen as the endgame, now it is where the foundation is built. For anyone responsible for a brand's visibility, in marketing or in communications, the practical shift is in what gets measured and what gets prioritised. A page landing in position one is no longer proof that the job is done. Whether that brand is being cited by name in an AI-generated answer or where that citation is coming from – earned coverage, a forum thread, a comparison article, a product page – is becoming just as important to track. The data above suggests the businesses paying attention to that distinction now will be the ones still visible once the answer itself, not the link beneath it, becomes what most people actually see.

Health tech company OURA has appointed Jessica Makin to lead communications across the Asia-Pacific region, as the company expands its presence in a fast-growing wearable health market.Makin joins OURA after almost seven years at Amazon Australia, where she most recently served as Head of Communications for Australia and Singapore. Her move comes as OURA continues to broaden its health technology proposition beyond wearable tracking and strengthen its international footprint.Her appointment was reported on 20 August 2026, with Makin confirming her move from Amazon to OURA. Makin brings more than two decades of communications experience spanning agency and in-house roles. Before Amazon, her career included senior communications and public relations positions associated with Scentre Group, David Jones and One Green Bean. Her experience covers corporate, consumer and brand communications, as well as media relations. The appointment comes at an important point in OURA's international expansion. In March, the company launched its smart ring in Australia, New Zealand, India, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates, opening four new markets as it sought to expand its global member base. OURA subsequently introduced the Oura Ring 5 in May, describing it as its smallest smart ring, with the new generation 40% smaller and featuring next-generation sensing and up to a week of battery life. The device became available in Australia in June. The company has also been expanding its software and health capabilities. OURA said in May that it was on pace to surpass five million paid members, with membership having grown more than fourfold over two years. It has increasingly positioned itself as a health intelligence platform, adding capabilities around women's health, metabolic health and personalised insights. In May, OURA also announced a confidential submission of a draft registration statement for a proposed initial public offering, although the timing and terms of any listing remain subject to market and regulatory conditions. Makin's appointment therefore places an experienced communications leader in charge of APAC messaging at a time when OURA is entering new markets, expanding its product proposition and moving towards a broader connected-health model.For Amazon, Makin's departure follows a period in which she led communications around major business initiatives in Australia and Singapore. As recently as June, she was involved in communications around Amazon Australia's planned $750m investment in a robotics fulfilment centre in Queensland. 

Ritika Jauhari has joined Novartis India to lead Corporate Communications, bringing more than 20 years of experience spanning strategic communications, healthcare communications, public relations, advocacy, media relations and client advisory.Her appointment marks a move from senior communications consulting and agency leadership into an in-house corporate communications role with the global medicines company.Prior to joining Novartis India, Jauhari was Senior Partner at SPAG/FINN, where she held a senior leadership role from September 2022. She had earlier served as President – New Business Development & Strategy at SPAG, contributing to the agency’s business development and strategic communications agenda.Jauhari’s association with SPAG included several leadership positions, giving her extensive experience across healthcare communications, advocacy, reputation management and stakeholder engagement.She also served as Head of the Healthcare Practice at H+K Strategies India from August 2021 to April 2022.Earlier, Jauhari held a series of roles at SPAG, including Senior Director – India and Singapore, Director – PR and Advocacy, Associate Director, Senior Manager – Advocacy & Communications, Manager – Media Relations and Client Servicing. Her career at the agency covered healthcare communications, media relations, advocacy, strategic counsel and client engagement.Jauhari began her career at The PRactice, where she worked from 2004 to 2006. She subsequently held account management roles at Integral PR Services and PR Pundit, where she was Senior Account Executive.Over more than two decades, her career has evolved from frontline public relations and media relations to senior strategic, advisory and business leadership positions.At Novartis India, Jauhari will bring her healthcare communications expertise and experience in stakeholder engagement to the company’s corporate communications function. Her agency-side background across healthcare, advocacy and reputation management is expected to support Novartis India’s corporate reputation, strategic narratives and stakeholder communications.The appointment also reflects the growing movement of senior agency and communications consultancy leaders into in-house corporate communications roles, particularly within the healthcare sector.

Darren Burns is stepping down as president of Golin Asia-Pacific after six years at the helm of the agency’s regional operations, he has confirmed to PRovoke Media.The leadership change comes several months after Golin and Ketchum were brought together under the Golin Ketchum banner as part of Omnicom’s restructuring of its public relations business following the acquisition of Interpublic Group. The combined agency is led globally by CEO Matt Neale and president Tamara Norman.Burns took charge of Golin Asia-Pacific in May 2020, returning to the agency after spending 14 years at Weber Shandwick. He assumed the regional leadership role during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, as Golin’s teams across Asia-Pacific faced lockdowns, economic uncertainty and rapidly changing client requirements.At the time of his appointment, Burns told PRovoke Media that his brief was to strengthen Golin’s presence in Asia-Pacific and “take it up a level”.Over the course of his tenure, Golin expanded its regional footprint and delivered sustained growth. Revenue rose 27% in the three years to 2023, while Asia-Pacific fee income increased by a further 10% in 2024, outperforming much of the wider regional market. Client satisfaction also reached a record high in 2024.Burns also led a broadening of Golin’s capabilities beyond its traditional consumer communications strength. Technology, corporate affairs and healthcare emerged as increasingly significant areas of the agency’s Asia-Pacific offering.The agency’s client portfolio during his tenure included major brands such as McDonald’s, Volkswagen, Micron, Dell, Texas Instruments, Harman, Moderna, LinkedIn, Lenovo, Unilever and Uber. It also added a series of high-profile accounts, including Marriott, The Walt Disney Company, Amazon, Adobe, Qatar Airways, Boehringer Ingelheim, Laneige and Johnnie Walker.Innovation and creativity were another focus of Burns’ leadership. Golin launched its Spark AI incubator and established an Asia-based Creative Intelligence Unit as the agency explored the use of emerging technologies in communications.Regional creative chief Shouvik Prasanna Mukherjee was subsequently promoted to the global position of executive vice-president of creative innovation.Golin also significantly improved its awards performance, almost doubling its win rate during the latter part of Burns’ tenure. Its notable regional work included helping Uber manage opposition from Hong Kong’s taxi industry, supporting McDonald’s “Lovin’ Me” youth mental health initiative in Singapore, and working with the Taiwan AIDS Society and Taiwan AIDS Nurses Association to challenge attitudes towards people living with HIV.The agency’s focus on workplace culture was another defining feature of Burns’ tenure. Golin was named Best APAC Network to Work For by PRovoke Media last year, while Burns placed considerable emphasis on mental health support, employee wellbeing and building more inclusive workplaces across the region.His departure comes at a significant point for the agency as Golin Ketchum begins operating under Omnicom’s newly consolidated public relations structure.

Ruder Finn Asia has appointed Chung Kai “CK” Lim as Vice President, Chief AI Officer, AI Product & Strategy for Asia and Greater China.CK joins from Dell Technologies, where he was APJ Lead, Digital Demand Generation, overseeing AI and ML-powered demand generation.With 10+ years in senior regional roles at Dell, Cognizant and Edelman, CK has led digital transformation, demand generation and marketing innovation across APAC, Japan, ME and SEA. His expertise spans GenAI deployment, martech transformation, full-funnel campaigns and sales enablement across 10+ markets.At Ruder Finn, CK will drive AI adoption across 30 Asia-Pacific offices and 800+ consultants. His focus: internal AI enablement, business transformation, and building the firm’s client-facing AI product roadmap."Communications consultancies are uniquely placed to lead in the answer engine era because we already create the press releases, earned media, executive bylines and third-party content that AI models trust and cite," said Chung Kai (CK) Lim. "My focus is twofold. Internally, we are making AI the default operating layer across every workflow. Externally, we are giving clients the visibility, control and citation share they need to protect and grow their brands."The team has also launched its AI Visibility & Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Advisory developed under CK’s leadership. The advisory, powered by a combination of industry AI platforms and the consultancy’s proprietary GEO methodology, aims to help brands improve how they are understood, represented, and cited across generative AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Google AI Overviews."Communications has entered a new era where influence is measured not only by what people read, but by what AI understands, cites and recommends," said Elan Shou, Global Chief Growth Officer and Managing Director, Asia and Greater China at Ruder Finn. "AI visibility is not a standalone discipline, it’s an evolution of strategic communications. The same trusted content that shapes reputation through media, thought leadership and executive visibility now shapes how AI platforms understand and recommend brands. By combining our communications expertise with AI-powered insights and optimization, we offer clients an end-to-end approach that strengthens AI visibility, protects reputation and drives business outcomes."(Source: telummedia)

Adfactors PR has acquired a majority stake in SenateSHJ, an independent communication consultancy in Australia.The transaction brings together two independent firms with complementary strengths, beliefs, a shared commitment to outstanding work and a common ambition to help their clients navigate reputation, stakeholder issues and change in an increasingly complex environment.SenateSHJ will retain its identity, client teams under the leadership of Co-founder and Chair Angela Scaffidi AM and CEO Darren Behar. The will continue to operate from its offices in Sydney and Melbourne. Chief Executive Officer of Adfactors PR, Nijay N. Nair, who also leads all M&A and global initiatives, will join the SenateSHJ board. Madan Bahal, Co-founder & Managing Director, Adfactors PR, said: “SenateSHJ is a formidable business with an outstanding reputation, exceptional leadership and proven expertise in solving complex communication challenges. There is a strong alignment in the way our two organisations think about the world, clients, people and the role we can play in shaping the future. India and Australia are emerging as a strategic business corridor, and we trust the new partnership will help clients in both markets to create new opportunities in the wider Asia Pacific region. We hope to explore more opportunities in the region to create a strong Asia Pacific presence.”Rajesh Chaturvedi, Co-founder and Chairman, Adfactors PR, said: “We have had the privilege of serving India Inc. for the last 29 years through many cycles in the global and domestic business environment. I am happy that with this new partnership our relationship capital will expand to a significant market like Australia.”Angela Scaffidi AM, Co-founder and Chair, SenateSHJ, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the business SenateSHJ has become over the past 24 years – our people, the work we do and our relationships with clients. We have built a relationship of deep trust with Adfactors PR over the past decade. We feel a deep connection to the way they think and feel about the world, their people and the work they do with clients. There is strong alignment and great respect. The problems clients bring us increasingly cross borders. Being part of a group with real scale across India, Asia Pacific and beyond means we can help them with more of those problems – without changing what has made this firm what it is.”For Adfactors PR, the investment represents a significant expansion of its presence and capabilities in the Asia Pacific region. For SenateSHJ, it provides access to scale and an international network while creating new opportunities to grow its own expertise, intellectual property and impact.

Brand experience and communications agency DARKHORSE has strengthened its presence across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore with three senior appointments, while adding Veuve Clicquot to its client portfolio.In Sydney, Maxine Reed has joined as Experiential Director. She moves from Havas Red, where she spent four years leading the Brand Experience team and worked with brands including Lexus, Toyota, L’Oréal, Netflix, Tourism Tasmania and Apple TV+. Earlier, Reed spent five years in events and marketing roles at Amazon.Olivia Muir has joined DARKHORSE in Auckland as Experiential Director after three years at Mango Communications, now part of FleishmanHillard. Her previous client work included McDonald’s and New Balance. She also brings experience in sponsorship and brand experience from her time at Spark.In Singapore, Elizabeth O’Leary has been appointed Creative Director, completing the agency’s latest round of senior hires across the region.DARKHORSE has also won the account to lead Veuve Clicquot’s Clicquot Sun Lodge following a competitive pitch.Founder and CEO Mike Hewitt said the appointments and new partnership reflected the agency’s growth across the APAC region, adding that DARKHORSE had continued to attract global brands seeking brand experience expertise.(Source: telummedia)

Louis Vuitton has promoted Cathy Chia to Regional Senior Communications Manager, expanding her responsibilities across Southeast Asia and Oceania.Based in Singapore, Chia is responsible for communications initiatives spanning the region, with her remit including strategic communications, events, social media and thought leadership.Chia has been with Louis Vuitton for more than four years, according to her professional profile. She previously held communications roles in Singapore’s hospitality sector, including serving as Director of Corporate Communications at The Fullerton Hotels and Resorts.Her professional background spans diplomacy, hospitality and luxury retail, with her LinkedIn profile now describing more than 15 years of experience across these fields.Chia has also been involved in Louis Vuitton’s regional communications and brand initiatives, including events and cultural programmes in Singapore and across Southeast Asia.(Source: telummedia)

Legal agentic operating system company, Legora, has appointed Marko Zitko (right) as Director, Communications, APJ and Jocelyn Bukal (left) as Marketing Director, APJ, with immediate effect.Based in Sydney, the pair will lead Legora's marketing and communications function across APAC and Japan, following the company’s growth across the region.Marko joins after spending the past year consulting enterprise technology companies, following his role as Director of Marketing and Communications at Freelancer.com, where he led brand marketing, communications, and investor relations. He previously spent four years at WE Communications, managing campaigns for clients including Adobe, Sony, and UiPath.Jocelyn brings more than 15 years of B2B technology marketing experience across the APAC region, most recently as Regional Marketing Director APJ at Snyk. Prior to that, she held regional marketing leadership roles at Elastic and Instructure, following earlier positions at Bottomline Technologies, Carnival Corporation, and Symantec.“Legal teams across APJ are moving from evaluating AI to adopting it, and how we show up in each of these markets matters,” said Heather Paterson, VP APJ at Legora.“Jocelyn has spent her career building marketing engines for enterprise software companies scaling across this region. Marko has been working with us on our APAC communications for the past ten months, and we’ve seen firsthand how he builds trust in the market. Together they give us a regional team that matches the opportunity in front of us.”(Source: telummedia)

Australian PR agency, SPEAK Communications, has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of Jason Evans as Senior Account Manager. Jason brings more than 15 years of communications experience across entertainment, sport, and technology, having worked with brands including Channel 9, Stan, Netflix, and Microsoft. His experience spans both in-house and agency roles, covering creative strategy, media relations, and reputation management. SPEAK Communications Founder and Director, Snezana Hay, said: “There’s a really nice full-circle element to Jason joining SPEAK. Jason was actually an intern when we first worked together at 2K Games many years ago, so to now have him joining SPEAK as a Senior Account Manager is pretty special. “We’re thrilled to welcome him as a fellow SPEAK-er. Jason brings an incredible depth of experience across entertainment, sport and technology, strong media relationships and the ability to think creatively and strategically for clients. “As SPEAK continues to grow, having experienced senior people who can lead accounts and be trusted partners to our clients is incredibly important. Jason ticks all those boxes and most importantly, he’s a genuinely great human who fits perfectly into the culture we’ve built.”(Source: Telummedia)

Public relations veteran Sowmya Iyer today announced the official launch of House of Lakshyam, a new home-grown spice brand rooted in tradition and family recipes, with its flagship product, Idli Molaga Podi. The brand is built on a recipe that has been passed down over three generations — from her grandmother, to her mother, and now to kitchens across the country.House of Lakshyam began as a three-month pilot project, running from April to July, during which it served 500 customers across India. Encouraged by the response and the demand for authentic, homemade flavours, Iyer has now taken the brand from pilot to a full-fledged launch.For Iyer, food was never just about nourishment. Growing up, it was intertwined with family, tradition, and love — recipes made and shared the same way for decades. As modern life grew busier, she noticed a growing hunger for those authentic flavours: people craving the taste of home, without the time or knowledge to recreate it themselves. That gap between memory and modern life is what led to the idea of House of Lakshyam.“Growing up, food was never just about filling our stomachs. It was about family, tradition, love, and recipes that were passed down from one generation to another. As life became busier, I realized that many of us miss those authentic flavours. We crave food that reminds us of home, but finding that genuine homemade taste isn’t always easy. That’s when the idea of House of Lakshyam was born,” said Sowmya Iyer, Founder, House of Lakshyam.The brand's true inspiration is Iyer's Paati (grandmother) and mother, both of whom shared a simple, unwavering belief: no one who walked through their door should ever go without a meal. That instinct to feed, welcome, and care for anyone who came home is the spirit Iyer has built House of Lakshyam around. Rather than build another packaged food label, she set out to create a brand that honours heritage, kitchens, and recipes that have stood the test of time. Every House of Lakshyam product is inspired by traditional preparations, made with quality ingredients, and crafted with the same care that goes into food cooked for one's own family — starting with the brand's flagship offering, Idli Molaga Podi, spice blend made using her grandmother's original recipe.With Idli Molaga Podi as its first offering, House of Lakshyam is now available for customers looking to bring genuine, homemade taste back into their everyday meals. The brand plans to expand its range with more traditional, recipe-led spice blends in the coming months.

MathCo has appointed Rohini Sharma as Head – Marketing & Communications, as the data and analytics company looks to strengthen its brand, market positioning and global communications.Sharma will lead the company’s marketing and communications function, overseeing brand strategy, demand generation, corporate communications and customer engagement initiatives aligned with MathCo’s growth plans.She brings more than 15 years of experience across brand strategy, product marketing, go-to-market strategy, demand generation, digital marketing, corporate communications and customer marketing.Before joining MathCo, Sharma held leadership roles at AGS Health, Aezion and Infosys, where she worked across brand building, go-to-market programmes, product marketing, demand generation and corporate communications.Aditya Kumbakonam, Co-Founder and COO, MathCo, said Sharma’s experience across marketing leadership, brand building and communications would help strengthen the company’s market presence and support its next phase of growth.

Global law firm Freshfields has appointed Craig Annis as Chief Brand and Communications Officer, with responsibility for the firm’s global brand, communications and reputation strategy.Based in New York, Annis joins Freshfields from A&O Shearman, where he led global communications and worked on strategic initiatives including the firm’s global brand launch, reputation and stakeholder engagement programmes.He previously served as Chief Brand Officer at the United States Golf Association (USGA). Earlier, Annis spent more than 11 years at Mars, holding senior global roles across communications, public affairs, government relations and corporate responsibility in the US and Europe.Freshfields Senior Partner Georgia Dawson said Annis brings a strong track record in building communications teams, managing reputation and engaging clients, employees and other stakeholders.Annis said he was looking forward to strengthening Freshfields’ brand, reputation and engagement with key audiences as the firm pursues its growth ambitions.

PRHUB, one of India’s leading independent, full-services PR and integrated communications firms has made a slew of senior hires and internal promotions for a stronger leadership structure that supports its next phase of growth. PRHUB is consciously evolving into a professional leadership-driven organization where senior leaders independently drive client relationships, strategic counsel, integrated campaigns and business growth across practices and geographies.Harini Prabhu, who was running her own social & digital marketing firm in Hyderabad joins as Vice President – Account Management, Marcom & DigitalKrishnaprasad Balakrishnan (KP), ex-Ogilvy & Dentsu India, joins as Executive Creative DirectorBeerendra Jha joins as Market Lead – ChennaiKhurram Alam joins as Market Lead - HyderabadEmilee Kashyap has been elevated as Chief of StaffRaji (Rajam) Sarath is Associate Vice President – Account Management, Content & Personal BrandingSonam Motreja is Associate Vice President - Influencer marketing, associate support & media buying.Commenting on the hiring and promotions, Xavier Prabhu, Founder & CEO, PRHUB, said, “Clients today need integrated thinking that delivers outcomes aligned to their business, branding and marketing priorities. They need lean partners equipped with the right blend of specialists, which is what the hiring of Harini and Krishna prasad is about. Raji has been helming the fast-growing personal branding practice while Emilee has been quietly playing a strategic role in building the right organizational framework and Sonam has built a profitable revenue stream out of the areas she’s been leading. Their promotion is our way of recognizing their contribution and impending key role in PRHUB’s transformation. Beerendra and Khurram’s joining in Chennai and Hyderabad means we have senior leaders in 5 of India’s largest marketing, branding and PR markets. There are more senior hires, partnerships and strategic announcements in the offing as we ready PRHUB for transformation & exponential growth. Wish all of them well in their roles.”The company recently undertook a one of its’ kind structured leadership assessment and capability-mapping exercise led by an independent senior professional in the space, aimed at aligning individual strengths with the evolving needs of the business and creating a more empowered leadership ecosystem within the organization. Based on the independent professional’s report, a through revamp of the organizational structure and roles was carried out. The revised organizational structure and senior leadership depth across will catalyze its expansion into newer specialized offerings and integrated communication solutions.

Judy Crema has joined Dentsu Creative as Agency Partner – PR, moving to the agency after eight years with CHEP/Clemenger BBDO.Crema confirmed the appointment on LinkedIn, saying she was returning to the platform after a long break to announce her move to Dentsu Creative. She spent almost eight years at CHEP/Clemenger BBDO, most recently as Head of PR. Her work there included major integrated campaigns, with industry award entries listing her in senior PR roles on campaigns such as the agency’s work for Australian Organic Food Co. Crema’s earlier career included a stint with KWT Global in New York and a role at Bastion. Her move adds senior PR experience to Dentsu Creative’s Australian leadership team.The appointment comes as Crema begins a new chapter after a significant tenure at CHEP/Clemenger BBDO, where she progressed to lead the PR function. (Source: telummedia)

Joseph Khong has taken on an expanded role at MSD, where he will help establish the company’s communications and engagement function in Saudi Arabia, alongside his existing position as Head of Communications in Singapore.In his new responsibility, Khong will support key communications priorities for MSD in Saudi Arabia, help develop and execute the company’s presence at major local and regional events, strengthen communications processes and frameworks, and coordinate with global communications leadership.Khong joined MSD in 2023 and has worked closely with teams across Asia Pacific. He will now also collaborate with the MSD Saudi Arabia team.Before joining MSD, Khong held roles at Action Community for Entrepreneurship, Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Communications and Information, and Mediacorp.(Source: telummedia)

Eric Johnston has joined Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages as Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability for the Americas.In the role, Johnston will oversee corporate affairs, government relations, sustainability, public policy, reputation management and stakeholder engagement across the region.He brings more than 15 years of experience spanning government affairs, public policy, stakeholder engagement, strategic operations and corporate affairs. He joins from Comcast, where he served as Executive Director of Strategic Affairs, Public Policy and Digital Opportunity, helping align digital opportunity initiatives with federal, state and local government affairs and public policy.Previously, Johnston spent more than three years at Marriott International as Director of Federal Government Affairs, leading government affairs and public policy activities. He also held the role of Director, Government Relations at Coca-Cola Consolidated and spent seven years with Strategic Solutions Center.Commenting on his appointment in a LinkedIn post, Johnston said he looks forward to strengthening stakeholder engagement, supporting business growth and communicating the story of Nestlé’s brands, people and purpose.Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages operates as a standalone global business within the Nestlé Group, with a portfolio that includes S.Pellegrino, Perrier, Acqua Panna, Buxton, Vittel and Nestlé Pure Life.

Lea Lee, Head of Global Communications at LG Electronics, has received the Outstanding Individual Achievement SABRE Award for her contribution to corporate communications and reputation management.Lee leads global communications for LG Electronics, overseeing executive reputation, corporate transactions and AI-driven media intelligence.Over the past decade, she has strengthened LG’s global PR operations, developed C-suite thought leadership programmes and helped position the company as a technology leader.In 2026, Lee led the development of an AI-based global media monitoring system in collaboration with LG’s AX (AI Transformation) Center. The system standardises PR performance metrics across regional offices while providing management with real-time market and competitive intelligence.She also led the global communications and messaging strategy for the LG Electronics India IPO, managing investor and media relations and positioning India as a key global manufacturing and export hub.Before joining LG Electronics, Lee worked at Edelman Korea, where she handled brand reputation and crisis communications for Fortune 500 companies. She also served as LG Electronics’ communications client lead at Hill & Knowlton.

Applications are now open for the second edition of The Leadership Accelerator by Think Equal, a dedicated six-month initiative designed to prepare senior female marketing and communications professionals in the UAE for future C-suite positions.Jointly organized by The Marketing Society UAE and communications agency Weber Shandwick MENAT, the program will select 15 women for its upcoming cohort, scheduled to run from January through June 2027. Submissions will close on September 25, 2026.Bridging the Gender Leadership GapThe program comes as industry data highlights a continued need for greater gender parity at executive levels across the region. According to the 2025 Think Equal Survey conducted by The Marketing Society and Weber Shandwick, only 27% of marketing and communications professionals in the GCC reported equal or near-equal representation of men and women within their management teams.Think Equal was created specifically to address this imbalance by equipping women with the capabilities and networks needed to step into boardrooms and top executive roles."Our mission remains to break down barriers and create more opportunities for women to step into senior leadership roles across marketing and communications," said Amina Taher, Chair of The Marketing Society UAE. "The incredible talent we saw in the first cohort showed just how important The Leadership Accelerator by Think Equal is in helping build a more equitable future for our profession."Program Structure and Participant ImpactBuilt around three core pillars — Community, Capability, and Clarity — the curriculum blends leadership workshops, virtual sessions, in-person events, and direct mentorship from prominent CEOs and Chief Marketing Officers across the GCC region.The inaugural edition of the accelerator drew over 90 applicants for its 15 available spots, with participants citing significant growth in executive confidence and strategic visibility.• Anismita Ghosh, Marketing Manager at Abu Dhabi Biobank (M42), highlighted her key takeaway from the program as understanding "the power of network, executive visibility, growth mindset, and intuitiveness about what makes female leaders different."• Roxana Nicolescu, VP of Brand Marketing, Social Media, and PR at Wego.com, described the initiative as "one of the best contributions to my personal and professional growth."Application Details• Target Audience: Senior female marketing and communications professionals based in the UAE.• Cohort Size: 15 selected candidates.• Program Duration: January – June 2027.• Deadline to Apply: September 25, 2026.

PR agency AMPR has been appointed by international architecture and design practice Plus Studio to lead its communications strategy.Under the new mandate, AMPR will oversee strategic communications, media relations, brand partnerships and events for Plus Studio.The agency’s brief will focus on strengthening Plus Studio’s profile nationally while building its thought leadership across architecture, urban design and placemaking. It will also seek to deepen the practice’s engagement with industry, media and cultural audiences.Jannah Flockhart, managing director of AMPR, said the partnership reflected the agency’s focus on working with architecture and design practices that combine creative thinking with practical delivery.The appointment comes as AMPR expands its expertise across architecture, design, property and placemaking, with the agency set to work with Plus Studio on communications around its projects, people and ideas shaping future cities and communities.(Source: telummedia)

American Airlines’ executive vice-president of communications and marketing and chief communications officer, Ron DeFeo, is leaving the airline after 11 years as the carrier undertakes a wider overhaul of its senior leadership structure.DeFeo confirmed his departure in a LinkedIn post. His exit is one of three senior leadership changes announced as chief executive Robert Isom seeks to improve the airline’s performance and narrow its gap with rivals Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.The reshuffle will also change how American oversees communications and marketing. Caroline Clayton, who most recently served as senior vice-president of communications and chief marketing officer, will take responsibility for communications.Chief commercial officer Nat Pieper will assume a broader remit covering marketing, brand, advertising and partnerships.Clayton is among four executives joining American’s senior leadership team. The others are Heather Garboden, JC Gulbranson and Steve Neuman.Isom described the changes as part of an important period for the airline, acknowledging that American has a significant performance gap to close.“American is entering a defining moment,” Isom wrote in a letter to company officers.DeFeo’s departure comes alongside the retirement of Kevin Brickner, senior vice-president of technical operations, and the exit of Nate Gatten, executive vice-president of American Eagle, corporate real estate and government affairs.The airline is also expanding the responsibilities of several executives.Garboden, the chief customer officer, will report to Pieper and take on reservations, contact centres, service recovery and catering in addition to her existing responsibilities.Gulbranson will assume additional responsibility for airports and planning, while Neuman will oversee government affairs and sustainability. Chief financial officer Devon May will add corporate real estate to his portfolio.The changes bring communications, marketing, commercial strategy and customer operations into a more closely aligned leadership structure as American attempts to strengthen its competitive position.DeFeo joined American in 2015 and has led communications and marketing through a period that included the airline’s post-pandemic recovery, changes to its brand and customer strategy, and the rapidly evolving role of digital communications in the aviation industry.His departure also marks a significant change for the airline’s corporate communications leadership at a time when carriers are facing intense scrutiny over customer experience, operational reliability and financial performance.

Ogilvy announced two key leadership appointments to strengthen its global communications and marketing capabilities. Kappie Kopp has been promoted to Global Head of Communications for The Ogilvy Group and Nicole Parkinson has joined as Global Head of Marketing for The Ogilvy Group. Both will report to Laurent Ezekiel, Global CEO of The Ogilvy Group. Laurent Ezekiel, Global CEO of The Ogilvy Group, said: “Communications and marketing are twin engines of modern brand growth. Together, Kappie and Nicole bring the strategic rigor, creative vision and commercial focus needed to shape our identity for another legacy-defining generation in this industry, and help drive commercial success for our brand partners around the world. I am immensely confident in their ability to build on our momentum and accelerate our impact for our clients and talent across our network.” In her new role, Kopp will be responsible for safeguarding and elevating the global reputation of Ogilvy, steering the strategic narrative that defines the agency’s position and resonance for internal and external audiences across all brand channels. She will lead all aspects of the agency’s worldwide communications strategy, enabling connectivity across the network and championing its creative product, capabilities, and talent on a global scale. Kopp brings more than 15 years of strategic communications and corporate reputation experience across both agency and in-house roles. She most recently served as Senior Vice President, Creative Communications at Ogilvy, where she built a first-of-its-kind storytelling infrastructure to elevate the agency’s creative reputation in the marketplace, partnering directly with clients and their teams to co-create compelling narratives while leading day-to-day communications for North America as one of the agency’s largest, most important markets. Prior to Ogilvy, she held practice leadership roles at MSL and LEWIS, with client experience spanning healthcare, B2B and consumer sectors, and led PR and communications for multiple Publicis agencies, including Leo Burnett and Arc Worldwide. She also spent nearly a decade as a communications leader at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), helping guide the institution through a period of major expansion, growth and brand-building.  Parkinson will be responsible for designing and leading the execution of high-impact, innovative marketing and client experiences to propel organic expansion and net-new business for The Ogilvy Group. She will be instrumental in spearheading global client engagement and orchestrating brand-driven experiences across the agency, industry, and cultural spaces. She will help clients grow through the power of Ogilvy’s modern creativity and innovation – ensuring Ogilvy’s work not only earns attention but drives meaningful commercial impact. Parkinson joins Ogilvy from WPP, having most recently served as a critical leader of communications and marketing team for WPP Open X - WPP’s bespoke networked agency dedicated to The Coca-Cola Company. In this role, she partnered with global agency leaders and worldwide marketing and communications teams to bring WPP’s offering to life across Coca-Cola’s iconic brand portfolio. Since joining WPP in 2019, Parkinson has been instrumental in securing major industry pitches including Walgreens Boots Alliance and The Coca-Cola Company and previously served as Head of Marketing for EMEA in WPP’s first central marketing practice, working closely to reimagine the positioning and go-to-market strategy for the company. Prior to WPP, she spent six years at Publicis as Head of Marketing for Digitas UK and EMEA where she helped lead the agency’s global rebrand and rollout of its unified new proposition within Publicis Media. Earlier in her career, she held leadership positions in new business and account management at GOOD, the UK’s largest independent purpose-driven creative agency.  These appointments build on the earlier announcement of Kelsey Murray as Global Head of Growth, completing a trio of senior leaders positioned to drive seamless collaboration across Ogilvy's Growth, Marketing, and Communications functions worldwide.  Kappie Kopp said: “Communications is never just about telling a story - it's about building the infrastructure of trust and credibility that allows a global network like Ogilvy to move with clarity, conviction, and cultural relevance. Stepping into this global role as a steward for a brand as storied as Ogilvy is an absolute privilege, and I’m thrilled to take up the mantle alongside Nicole, and in close partnership with Global Chief Creative Officer Liz Taylor, Laurent and our exceptional teams around the world to ensure our narrative authentically matches the ambition of our creative product and passion for our clients’ own brand stories.” Nicole Parkinson said: “Ogilvy is an agency I’ve long admired - not just for its award-winning work, but for its unwavering commitment to ideas that help brands evolve and endure. I’m inspired to join at a moment when creativity is intersecting with innovation, strategic partnerships and modern marketing across social, influencer, sports and entertainment. I can’t wait to work in lockstep with Kappie to tell - and champion - Ogilvy’s powerful stories. Joining under the visionary leadership of Laurent and Liz makes this an incredible opportunity to drive the agency’s next chapter of growth.”