Reputation Today Vol 2: Issue 3

Vol 2: Issue 3 | Price `150/-

The official magazine of #PRAXIS6

Public Relations and Corporate
Communications India Summit

The Beauty of
Communications

- Integration of
Content,

Creativity &
Community

Vol 2: Issue 3 | Price `150/-

MOST IMPORTAN

in Indian Public Relations and

NT PROFESSIONALS

d Corporate Communications

PRAXIS 2017 AGENDA

FAIRMONT - JAIPUR

Day 1 Friday, 15 September 2017

12.30 pm Venue check in and Lunch over Conversations
1.30 pm Summit check-in
1.45 pm Welcome Remarks
2.15 pm Special Session 1: Inaugural Session: Role of Communications in Building Communities
2.45 pm Keynote 1: Staying True to the Calling of Communications
3.35 pm Keynote 2: What it takes to be a Fearless and Fast Communicator
4.25 pm Power Panel 1: Independent, Indian and Impactful: What sets them apart?
5.10 pm Special Session 2: Partner Address from Times Internet
5.25 pm Tea Break and Group photograph
5.55 pm Power Panel 2: Using the Power of Communications to take Healthcare Closer to Patients
6.45 pm Special Session 3: The Digital Tsunami
7.25 pm Keynote 3: Creating a Culture of Creativity in Public Relations
8.15 pm Special Session 4: Felicitations – Scholarship, Prizes and Cannes Lion Winner Celebration
8.30 pm Cocktails and Dinner over Conversations
9.15 pm Live Concert by The Raghu Dixit Project
10.45 pm End of Day 1

Day 2 Saturday, 16 September 2017

7.30 am Breakfast over Conversations (in respective hotels, until 9 am)
9.15 am Lucky Draw
9.30 am Special Session 5: Challenges to the PR Profession
10.10 am Power Panel 3: Corporate Communication Leaders on The Future of Communications
11.00 am Tea Break
11.30 am Power Panel 4: Young Leaders on Creativity from In-House and Consultancy
12.15 pm Keynote 4: Being Relevance Obsessed and Relevance Equipped Communicators
1.00 pm Lunch Break
1.45 pm PRCAI Presentation
2.00 pm Keynote 5: Communicating for Brands in Motion
2.50 pm Power Panel 5: Will Asia lead the way in the next wave of Creative Communications?
3.40 pm Keynote 6: Augmented Influence: How a second technology revolution is changing PR once again
4.30 pm Special Session 6: The Master Keynote
5.15 pm Power Panel 6: PRAXIS Closure: Vote of Thanks and Awards to follow
5.45 pm Tea Break and Free Time for Conversations
7.00 pm Awards evening reception: Organised by The Promise Foundation and PR Moment India
8.45 pm Cocktails, Conversations, Celebration Dinner and Dancing to the tunes of DJ Angel

Day 3 Sunday, 17 September 2017

6.30 am Morning Jog (optional)
7.30 am Breakfast
10.00 am Check out. Time for sight-seeing, conversations and relaxing

Cover Page Picture Collage

Left Panel: Dr Pragnya Ram, Arunachalam Muruganantham, Gabriela Lungu, Tara Rogers, Darren Burns, Fred Cook, Guillaume Herbette
Right Panel: José Guardado, Jennifer Granston, Margaret Key, John Saunders, Rob Flaherty

PRINTLINE

Power lasts ten years;
Influence not more than

a hundred.

When we decided to put together a list of the 100 Most Important to knowledge sharing and also gauged the respect they command
People in Communications we knew we were setting ourselves among subordinates. This list will recur at least once or twice every
up for a herculean task. How do you separate 100 men and two years.
women from over a thousand who work in leadership positions in
consultancies and in-house teams and then rank them? The ranking was based on editorial discretion and multiple
conversations over the month of August based on which each
But it had to be done. We are convinced that the Public Relations one was assigned points. We ran the long-list by an advisory
profession has come of age and these things help in offering board comprising of two senior editors – Anant Rangaswami and
youngsters a pool of people to be inspired by and recognise about Pradyuman Maheshwari as well as two senior communicators
eight dozen senior professionals. So how did we come up with the including Roma Balwani. Their feedback was incorporated wherever
list and how did we rank them? possible and the list was arrived at. Thereafter the editorial team
put a ranking to each name in the order you see it.
Thousands of professionals work at consultancies and in-house
teams but the movers and shakers are about a hundred who drive These lists are subjective and as mentioned earlier the primary
excellence, inspire confidence and have come to become role purpose is to recognise people and offer them as inspiration to the
models. new generation of professionals. We tried and avoided more than
one person from an organisation unless they are co-founders in the
As always, we are about inclusion and diversity, so we aimed case of consultancies or they were from a different group company
at having an average of 25 men from in-house and 25 from in case of corporate communications. We finalised the list based
consultancies. Similarly, we aimed at having 25 women from in- on affiliation as on August 20th, 2017. We are aware there could
house and 25 from consultancies. Nominations and self-nominations be a Vice President in one PR firm who may have a larger business
to the list were opened in June. The nominations poured in and we unit than that of a CEO of a small PR firm. But this list is not only
had about 150 names. about influence and impact but about importance. And importance
is derived from the organisation one represents and jobs one has
We then spent most of July eliminating 50 names. This was a difficult created.
task. In the consulting category, we looked at leaders who have
founded or built big brands. People who have created employment, We are open to your feedback and will improvise to make this list
won big mandates, stayed the course, run the race long enough the most sought-after directory of the leading men and women, by
and grown leaps and bounds. In the in-house category, we looked clients who want to hire a consultancy, by young professionals who
for those who have two decades of experience and longer. There are looking at making that job change and by senior professionals
are a few exceptions. We talked to peers, looked for contribution who aspire to become leaders. Cheers to the 100 who made it…

www.ReputationToday.in www.facebook.com/ThePraxisMag @RepTodayMag

THE PUBLISHER CONTENTS

TEAM 04 | Interview: Dr Pragnya Ram
06 | 100 Most Important Professionals
SHREE LAHIRI 56 | Fulcrum Shortlist
Senior Editor 64 | Column: Taking Pride
ANUBHUTI MATHUR
Content Director DESIGN
ROSHAN ALEXANDER
Business Head www.blaq.in

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 1

100 MOST IMPORTANT PROFESSIONALS (RANKS 1 - 50)

DR. PRAGNYA RAM MADAN BAHAL 100 Most Important RAJESH CHATURVEDI PREMA SAGAR MEENU HANDA
Professionals

DILIP CHERIAN BOBBY KEWALRAMANI AMIT MISRA RAKESH THUKRAL VARSHA CHAINANI #RT100MIP

DEBASIS RAY PRABHAT CHOUDHARY SUJIT PATIL 100 Most Important NIKHIL KHANNA NITIN MANTRI
Professionals

SENJAM RAJ SEKHAR #RT100MIP SEEMA AHUJA BELA RAJAN NS RAJAN SONIA HURIA

VIVEK SUCHANTI ARCHANA JAIN AMEER ISMAIL PAROMA ROYCHOUDHARY 100 Most Important SUNAYNA MALIK
Professionals

GAURAV PATRA MANISHA CHOUDHARY #RT100MIP KUNAL KISHORE VALERIE PINTO SONIA DHAWAN

RAZA KHAN RACHANA PANDA GAYATRI RATH ASEEM SOOD CHETAN MAHAJAN 100 Most Important
Professionals

#RT100MIP ZACHARIA JAMES RISHI SETH ISHTEYAQUE AMJAD NEERAJ JHA MINARI SHAH
AMRIT AHUJA
POONAM KAUL SUBHAYU MISHRA 100 Most Important MANISH KALGHATGI DEEPA DEY
Professionals

ASHWANI SINGLA AJAY JASRA NIKHIL DEY YUSUF HATIA #RT100MIP SUNIL GAUTAM

2 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

100 MOST IMPORTANT PROFESSIONALS (RANKS 51 - 100)

JAIDEEP SHERGILL #RT100MIP SHIVANI GUPTA AMAN GUPTA SHALINI SINGH HEENA KANAL

NANDINI CHATTERJEE PARESH CHAUDHRY ANAND SUBRAMANIAN 100 Most Important OPHIRA BHATIA MAHESH JAYARAM
Professionals

VIPIN NAIR SUJIT GANGULI SHRAVANI DANG NANDINI GOSWAMI NITIN THAKUR #RT100MIP

100 Most Important VANDANA SHENOY NANDITA LAKSHMANAN ATUL AHLUWALIA DILIP YADAV PK KHURANA
Professionals

RADHA ROY GIRISH HURIA HARSHENDRA VERDHAN #RT100MIP GAURAV SINHA SHAILESH GOYAL

SURESH RANGARAJAN 100 Most Important PRADEEP RAJSEKHARAN RAKHEE LALVANI VARGHESE THOMAS SUDEEP BHALLA
Professionals

YASHMEEN BARUA LORRAINE MARTIN AMIT NARAYAN DIMPLE KAPUR #RT100MIP HARJIV SINGH

LATIKA TANEJA ARUN ARORA 100 Most Important DHRUBAJYOTI GAYAN XAVIER PRABHU VINEET HANDA
Professionals

#RT100MIP RAVI SHANKAR GOPINATH G UDIT PATHAK MADHAVI JHA RADHIKA SHAPOORJEE

PRAVEEN RIKHY KAPIL RAMPAL NAZEEB ARIF 100 Most Important RUBY SINHA RAJAT MUKARJI
Professionals

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 3

INTERVIEW Corporate
Dr. Pragnya Ram communications
today face far greater
FIRST complexities than

AMONG ever before.

EQUALS

RT: You have seen the world of communication changing Communications has evolved. Where do you think it has
over the years. How would you describe this journey? reached today? What are the challenges faced today?

Dr Ram: It’s been a fascinating four decades. Exciting but Dr Ram: Corporate communications today face far greater
extremely challenging. Earlier, you had the wire services as you complexities than ever before. We live in a world where
huddled in a room, waiting for the news release; then trudged to disruption is accelerating. There is the fact of intense public
the newspaper offices, meeting the business editors/reporters to and media gaze. The tyranny of instant timelines and the media
explain the narrative. pressure is unrelenting. Alongside, the social media does create
an asymmetric impact. While it is a great space online, often one
Faxes were the order of the day. Now, everything has changed hears the voice of aggression and unreasonable challenging – at a
dramatically - tectonic technological shifts have totally altered general level.
the way you reach out to media.
As the pundits say, it’s the VUCA syndrome – volatile, The expectation level has sky rocketed. Given such a changed
unpredictable, complex and ambiguous. And one has to tackle milieu, communicators have to be much more strategic. Attune
it, proactively. the content in a spirit of total transparency and honesty. Follow
the highest standards of corporate governance. One has to keep
What’s most important is that, it continues to be a great on adding value, 24x7. Again it’s serendipity!
learning.
RT: Organisations need to embrace CSR (Corporate
RT: How do you see the growth of Aditya Birla Group in Social Responsibility) as a business imperative, and it is
terms of the corporate communication scenario? time they became socially conscious. How do they go
about achieving this goal?
Dr Ram: One would like to set the context. Our visionary
leader at the helm, our Chairman, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Dr Ram: Embedding the CSR mandate into the corporate
believes in the power of strategic communication. strategy is increasingly happening. The mandatory 2% CSR
spend has been a shot in the arm. One of the major upsides has
One feels most privileged and honoured to have led this been that many corporates are now aware, that they can do
function from the start. Our businesses too accept that strategic well in their business, by doing good.
communication and public relations provide a positional
advantage. Today all our key businesses have a communications The reputational lever, the ability to attract, retain and energise
head. talent, the tremendous goodwill of consumers, the pride that
the shareholders and investors take and above all garnering
It is a critical function that has evolved over two decades and has of community support, all are the direct outcomes of genuine
grown in size, scale and reputation. For three consecutive years CSR engagement. Interestingly, corporates are moving beyond
our Group has enjoyed the pole position in Nielsen’s Corporate altruism, and realising that doing good makes good business
Image Monitor. sense too.

RT: The discipline of Public Relations and Corporate

4 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

INTERVIEW

Dr Pragnya Ram, Group Executive President - Corporate Communications & CSR, Aditya
Birla Group was actively involved with the group’s community initiatives. Backed by a strong
academic background, with a PhD from Bombay University and Master’s degrees in History
and Sociology, she has a number of prestigious awards in her kitty too. Conversing with
Shree Lahiri, she talks about the evolving communication space, CSR activities transforming
communities and more...

Giving and caring for the underprivileged is embedded in our But two awards that mean a world to me include - “The Aditya
Group’s DNA. It comes from the top. Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Mr. Birla Group Chairman’s Outstanding Leader Award (2002)”
Kumar Mangalam Birla and Mrs. Neerja Birla implicitly believe in and “The Chairman’s Special Award for creating Aditya Birla
service to society, which is at the very heart of our value system. Scholarships as a vibrant sub brand under the Aditya Birla Group
brand (2014)”.
Our work rests on four pillars - Embedding our social vision in
the business vision; Having a razor sharp strategy, for execution, RT: How would you communicate your philosophy of life?
factoring milestones, targets, performance management, and
accountability; Getting our work audited by reputed agencies in Dr Ram: One follows the Gita. It teaches you to take life as it
the CSR domain, to ascertain the reports of the field workers; comes and maintain your equanimity and fortitude at all times.
Working in tandem with Government agencies, and re-coursing Live in the moment. Go with the flow. Do your best. Reach out
to their various development schemes, which foster inclusive to others and try and make a difference, however small. And of
growth. course it’s important to be nice, to see the goodness in every
human being. For in the end all that you leave behind is the bank
RT: Do you think CSR activities, followed by companies, of goodwill.
actually transform communities?
RT: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Dr Ram: Absolutely! The beneficiaries of CSR initiatives are the
underprivileged communities. Where we work, we can actually Dr Ram: Reading Pulitzer, Man Booker and other applauded
see how slowly and silently our teams are changing the face of authors, including the New York Times bestsellers, listening
villages - from abject poverty to meeting the necessities of life, to music (mostly jazz and Indian classical) and watching good
from dependence to freedom, from backwardness to progress. movies.

There is a perceptible difference in the lives of the people. Tens RT: Do you have any tips for the younger generation, who
of thousands of villagers now are self-assured, confident and want to join this profession?
happy at being able to move towards a sustainable livelihood.
There is a new found dignity among them. Dr Ram: No rocket science tips. Just five simple guidelines,
which I believe in:
RT: You have received many awards as recognition for
the contributions made by you. How much value do you 1. Train yourself to be a ‘values’ driven professional of the
attach to awards? highest order. Keep authenticity on your radar always.

Dr Ram: One values all awards, each one has a distinct place. 2. Be passionate and give more than 100% commitment.
That said, being named in the “The Holmes Report’s Influence
100 – Most Important & Influential In-house Communicators 3. Keep reinventing yourself, keep learning.
from around the World”, for four consecutive years, is a unique
recognition. One feels humbled as well. More importantly, the 4. Never take shortcuts. Set the highest benchmarks.
awards are a signal that we are on the right track.
5. Enjoy the journey, for if you do not enjoy the journey, you
can never reach the destination. Live your dream...Chillax!

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 5

COVER STORY

MOST IMPORTANT PROFESSIONALS

in Indian Public Relations and Corporate Communications

The list in front of you has been painstakingly and objectively put together over 10 months. We hope to make
this an annual list where some people will move out and some new names will come in. As we have said earlier
the list is a collection of four sub-lists of men and women in consulting as well as men and women from in-house
communications’ departments. We asked the 100 individuals a dozen common questions and asked them to
answer atleast five.

If you made it to the list congratulations, and if you did not, there will be another list in the future. The goal is to
celebrate 100 men and women who have taken the road less travelled. Enjoy reading about the life and times of
those who made it. We look forward to your comments on this list at [email protected]

Dr Pragnya Ram

GROUP EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS &
CSR, ADITYA BIRLA MANAGEMENT CORPORATION PRIVATE LIMITED

Dr Pragnya Ram tops the maiden list of India on 16th October 1945. After
India’s 100 Most Important Professionals a decade in academics, she joined
in Communications. With a career span- Crompton Greaves as Deputy Manager
ning fifty years she has worked longer – Communications in 1977 where she
than the age of most people in the Indian spent close to ten years. Thereafter
PR profession. she spent an equal number of years as
Head of Corporate Communications at
One of the first in the profession Hindustan Ciba-Geigy Limited (which
and very few to have a doctorate, is today part of a merged entity called
Novartis).
Dr Ram as she is fondly referred
to, is a fearless leader who has In 1997 she joined the Aditya Birla
helmed the communications Group as President of Corporate
and CSR function at the Communications and then on rose to
Aditya Birla Group the position of Senior President and
for over two Group Executive President. There is
decades. no one like her and there may not be
someone of her stature for a long time
She was to come. For this reason alone, she is
born in pre- the Number One professional in our
Independent maiden list.

6 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

COVER STORY

Madan Bahal

MANAGING DIRECTOR, ADFACTORS PR

In January 2016 The Holmes Report Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
named him as one of the 16 people future: CCOs of the future will need a
from the international marketing high emotional quotient, a high degree
communications and public relations of arbitration competence and a good
business, who were poised to make understanding of Risk Management.
waves in 2016. Mr Bahal has been in the
PRWeek Global Power Book since June Recommended books:
2015. In 2013, he was recognised for • Public Relations - Edward Bernays
‘Individual outstanding achievement’ in • Crystallizing Public Opinion -
Asia-Pac by The Holmes Report.
Edward Bernays
Biggest challenge about being in the • Influence: The Psychology of
business of communications: The
business of communication requires Persuasion - Cialdini Robert B.
understanding of a broad range of • Thank You for Smoking -
subjects and issues such as business
environment, strategy, policy, capital Christopher Buckley
markets, activism, media and the • Homo Deus: A Brief History of
interplay of all of these. These
requirements change from client to Tomorrow - Yuval Noah Harari
client and practice to practice. Finding
professionals who have the bandwidth Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
to provide perspectives on such word: Inflection Point
diverse issues is the biggest challenge.
My first owned wheels: A Lambretta
scooter

My work mantra: Outwork everyone
else!

Rajesh Chaturvedi

CHAIRMAN, ADFACTORS PR

Behind every successful collaboration expression that denotes the old-world
there is a quiet partner who can be culture – in his everyday professional
the wind beneath the other partners’ life.
wings.
Widely loved and admired for his
Rajesh Chaturvedi is the Chairman of charm, he is friends with three
India’s largest Public Relations firm and generations of media, something very
has built an institution. few can claim to their credit.

The Agra-born Chaturvedi was a
national-level hockey player and retains
the quintessential tehzeeb – the Urdu

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 7

COVER STORY
Prema Sagar

VICE CHAIR, BURSON-MARSTELLER,
ASIA PACIFIC & PRINCIPAL/FOUNDER, GENESIS BURSON-MARSTELLER

Named among the most influential PR innovative and swift delivery of the
professionals by PRWeek as part of the message will be the arsenal the CCO.
Global Power Book 2016; named among
the 50 most influential people in PR in Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
their Asia Power List 2014; named by the word: Disruptive/Dynamic
Impact magazine among the 50 most
influential women in India in the field of Favourite quote: “Not all of us can do
media, marketing and advertising for four great things. But we can do small things
consecutive years, Prema Sagar was the with great love” – Mother Teresa
first Asian to be inducted into the ICCO
Hall of Fame in October 2005. My way of giving back to the society:
Inspired by Mother Teresa, my
Biggest challenge about being in the husband Jyoti Sagar and I established
business of communications: Getting the Genesis Foundation in 2001,
the right message across, and doing it which facilitates medical treatment for
creatively in your space in a way that critically ill, under-privileged children
differentiates you, and resonates with with heart disorders.
your audience is the challenge—as well
as the opportunity.

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
future: Understanding the target
audience, getting the message right,
delivering it in the right format at the
right time combined with the power
of data analytics, visual storytelling and

Meenu Handa

DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, GOOGLE INDIA

Single mom to a 21 year old daughter Indispensable skills to a CCO in
and an 18 year old son, Meenu started the future: Business leadership and
her career in PR almost three decades marrying the art of PR to the metrics of
ago. From devising communication a science form
strategies for brands like Microsoft,
Amazon and now Google, to designing Recommendations: Thank you for
the public affairs campaign for reduction smoking (Movie), Jerry McGuire
of excise duty on cosmetics and toiletries, (Movie), Wag The Dog (Movie); House
Meenu has done it all. In 2016, she won of Cards (Movie), How to Win Friends
the APAC SABRE awards for Individual and Influence People (Book)
Achievement.
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
Biggest challenge about being in the word: Predictable
business of communications: The
My idea of a perfect vacation:
uncontrolled and ambiguous Adventure sports
environment we work in can
sometimes be challenging. My hobbies that I took to the next
We are truly “renaissance level: India Level Basketball Player,
artists” just for the sheer Certified Advanced Open Water Diver,
number of skills we need to Pottery
posses and the diverse areas
of understanding we need My work mantra: Give it all you have; if
in order to be true partners your team succeeds, you succeed and
to CEOs. stay open to learning

8 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

COVER STORY

Dilip Cherian

FOUNDER & CONSULTING PARTNER, PERFECT RELATIONS

Labelled as the Image Guru to corporates than ever before with attention spans
and political parties, an editorial flâneur reducing. The challenge is constantly
sometimes syndicated, occasionally re-vamping oneself with precisely what
talking head for TV but specialist in giving strikes a chord with the audience and
facelifts to beleaguered corporations and current trends.
politicos, Dilip Cherian is an Independent
Director on several Corporate and Media Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
Boards including India’s largest Daily future: Storytelling - Stories make ideas
Hindi Newspaper – Jagran. stick; They help persuade.

Biggest challenge about being in the Favourite car: Tesla – Sustainable
business of communications: Staying technology is the future!
Relevant is a constant challenge! The
world today is shrinking and going Most inspiring personality: Mahatma
global- information overload is greater Gandhi

My work mantra: The dogs bark, but
the caravan moves on.

Bobby Kewalramani

CO-FOUNDER & CEO, PERFECT RELATION

Pradeep Kewalaramani is better known MP, Shibu Soren in 1992. The company
as Bobby. He is an Economics Honours is now part of the Dentsu Aegis Network
graduate from St Stephens College who and has four brands including Perfect
launched Perfect Relations with Dilip Relations that include Accord, Imprimis
Cherian as co-founder from a rented and Image PR.
room in the official residence of JMM

BLOCK YOUR DATE

FRIDAY, 24TH NOVEMBER 2017
MUMBAI

#kf2017

www.knowledgefactory.co.in

@KnowFactInd KnowFactInd

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 9

COVER STORY

Amit Misra

CEO, MSLGROUP INDIA

Recently named in PRWeek’s Global Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
Power Book for 2017, Amit has been in word: Dynamic
the Public Relations space for over two
decades now. He leads the MSLGROUP Recommended movies: Jerry
in India to emerge as the preferred choice Maguire, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The
for clients and colleagues. Shawshank Redemption, Forrest Gump
and Alive
A true professional who enjoys the small
pleasures of life, Amit is fond of eating My idea of a perfect vacation: Solo
at Dhabas and recalls swimming in the travel to unexplored places
Narmada river in Jabalpur as his fondest
childhood memory. My first owned wheels: Hyundai Santro

Biggest challenge about being in the My favourite quote: Keep Walking
business of communications: Losing
talent, especially when they are about My way of giving back to the society:
to assume the next-level of leadership I work with the Amar Jyoti Foundation,
and adopting technology doing my best to foster integrated
learning and supporting girl child
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the education
future: Managing boardroom dynamics
and having a nuanced understanding of
ethical and legal frameworks

Rakesh Thukral

MANAGING DIRECTOR, EDELMAN INDIA

A seasoned industry veteran with more challenge that will be prominent for
than 25 years of experience, Rakesh took some time now.
over as MD, Edelman India in October
2014. Prior to joining Edelman, Rakesh Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
was the COO of Comma Consulting future: Create, oversee and run
for over four years, a company that he campaigns that are relevant, multi-
helped set up. He also worked at IPAN, channel and appealing to audiences
across the board
now known as Hill+Knowlton
Strategies, for 14 years. His work Recommended movies: Gandhi
mantra - plan and slot time
for every small aspect of the Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
business. word: Growing

Biggest challenge about Favourite Cuisine: Indian
being in the business
of communications: Childhood memories that shaped
me: My father brought home books
Responding to changes regularly for me to read. That helped
in the business caused me gain immense knowledge and
by technology and shaped my understanding of things.

digital intervention My favourite quote: “By failing to
is a challenge. prepare, you are preparing to fail.“ -
Differentiating Benjamin Franklin

fake from the real
world is another

10 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

For the privilege of serving
the best and the biggest businesses

in India for 20 years…

by the precepts of PR, there’s just
one way of expressing our gratitude.

In 1997, the first Harry Potter book was published, the first mammal was cloned,
and Adfactors PR was born.

Between that eventful year and now, we have had the privilege of serving the best and the biggest
businesses in India: above 2800 in number.

Just our current listed clients represent a combined market capitalisation of US $ 375 billion.

While partnering with these businesses, we honed existing capabilities and adopted new ones:
with the objectives of increasing understanding between diverse stakeholders, minimising
prejudices, deepening relationships, widening positive influences, arbitrating conflicts, reducing
social friction, giving truth a new voice.

Today, we are proud to be an independent Indian entity that is also the most-awarded,
fastest-growing and biggest PR agency.

So how do we express our gratitude to the galaxy of clients who made this possible?

How do we express our gratitude to I-banks, private equity firms, law firms, consulting firms,
media, the larger financial community, corporate communications professionals… who
collaborated seamlessly and trusted us like friends?

Saying “Thank you” won’t do.

Doing “Thank you” is the only true way.

(Remember, behaviour trumps communication is the First Precept of PR!)

We will continuously challenge and transform ourselves to meet the needs of our stakeholders
in a VUCA world.

That’s a promise.

For the next 20 years.

Adfactors PR completes 20 years! India • Singapore • Sri Lanka
www.adfactorspr.com

COVER STORY
Varsha Chainani

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GROUP COMMUNICATION, MAHINDRA &
MAHINDRA

A luxury traveller with an adventurous clutter; consistency in communications;
streak, Varsha found her true calling enhanced art of storytelling; move
when she moved from an Operations to a broader base to include
& Sales and Marketing role to the advocacy, influencer programs, crisis
Corporate Communication function way management, public affairs and brand
back in 1998. During her stint at Abbott marketing leveraging owned, paid,
Laboratories, she established the public earned and social media.
affairs function for Abbott in India.
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
Biggest challenge about being in the word: Dynamic
business of communications: Doing
more with less and proving the value of Favourite Cuisine: Pan-Asian
the outcomes which have the highest
impact on the company’s reputation. My exercise regime: Running,
Functional Training and Swimming
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
future: Creativity – to cut through the Most inspiring personality: Indra Nooyi,
CEO, Pepsico

Debasis Ray

HEAD, COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC RELATIONS, TATA TRUSTS

Biggest challenge about being in the business word: Fecund
of communications: Establishing the
authenticity of one’s organisation My professional mentor: The late Irfan Khan

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the future: My exercise regime: Running
Sensibility to read changing social trends and
their impact on organisations Most inspiring personality: Mahatma Gandhi

Sectors that do not work with PR today: My work mantra: Being honest about what I
Charitable organisations am not capable of

Describe the Indian PR scenario in one My favourite quote: A promise is a promise
is a promise.

Prabhat Choudhary

FOUNDER, SPICE PR

Featured as part of the 50 Most Biggest challenge about being in the
Influential Young Leaders in the July business of communications: The
2016 issue of GQ India, Prabhat has business seems to be in a state of flux
been in the business of connecting and our relevance is dependent on
with audiences for more than a decade being able to stay ahead of the curve.
now. He is the founder of Spice PR - It is a growing maze; an entropic and
the communications firm responsible chaotic scenario. To understand and
for Public Relations strategies for top accept this, and make the best use of it
grossers like Bahubali, Dangal, PK and is the real challenge.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Through Spice PR,
Prabhat also handles portfolios like Aamir Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sanjay Dutt, future: The ability to break through the
Hrithik Roshan, Shraddha Kapoor and clutter – a huge amount of clutter.
Sushant Singh Rajput to name a few.
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
word: Dynamic

12 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

COVER STORY

Sujit Patil

HEAD, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, LEADING INDIAN
CONGLOMERATE

Winner of the International IABC Gold idiosyncrasies, adapting to situations,
Quill Award, Sujit is among the few IABC being agile, empathetic, humble,
accredited business communicators staying connected and delivering to
in India. He is part of the Arthur W expectations along with demonstrating
Page Society and was also listed on quantifiable power of communications
the PRWeek Global Power Book 2017. are some of the indispensable skills.
An active player in shaping the future
of Public Relations in India, Sujit is Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
the National chair for branding and word: Indispensable
communications for CII - Young Indian’s
(Yi) for 2016-17and volunteers as a Turning point of my career: Shift from
faculty at various B schools. being a sales engineer to marketing
and communications
Biggest challenge about being in the
business of communications: Explaining Favourite Cuisine:
what I do to my kid daughter. Home-cooked authentic
Maharashtrian food
Indispensable skills to a CCO in
the future: In today’s VUCA world Favourite leisure activity:
CCOs should be better listeners Weekend farming
and observers. They should let go of
past stereotypes and build strategic Favourite Quote:
foresights. Navigating through newer “There is no substitute for
hard work.” – Thomas A
Edison

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 13

COVER STORY

Nikhil Khanna

FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, AVIAN MEDIA

Nikhil Khanna started Avian Media he had amassed in his 15 years in public
in 2004 with one client, Airbus. After relations. He is a man for all seasons
handling the account for 10 years from and is one of the best connected Public
1991 to 2001 in his capacity as Director, Relations honchos in New Delhi. Nikhil is
Good Relations, Nikhil decided to put to the founder trustee of Neeti Foundation.
good use the experience and knowledge

Nitin Mantri

CEO AND BUSINESS PARTNER, AVIAN MEDIA

In 2015, Nitin was awarded The Global to be more agile, have better foresight
PR Leader of South Asia at the ICCO and be a team player with better
Global Awards. In 2006 he moved from people skills.
UK to India to join Avian Media as a
Business Partner and there has been no Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
looking back since. word: Avant-garde

Biggest challenge about being in Recommended movies: Wag the Dog,
the business of communications: All the President’s Men, Chicago, Jerry
Constantly broadening the required Maguire, Miss Sloane
range of skills along with the pressure
to measure efforts and show bottom- My first owned wheels: Maruti 800
line results.
My exercise regime: Swimming and
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the cycling
future: CCOs of the future need to
raise their game for sure. They need My work mantra: Look after your
people and business will follow

Senjim Raj Sekhar

HEAD, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, FLIPKART

Probably the best brand ambassador quit the corporate world to travel the real
of the north-east in communications, world and live in different continents with
Senjam or Raj as he is fondly called, his wife and son. He previously worked
knows the art of being in the right place at Samsung, Bharti and Vedanta. He is
at the right time. He has been writing responsible for driving the communication
India’s longest running weekly quiz and reputation agenda of India’s largest
column for over two decades. In 2013 he ecommerce company - Flipkart.

14 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

COVER STORY

Seema Ahuja

VICE PRESIDENT & GLOBAL HEAD,
CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, BIOCON

Biggest challenge about being in the My work mantra: Take ownership.
business of communications: Being Focus on Excellence. Success has no
committed to your role 24x7 often shortcuts
superseding your personal life.
My favourite quote: Nothing is
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the impossible
future: Technological advancement
as communication through digital
mediums becomes mainstay.

Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
word: Evolving

My favourite cuisine: Continental and
Oriental

My exercise regime: Walk, Gym/
Zumba and Yoga

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 15

COVER STORY

Bela Rajan

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, KETCHUM SAMPARK

Biggest challenge about being in the you for Smoking, Rang De Basanti,
business of communications: Gaining Peepli Live
the trust and confidence of people and
maintaining healthy relationships in Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
business word: Dynamic

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the Most inspiring personality: All women
future: Domain knowledge coupled who have made their mark despite
with compelling, credible and challenges!
convincing content
My idea of a perfect vacation:
Recommended movies: Bombay Anywhere with family
Velvet, No One Killed Jessica, Thank

N S Rajan

GLOBAL PARTNER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, KETCHUM SAMPARK

Biggest challenge about being in the Reputation Rules: Strategies for
business of communications: Keeping Building Your Company’s Most
pace with the fast-moving business Valuable Asset - Daniel Diermeier
environment along with earning the
trust and respect of clients, colleagues Made To Stick: Why some Ideas
and media. Survive and Others Die - Chip Heath
and Dan Heath
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
future: Storytelling; creating powerful My idea of a perfect vacation:
and relevant content; sectoral Mountains
and media knowledge; influencer
My family in Public Relations: My wife
engagement and management Bela Rajan founded Sampark and has
been longer in Public Relations and is
Recommended books: perhaps more accomplished than me!

How to Win Friends and My first owned wheels: Dukkar Fiat
Influence People - by Dale
Carnegie My work mantra: Honesty, Patience
and Perseverance
Crystallizing Public Opinion - by
Edward L. Bernays My favourite quote: I cried for I had no
shoes till I saw a child who had no feet.
Confessions of an Advertising – Helen Keller
Man - by advertising legend
David Ogilvy

16 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017



COVER STORY

Sonia Huria

SENIOR VP & HEAD, COMMUNICATIONS & CSR, VIACOM18

Biggest challenge about being in the Recommended TV shows: House of
business of communications: Separating Cards, Newsroom, Suits
fact from fiction
The turning point of my career: My
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the shift from consultancy to corporate –
future: If a communicator wants when I joined Viacom18
to survive the future, s/he has to
constantly stay updated especially My exercise regime: Yoga
where social, mobile, analytics and
cloud (SMAC) is concerned. My work mantra: Live life like
everything is rigged in your favour-
The highest point of my professional Rumi
life: When I was appointed one of the
youngest leaders at Viacom18

Recommended movies: Thank You for
Smoking, The Queen, Wag the Dog,
The Joneses, The Ides of March

Vivek Suchanti

CHAIRMAN & MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONCEPT COMMUNICATION

Vivek Suchanti serves as the Chairman group through investments in creative
and Managing Director of the Concept shops and digital marketing firms. A
Communications Group – a firm his BCom graduate from Sydenham College,
father bought and nurtured close to 30 Vivek is quietly building India’s first
years ago from its original owners. Vivek independent network.
has built a niche by building a holding

18 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

COVER STORY

Archana Jain

MANAGING DIRECTOR, PR PUNDIT

Biggest challenge about being in Most inspiring personality: Alastair
the business of communications: Campbell
Keeping pace with the fast-evolving
communications ecosystem and My exercise regime: Swim/Walk/Yoga
ensuring all stakeholders understand daily
how to exploit its possibilities and
appreciate its limitations My work mantra: Get your hands dirty!

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the My favourite quote: The pessimist
future: Employing Artificial Intelligence complains about the wind. The
for analytics optimist expects it to change. The
leader adjusts the sail. - John
Recommended movies: Wag the Dog, Maxwell
The Insider, All the President’s Men,
Thank You for Smoking, Ides of March How do I give back to the
society? By supporting
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one education of young
word: Evolving girls and a livelihood
programme for
The turning point of my career: Setting women
up PR Pundit in 1998

Ameer Ismail

PRESIDENT, GOLINOPINION

Biggest challenge about being in Unconventional Career Advice from
the business of communications: an Unlikely CEO by Fred Cook, Jerry
Navigating change. There is a need Maguire, The Social Network
to constantly be able to forecast and
structure a business play that remains Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
relevant and delivers value. word: Undervalued

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the The turning point of my career: 1996,
future: In the future a CCO will the year I was hired by Prem Mehta
necessarily need breadth and depth of to join the Lintas group. It has been
experience in various communications an incredible journey of over 20 years
functions. Consultancy experience doing what I am passionate about
prepares you for this. The ability to in one of the best institutions in the
communications business.
visualise, strategise, and curate
quality content and the My idea of a perfect vacation: Mauritius
knowledge of digital will be by the beach, soaking in nature, good
critical. restaurants, enjoying friends and family
time
Recommended books/
movies: Confessions of My first owned wheels: Fiat
an Advertising Man by
David Ogilvy, How to I aspire to own: Lamborghini Diablo
Win Friends and Influence
People by Dale Carnegie, Most inspiring personality: Fred Cook

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 19

COVER STORY

Paroma Roy Chowdhury

VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS,
SOFTBANK GROUP INTERNATIONAL

Biggest challenge about being in the The turning point of my career: The
business of communications: Helping decision to shift from Journalism to the
achieve business objectives instead corporate sector
of just existing as a pillar of functional
excellence Most inspiring personality: Barack
Obama
Indispensable skills to a CCO in
the future: Digital literacy, a deep My exercise regime: Yoga, swimming
understanding of technology and the or walking
complex interplay of economy, politics
and society My awards & accomplishments:

Describe the Indian PR scenario in one 1. GE Best Country Communicator
word: Chaotic/Low-grade Award

My favourite cuisine: Chinese and Thai 2. First Communications Director in
Asia for Google
I aspire to own: A Mercedes S Class

Sunayna Malik

MANAGING DIRECTOR, TEXT 100 INDIA & SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, TEXT
100 APAC

Describe the Indian PR scenario in one My professional mentors:
word: Confused While all my bosses have been great
mentors, I would like to specially
Recommended Books/Movies/TV mention two - Ashok Jain (my boss at
Shows: ICIM) and Vineet Nayar (my boss at
Thank you for Smoking HCL Comnet)

Made to Stick The turning point of my career:
My move from in-house to
The Tipping Point consultancy side

How to win friends and I aspire to own:
influence people A Mini Cooper

Confessions of an My favourite quote:
Advertising Man The heights by great men reached
and kept were not attained by sudden
Only the Paranoid Survive flight, But they, while their companions
slept were toiling upwards in the night.
House of Cards
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

20 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

COVER STORY

Gaurav Patra

FOUNDER DIRECTOR, VALUE 360 COMMUNICATIONS

Biggest challenge about being in the My favourite cuisine: Mexican and
business of communications: Staying traditional Oriya
abreast with the technological and
socio-economic evolution as it entails I aspire to own: A Maserati
unlearning the past and adapting to the
future The turning point of my career:
My shift from journalism to Public
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the Relations - when I got the chance to be
future: Understanding data and using part of the Founding team at Value360
it to reach the target audience with a
targeted communications approach. My work mantra:
Honesty and hard
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one work never go in
word: Theatrical vain.

Recommended books: Trust Me;
I’m lying: Confessions of a Media
Manipulator by Ryan Holiday and
Multimedia Storytelling for Digital
Communicators in a Multiplatform
World by Seth Gitner.

Manisha Choudhary

CO-FOUNDER, VALUE360

Manisha co-founded Precision PR straight which in less than a decade has grown
out of Madhubala College in Delhi way to become one of the Top 3 Indian firms.
back in 2003 when most others her age Manisha is a behind-the-scenes person
are wondering what to do. Later, with two with a fine knack of handling people.
other partners, one of whom include her
husband Kunal, she created Value 360

Kunal Kishore

CO-FOUNDER, VALUE360

Kunal is ambitious, driven and that remains completely in sync with the
understated - a rare combination among firm Kunal has co-created is Paytm where
millenials. His company Value 360 has Kunal plays an active role on a daily basis
grown rapidly over the last decade. to make it a media darling in more ways
Notable clients in the past included than one.
Snapdeal and Shopclues. But the client

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 21

COVER STORY

Valerie Pinto

CEO, WEBER SHANDWICK, INDIA

Biggest challenge about being in My idea of a perfect vacation: South
the business of communications: of France – the deep blue sea, a book,
Articulation of business needs good food with a glass of wine!
and marrying that with creative
communications that leads to My favourite cuisine: Japanese
engagement and talkability is critical
and the most challenging in todays My mentors: Dilip Cherian and my
times mother

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the My exercise regime: Running and
future: Ability to see the future, swimming
leverage new technology, big data, and
extreme EQ application will be critical My favourite leisure activity: Cooking
as we move into a world of automated
engagement and digitisation My favourite quote: Life isn’t about
waiting for the storm to pass by it’s
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one about learning to dance in the rain!
word: Scavengeous

Sonia Dhawan

DGM, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, PAYTM

Biggest challenge about being in the I aspire to own: Mercedes-Benz
business of communications: Staying C-Class Cabriolet
constantly updated with news and
business developments in different The highest point of my professional
business categories life: The realisation that we had built
the Paytm brand to an extent where it
Indispensable skills to a CCO in became synonymous with payments.
the future: Understanding the We created magic with 24x7 work
company’s ambition; being a profound hours, handling more than three
spokesperson; optimally leveraging the crises everyday and still exceeding
power of online and social media expectations.

Describe the Indian PR scenario in one My work mantra: Speed,
word: Evolving Smart Execution, Prioritisation,
Breaking the rules, Trust
My favourite cuisine: Italian and
Mediterranean My favourite quote:
Hard work is glory,
My professional mentor: Vijay Shekhar everything else is theory
Sharma, Founder, Paytm

22 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017



COVER STORY

Raza Khan

HEAD, GROUP CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, BHARTI

Raza hails from naxal-infested Bastar spent a decade in PR consulting at
in Chattisgarh and is a chemical Perfect Relations and Genesis BM before
engineer from the National Institute moving to the Bharti Group ten years
of Technology, Raipur. He holds a PG ago. He oversees communications for the
Diploma in communications from the various businesses the group is into and
Delhi School of Communication. He predominantly telecom.

Rachana Panda

CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, GE SOUTH ASIA

Biggest challenge about being in Recommended books:
the business of communications:
Showing relevance of the Public • The Cultural Map by Erin Meyer
Relations business in terms of business
outcomes; Convincing business leaders • Ultimate Nation: Relentless
to engage us during the strategic invention of modern India By Adam
business planning stage instead of much Roberts
later
• Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
future: Resilience, Data analytics, • How to win Friends & influence
number crunching, trend spotting and people by Dale Carnegie
the right attitude
• It is not how good you are, it is how
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one good you want to be by Paul Arden
word: Young/Evolving
My idea of a perfect vacation: Eat...
Drink...Sleep; Take time to learn
something new and reflect on yourself

Gayatri Rath

DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & CITIZENSHIP, MICROSOFT
INDIA

Gayatri hails from Orissa. She is a time as communications leader at Oracle
Zoology graduate from the Utkal and GE Capital. She has been director
University after which she did her post of communications and city at Microsoft
graduation from IIMC. She spent her since 2013 where she looks after external
early years at Corporate Voice and TBWA and internal communications.
PR before moving to spend considerable

24 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017



COVER STORY

Aseem Sood

CEO, IMPACT RESEARCH AND MEASUREMENT

Biggest challenge about being in the • Rework: Change the way you work
business of communications: The pace forever by Jason Fried and David
at which stake holders are changing Heinemeier Hans-son
their content consumption patterns
and behaviour is challenging. Another • Say It With Charts: The Executive’s
challenge is that co-workers, i.e. Guide to Visual Communication
professionals in other disciplines in the by Gene Zelazny
firm, do not take the Communications
discipline seriously. • Outliers by Malcom Gladwell

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the My idea of a perfect vacation: Walking
future: CCOs will need to operate on on the streets of new cities and
integrated campaigns, not just earned meeting and talking to locals. My
media favourite city is Krakow in Poland.

Recommended books: Most inspiring personality: Jason Fried,
CEO, Basecamp
• Give and Take by Adam Grant
My favourite quote: We are defined by
• The Digital Tsunami: Succeeding in a our choices, not abilities.
World Turned Upside-Down by
Abhijit Bhaduri

Chetan Mahajan

PRESIDENT & CEO, H+K STRATEGIES INDIA

Biggest challenge about being in the My favourite cuisine: Japanese
business of communications: Talent
crunch My favourite leisure activity: Skiing

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the My all time favourite car: Toyota
future: Social dynamics and related Fortuner
consumer behaviour, analytics, social
media and influencer relations and the My first owned wheels: LML Vespa –
art of listening NV 150

Describe the Indian PR scenario in one My exercise regime: Gymming
word: Commoditised
My work mantra: People first, clients
My idea of a perfect vacation: Any second
place that is ‘Out of Coverage Area’

26 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017



COVER STORY

Rishi Seth

GROUP CEO, COHN AND WOLFE SIX DEGREES, INDIA

Rishi is a post graduate in Marketing years as the Managing Director. In 2009
from the Fore School of Management he co-founded Six Degrees which was
in Delhi. He began his career at Perfect acquired in 2015 by WPP owned Cohn
Relations and had a short stint at & Wolfe. Rishi is a partner at Alphabet
Genesis before embarking on a leadership Consulting.
role at Text 100 where he spent eight

Zacharia James

GROUP CEO, COHN AND WOLFE SIX DEGREES, INDIA

Biggest challenge about being in the My idea of a perfect vacation: Any
business of communications: Lack of place with family
quality talent
Most inspiring personality: Mother
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the Teresa
future: The ability to provide counsel
and execute on integrated marketing My favourite cuisine: Indian
communications campaigns
My exercise regime: Badminton
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
word: Exciting My work mantra: You’d never know
until you try!

Ishteyaque Amjad

VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATION, COCA COLA,
INDIA AND SOUTH WEST ASIA

Ishteyaque has had a glorious career first Technologies, Cargill - both in India and
in the Indian Army where he retired from Singapore and now is responsible for
as Captain and later in the corporate Corporate Communications, Government
world. A graduate from the Aligarh Relations, Industry Relations and
Muslim University, Ishteyaque spent Sustainability at Coca Cola India and
a decade in corporate affairs at HCL South West Asia.

28 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017



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30 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

spmeroastiinsg SOCIAL LIKE NEVER BEFORE

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REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 31

COVER STORY

Neeraj Jha

HEAD, CORPORATE COMMUNICATION, HDFC BANK

Neeraj started as a business journalist head of the corporate communications
after graduating from Ranchi University. department at HDFC Bank and is
After spending close to a decade responsible for building its reputation
as a reporter he moved to Reliance working closely with the CEO. Besides
Communications in 2004 where he spent English and Hindi, Neeraj speaks
two years. Since 2006 he has been the Maithili.

Minari Shah

DIRECTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS, AMAZON, INDIA

Biggest challenge about being in Anderson, Liar’s Poker by Michael
the business of communications: Lewis, The Tipping Point by Michael
Managing customised messaging for the Gladwell
converging and fragmenting audiences
along with the rising scepticism of mass My favourite cuisine: South Indian &
media and dangers of fake news Mediterranean

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the The turning point of my career: The
future: Understanding algorithmic time I realised that Public Relations
behaviour influences and the ever- was not just a support function for
evolving media consumption habits of businesses and that it should play a role
audiences in all key business decision making, my
approach towards the business and my
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one career changed.
word: Fast growing and inconsistent
My work mantra:
Recommended books: Fooled by Understand the business
Randomness and The Black Swan by and not just Public Relations
Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Disruptive
Innovation by Clayton Christensen, AP My favourite leisure activity:
Style Guide, The Long Tail by Chris Writing

Poonam Kaul

VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONS, PEPSICO INDIA

Poonam wears her Kashmiri pride on her and Nokia before she was roped in by
sleeve. She is an MBA from the University PepsiCo India in December 2015 to lead
of Jammu and started her career in communications. She drives reputation
communications at Mudra. She later building programmes for a portfolio of
spent close to fifteen years collectively, over 22 brands.
heading communications at Microsoft

32 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

COVER STORY

Subhayu Mishra

COUNTRY HEAD, CORPORATE AFFAIRS, STANDARD CHARTERED BANK

Biggest challenge about being in the Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
business of communications: Today’s word: Adolescent
complicated business context is
challenging. Where on one hand, Recommended movies: Rashomon,
there’s unbridled ‘democratisation’ of Citizen Kane, Frost/Nixon, Thank You
media with increasing voice of informal for Smoking and Fahrenheit 9/11
and social media, on the other we
are seeing some sort of an oligarchy Recommended books: How to Win
with large media houses or even Friends and Influence People by Dale
diversified corporate houses acquiring Carnegie, The Hidden Persuaders
media and aggregating. This calls for by Vance Packard, The Medium is
different constructs, tones, emphases the Massage by Marshall McLuhan,
of narrative and relationships. Confessions of an Advertising Man by
David Ogilvy and Reputation Rules:
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the Strategies for Building your Company’s
future: Ability to leverage online Most Valuable Asset by Daniel
communication nuances and social Diermeier
media behaviour from opinion shaping
/ influencing standpoint; Understanding I aspire to own: A Beetle
the role of unconventional stakeholders
like the civil society, communities, My favourite quote: Growth for the
independent thought leaders & sake of growth is the ideology of the
influencers; Data and information cancer cell – Edward Abbey
mining on a constant basis to engage
with stakeholders including, but not Most inspiring personality: Amartya Sen
limited to, media.

Manish Kalghatgi

HEAD, CORPORATE BRAND MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION,
LARSEN AND TOUBRO

Biggest challenge about being in The turning point of my career: The
the business of communications: decision to shift from Journalism to
Developing a broader range of Communications
skills; Crafting messages that break
the clutter; Accuracy of messaging; My work mantra: I don’t take myself
Measuring impact too seriously.

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the My favourite quote: You must be the
future: Understanding and mastering change that you wish to see in the
technology and its impact world. – Mahatma Gandhi

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 33

COVER STORY

Deepa Dey

HEAD, COMMUNICATIONS & CSR, GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER
HEALTHCARE

Biggest challenge about being in the My family in Public Relations: My
business of communications: There is husband Nikhil Dey, President (Public
Relations & Public Affairs) Genesis
no rule book! Burson-Marsteller

Indispensable skills to a My exercise regime: Yoga and Cardio
CCO in the future: Re-
imagining My childhood memories that shaped
me: The story of Cinderella – It taught
Describe the Indian PR me that life is full of changes, some
scenario in one word: magical even. Enjoy it but always keep
Teenager your eyes on the clock!

Recommended book: My favourite quote: Be bold and
Improvise by Fred mighty forces will come to your aid. –
Cook Basil King

Amrit Ahuja

MANAGING DIRECTOR, 2020MSL

Biggest challenge about being in the • The Innovators Dilemma by
business of communications: It does Geoffery Moore
not get the deserved attention.
• Inside The Tornado by Geoffery
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the Moore
future: Understanding of the digital
medium and reducing dependency on The turning point of my career: Joining
media relations a tech PR firm and working with a
Founder who came from an IIT, IIM
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one background
word: Nascent
My exercise regime: Yoga
Recommended books:
• Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey The highest point of my professional
life: Being part of PM Modi’s Townhall
Moore at Facebook HQ in Menlo Park

34 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

COVER STORY

Ashwani Singla

FOUNDING MANAGING PARTNER, ASTRUM

Biggest challenge about being in My exercise regime: Workout and
the business of communications: Swimming
Understanding the shifting mindsets
and preferences and their impact on My work mantra: Only people crazy
business enough to think that they can change
the world, can do it.
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
future: Ability to leverage data science My first owned wheels: A Kawasaki
and cognitive technologies like Artificial Bajaj 110 cc motorcycle
Intelligence and Machine Learning to
mine deep insights and move from My favourite quote:
reactive to predictive behaviour
Every morning in Africa, a gazelle
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one wakes up knowing that it must outrun
word: Developing the fastest lion or it will be killed.

Recommended books: The Trusted Every morning a lion wakes up
Advisor by David Maister, Crystalizing knowing that it must outrun the
Public Opinion by Edward Bernays, slowest gazelle or it will starve to
Influence by Prof. Robert Caldini, death.
Generations by Strauss & Howe and
The Reputation Economy by Michael It does not matter whether you are a
Fertik lion or a gazelle, when the Sun comes
up, you better start running.
Most inspiring personality: Harold
Burson, Founder, Burson-Marsteller
and Mark Penn, Founder, The Stagwell
Group

Ajay Jasra

DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, INDIGO AIRLINES

Biggest challenge about being in My favourite cuisine: Thai and Indian
the business of communications:
Communicating with people at My all-time favourite car: Thar jeep
different levels in a language they
understand The turning point of my career: My
political PR stint with the Late Pramod
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the Mahajan
future: Understanding and working
with the ever evolving communication Most inspiring personality: Narendra
chaos Modi

Describe the Indian PR scenario in one My exercise regime: Gymming
word: Confused
My work mantra: Think and act out of
Recommended books: the box!

• The New Rules of Marketing and PR My favourite quote: Wolves don’t lose
by David Meerman Scott sleep over the opinions of sheep.

• Trust Me, I’m Lying by Ryan Holiday

• The PR Masterclass: How to
Develop a Public Relations Strategy
that Works! By Alex Singleton

• The Art of Perception: Memoirs of a
Life in PR by Robert Leaf

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 35

COVER STORY

Nikhil Dey

PRESIDENT, PUBLIC RELATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS, GENESIS BURSON-
MARSTELLER

Biggest challenge about being in the methodologies to derive insights that
business of communications: Keeping can be acted on will be crucial.
pace with the speed at which the
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
communication landscape is word: Underpaid
evolving and constantly
finding ways to My best friend in the business: My wife,
demonstrate Deepa Dey
the business
impact of good My exercise regime: Tennis
communication
My work mantra: You are only as
Indispensable good as your team. Treat people with
skills to a CCO in respect. Always give it your best, but
the future: The remember to work harder than the
ability to marry rest, there is no substitute for hard
work.
technology (the
science) with My favourite quote: Creativity is
the trade (the intelligence having fun

art) and using
data-driven

Yusuf Hatia

MANAGING DIRECTOR, FLEISHMANHILLARD

Biggest challenge about being in the Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
business of communications: Keeping word: Dynamic
up with the fast-moving and constantly
changing nature of the business. Recommended movies: Game Change,
The Social Network, Spotlight
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
future: Deeper understanding of the The turning point of my career: When
interconnectedness of the different I decided to move from Journalism to
disciplines and evolved strategic and Public Relations
tactical capabilities

36 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

COVER STORY

Sunil Gautam

FOUNDER & PARTNER, PITCHFORK PARTNERS STRATEGIC CONSULTING

Biggest challenge about being in the Recommended books:
business of communications: The • Fall of Advertising and Rise of PR by
tremendous amount of patience and
commitment needed – day after day Al Ries
and year after year • The Brothers: The Rise & Rise of

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the Saatchi & Saatchi by Ivan Fallon
future: Understanding global trends
and geo political scenarios My favourite cuisine: Indian

Describe the Indian PR scenario in one My idea of a perfect vacation:
word: Organised chaos Anywhere with family and grandkids

Jaideep Shergill

FOUNDING PARTNER, PITCHFORK PARTNERS STRATEGIC CONSULTING

Biggest challenge about being in the My favourite leisure activity: Music,
business of communications: The Films and collecting rare books
continuous hard work
My favourite quote: He who laughs
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the last, laughs best.
future: Understanding digital, business
and numbers

Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
word: Underrated

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 37

COVER STORY
Shivani Gupta

MANAGING DIRECTOR, SPAG

Biggest challenge about being in the media
business of communications: Finding
committed talent; Integrating creative Recommended book: Made to Stick:
thinking between traditional and digital Why Some Ideas Survive and Others
PR Die by Chip and Dan Heath

Indispensable skills to a CCO in My family in Public Relations: Aman
the future: Understanding of digital Gupta, my husband and partner
marketing, Data Analytics and social

Aman Gupta

MANAGING PARTNER, SPAG

Biggest challenge about being in Sectors that do not work with PR
the business of communications: today: Education
Integrating data and technology into
offerings; Building digital capacities that Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
can compete with advertising and pure word: Evolving
play digital firms

Indispensable skills to a CCO in
the future: Data Analytics and Data
Sciences, Technology langauges –
Python, Django and Digital Marketing

Shalini Singh

HEAD, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, TATA POWER

Shalini has been with Tata Power since distributes power in North Delhi. She has
2004. She is a woman Director and a a Master’s degree in Communications &
Board Member on Tata Power’s subsidiary Extension from M.S. University Baroda.
Tata Power Delhi Distribution which

Heena Kanal

HEAD, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & GLOBAL CENTRE OF
EXCELLENCE, BRAND PR & DIGITAL CONTENT, MARICO LIMITED

Biggest challenge about being in or no direct control
the business of communications:
Maintaining multiple personalities - of Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
being a thinker and a doer, being a word: Chrysalis
trendsetter but understated, a leader
and soldier My professional mentor: R Narayanan

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the My work mantra: When in doubt, do
future: Managing reputation with little the right thing.

38 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

COVER STORY
Nandini Chatterjee

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, PWC INDIA

Biggest challenge about being in My work mantras: Surrounding myself
the business of communications: with talented people who complement
Navigating through the new, nuanced, me and each other, so that the team is
converged eco-system of internal greater than the sum of its individual
and external communications where team members; Asking myself at the
almost everything is at real-time. This beginning of every year, ‘what new
is challenging and exciting at the same thing are you doing this year?’ That
time to my mind is a way to evolve, stay
relevant.
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
future: Data analytics along with high My all-time favourite car: Ambassador
emotional quotient, quality, integrity
and social consciousness

Paresh Chaudhry

CEO, MADISON PR

Biggest challenge about being in the The turning point of my career: My
business of communications: Talent move from Marketing to Corporate
with passion and the lack of clarity Communications
among clients in understanding the role
of public relations Most inspiring personalities: Amitabh
Bachchan and Narendra Modi
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
future: Understanding consumers How do I give back to the society? By
and target group behaviours and building schools for the underprivileged
the impact of social, economical and for the last 25 years
environmental initiatives

Anand Subramanian

SENIOR DIRECTOR, MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS, OLA

Biggest challenge about being in the build parallel narratives for diverse
business of communications: Increasing stakeholders
complexity of audiences and the need
to build relatable narratives for each Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
constituency along with the changing word: Just starting
dynamics of media
My all-time favourite car: An Ola car!
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
future: Understanding of the Digital/ My idea of a perfect vacation: By the
Social space and the cyclical impact beach
of its consumption, and the ability to

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 39

COVER STORY
Ophira Bhatia

DIRECTOR, CORPORATE & GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, INDIA & SOUTHEAST
ASIA, MONDELEZ INDIA

Biggest challenge about being in the Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
business of communications: The pace word: Evolving
of change in the business and the need
for communication professionals to My favourite cuisine: Indian Chinese
stay ahead of that change
My favourite quote: When you go
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the through hardships and decide not
future: Greater expertise in dealing to surrender, that is strength. – M K
with ambiguity and change Gandhi

Mahesh Jayaram

DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, DELL INDIA

Mahesh is the Director of Corporate technology companies in Bangalore,
Communications at Dell India. A including GE Medical Systems, IBM and
graduate from the University of Mysore, British Telecom among others.
Mahesh has had long stints at reputed

Vipin Nair

GLOBAL HEAD, COMMUNICATIONS, WIPRO

Biggest challenge about being in the Queen, Spotlight, Thank You for
business of communications: Delivering smoking
messages in an open, transparent yet
credible manner My favourite cuisine: Indian & Japanese

Indispensable skills to a CCO in Most inspiring personality: Mahatma
the future: Adaptability, deeper Gandhi
expertise of social media and crisis
communication on multiple platforms My exercise regime: Jogging and
badminton
Recommended movies: All the
President’s Men, Wag the Dog, The

Sujit Ganguli

HEAD, BRAND AND CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, ICICI BANK

Sujit has been with ICICI Group for Fergusson College and a post graduate
over a decade, including a stint as from IIM Bangalore. He oversees brand
head of marketing at ICICI Prudential and corporate communications at ICICI
Life Insurance. He is a graduate from Bank.

40 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

COVER STORY
Shravani Dang

VICE PRESIDENT & GLOBAL GROUP HEAD, CORPORATE
COMMUNICATIONS, THE AVANTHA GROUP

Biggest challenge about being in the Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
business of communications: Talent – word: Maturing
Finding, recruiting and retaining good
talent My exercise regime: Walk, swim and
yoga
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
future: Complex problem solving, My work mantra: Get the work done!
critical thinking, decision making and
earning the confidence of the C Suite

Nandini Goswami

DIRECTOR & HEAD, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, ABBOT HEALTHCARE

Biggest challenge about being in the Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
business of communications: Measuring word: Pulsating
success
My favourite cuisine: Assamese
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
future: A deep understanding of the My exercise regime: Walk
business or industry being supported
along with anticipating changes in the Something about my family: Mother:
media spaces Retired journalist - Was the first lady
reporter for the North East; Sister:
Director, SSMC, Bangalore

Vandana Shenoy

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, ORACLE INDIA

Vandana began her career with stints at experience, she has been with Oracle for
Linopinion, Ogilvy Public Relations and over a decade. She is a graduate from St.
IBM India. With over twenty years of Xaviers College, Mumbai.

Nitin Thakur

DIRECTOR, BRAND & COMMUNICATIONS, MAX GROUP

Biggest challenge about being in the My idea of a perfect vacation:
business of communications: The Unspoiled nature
unpredictability of where, when and
how fast would your organisations’ My first owned wheels: Hero Honda
next reputational challenge can come Sleek
from
My favourite quote: Life is what
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the happens to you every day.
future: Technological advancement,
interpretation of big data, usage of
latest listening tools and such

Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
word: Geared for launch

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 41

COVER STORY
Nandita Lakshmanan

FOUNDER & CHAIRPERSON, THE PRACTICE

Biggest challenge about being in the an economic, political and social
business of communications: Being perspective
seen as credible and reliable in today’s
complex, volatile and dynamic market Recommended movies: Peepli Live,
realities Spotlight, Wag the Dog, Frost & Nixon
and Erin Brockovich
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
word: Underleveraged My favourite quote: The softest pillow
is a clear conscience.
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
future: Complete understanding of The turning point of my career: My
the stakeholders and their relation to move to Bangalore in 1995 to set up
the business along with deep acumen the first regional office for Genesis, I
of the business environment from was all of 25 years then

Atul Ahluwalia

FOUNDING PARTNER, FIRST PARTNERS

Biggest challenge about being in the Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
business of communications: Managing word: Emerging
several different variables at any given
point of time like media, employees, The turning point of my career: My
investors, government, business move from Advertising to Public
partners and consumers to name a few Relations

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the The highest point of my professional
future: Deep knowledge of business life: Co-founding First Partners in 2016
management aspects along with linking
communication efforts to business My work mantra: Be innovative, be
results creative but also be result-oriented!

Dilip Yadav

FOUNDING PARTNER, FIRST PARTNERS

Biggest challenge about being in the • Fierce Conversations: Achieving
business of communications: Operating Success at Work and in Life One
in a hyper real-time environment and Conversation at a Time by Susan
balancing between several stakeholders Scott

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the • Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy
future: The best of technology skills, World by Michael Hyatt
human skills and communication skills
• The Tipping Point: How Little
Describe the Indian PR scenario in Things Can Make a Big Difference by
one word: Bollywood (with its flop/ Malcolm Gladwell
blockbuster campaigns, rising stars
and unsung heroes and the action and • Multimedia Storytelling for Digital
drama) Communicators in a Multiplatform
World by Seth Gitner
Recommended books:
My favourite quote: Thinking should
• The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf become your capital asset, no matter
Dobelli whatever ups and downs you come
across in your life.” - A.P.J Abdul Kalam

42 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

COVER STORY

P K Khurana

FOUNDER & CMD, QUIK RELATIONS

Biggest challenge about being in the The turning point of my career:
business of communications: Driving Becoming an entrepreneur
the change rather than just being a part
of it My work mantra: Find a solution or let
the solution find you.
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
future: Being able to drive business and My favourite quote: Stop wishing. Start
not just communications doing!

Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
word: Flourishing

Radha Roy

COUNTRY HEAD, RUDER FINN, INDIA

Biggest challenge about being in the men, Our Brand is Crisis, Jerry
business of communications: Staying Maguire, Pre-Suasion by Robert
relevant, well-informed and ahead of Cialdini and Never Split the Difference
the times by Chris Voss

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the The turning point of my career: My
future: Not just understanding but media advocacy work at CRY
expertise of the new media
My exercise regime: Meditation and
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one Beer Yoga
word: Dynamic
My favourite quote: Show me the light.
Recommended movies/books: Mad

Girish Huria

HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS, EBAY INDIA

Biggest challenge about being in the My idea of a perfect vacation: Switch-
business of communications: Evolving off and/or Silent-mode
to a level where businesses start
looking at the function as a tool to My family in Public Relations: My
drive business and meet corporate wife, Hina Huria, Independent Public
objectives, earning a seat at the table Relations Consultant

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the I aspire to own: A Mercedes
future: Understanding of data analytics,
consumer behaviour and new-age My exercise regime: Running
digital tools
My favourite quote: There is only one
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one life... live it!
word: Half-done

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 43

COVER STORY

Harshendra Verdhan

HEAD, PUBLIC RELATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS, IFFCO

Biggest challenge about being in the consumers
business of communications: The
rapidly changing business environment Recommended books: Corporate
along with unpredictable issues Chanakya by Radhakrishnan Pillai and
cropping up everyday Raag Darbari by Shrilaal Shukla

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the My work mantra: Politeness, Kindness
future: Technological skills along with and Patience
understanding of local markets and

Gaurav Sinha

HEAD, MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS, AUDI INDIA

Biggest challenge about being in the Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
business of communications: Arriving word: Developing
at the right mix of technology usage
My favourite cuisine: Mughlai and
Indispensable skills to a CCO in Indian-Chinese
the future: Understanding data and
communicating it to the stakeholders, My work mantra: Today, try to be
policy makers and media better than you were yesterday

Shailesh Goyal

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, SIMULATIONS PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGEMENT
SERVICES

Biggest challenge about being in the Michael Fertik, TED talks by Chris
business of communications: Educating Anderson, The Crisis Book by Rick
the client about the intangible value of Hughes, Andrew Kinder, Cary Cooper,
communications 18 immutable laws for Corporate
Reputation by Ronald Alsop and
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the Propaganda by Edward Bernays
future: Sharp listening skills, power to
deduce analytically and ability to deliver My exercise regime: Aerial Yoga
in multiple mediums
My favourite quote: It is better to be
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one honourable than be honoured – Shiv
word: Chaotic Khera

Recommended books: The Reputation
Economy by David C Thompson and

Suresh Rangarajan

HEAD, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, TATA MOTORS

Suresh is an engineer-MBA from Pune several years at Vaishnavi Corporate
University and currently is enjoying his Communications before moving to
dream job at Tata Motors. He started in Vodafone.
PR consulting at Clea PR and then spent

44 REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017

COVER STORY
Pradeep Rajasekharan

DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, INDIA, MIDDLE EAST,
AFRICA AND CEE, FRANKLIN TEMPLETON INVESTMENTS

Pradeep is an alumnus of XIC. He years at the London and Dubai offices
began his career at Linopinion and later of Brunswick. He currently oversees
moved to Hanmer & Partners which communications for Franklin Templeton
then became MSLGROUP. He spent two in multiple countries.

Rakhee Lalvani

VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC RELATIONS & CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS,
TAJ HOTELS PALACES RESORTS SAFARIS

Biggest challenge about being in the Panjabi and Dr Mukund Rajan
business of communications: Ensuring
competencies and capabilities to My idea of a perfect vacation: At a
effectively handle and sustain the beautiful beach, reading a book
reputation of the organisation online
along with churning out good content My favourite leisure activity: DJ’ing
really rapidly to keep up with the 24/7
news cycle My exercise regime: Walk, run and
yoga
Indispensable skills to a CCO in the
future: Listening, which effectively My favourite quote: Obstacles don’t
means observing and learning from have to stop you. If you run into a wall,
your audiences don’t turn around and give up. Figure
out how to climb it, go through it, or
My professional mentors: Camellia work around it. - Michael Jordan

Varghese Thomas

VICE PRESIDENT & GLOBAL HEAD, COMMUNICATIONS,
TVS MOTOR COMPANY

Varghese began his career twenty years and Blackberry. He is the global head of
ago with stints at Corporate Voice and communications for TVS Motor Company.
Genesis before moving to Intel, Cisco He played soccer for his university.

Sudeep Bhalla

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE COMMUNICATION &
SUSTAINABILITY, VODAFONE INDIA

Biggest challenge about being in Recommended books: Trust Me,
the business of communications: I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media
Maintaining corporate reputation in an Manipulator by Ryan Holiday and The
era of post truths, alternate facts and New Rules of Marketing and PR by
irresponsible use of social media David Meerman Scott

Indispensable skills to a CCO in the The turning point of my career:
future: Holistic business acumen and Entering the communications business
data analytics after stints in sales, consulting and
business development
Describe the Indian PR scenario in one
word: Energetic My work mantra: Murphy’s Law – If
anything can go wrong, it will

REPUTATION TODAY SEP 2017 45

Advanced Certificate in
Public Relations

10 Week Part Time Programme

Helping working professionals add
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Leading faculty of Covering fundamental Access to case Include visits to
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Modules Covered

Business PR Techniques & Media Digital
Writing Practice Management Media

Quick research & From crafting the right Understanding the Using the power of
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98115 72673 [email protected] /SCoReInd