Golden ERA of PR: The Legends who wrote the history of Indian PR

The roots of PR in India can be traced back to the mid-20th century when it emerged as a tool for image and relationship management between organizations and their publics. In the past few years, the PR industry has undergone different phases of technological advancements, growing trends, and shifts in consumer behaviour.

However, as the PR landscape evolved, our phenomenal PR veterans played a pivotal role in shaping the industry's trajectory, transforming it to the next level by introducing new strategies for building genuine relationships and digital trends.

Exchange4media feels proud to share the remarkable journey of our amazing veterans who have made a mark by revolutionizing the PR and Communication Industry and setting new benchmarks of growth and success.

Madan Bahal, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Adfactors PR

Madan Bahal is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Adfactors PR and a prominent figure in India's public relations landscape. He played a crucial role in steering the Indian PR industry through significant challenges, including the global financial crisis of 2008 and the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past 25 years, he has been a key communication counsel in numerous milestone events for Corporate India, covering fundraises, mergers and acquisitions, disputes, litigations, issues, and crises. Their client list boasts over 500 retained clients, including leading conglomerates, corporations, unicorns, financial institutions, and NGOs. For his exceptional contributions, he was honored with induction into the Hall of Fame by Arthur W. Page Society in September 2022. Moreover, in October 2020, PRovoke also recognized his company Adfactors PR as one of the seven global agencies of the decade. 

Dilip Cherian, Co-Founder and Consulting Partner of Perfect Relations

Dilip Cherian (also known as the ‘Image Guru’ of India) is the Co-Founder of Perfect Relations Ltd., one of the pioneering agencies that introduced the concept of Image Management to India. With a vast professional journey of over 43 years, he holds positions like India Council Member of the International Public Relations Association, Honorary Director General of the Centre of Image Management Studies, a board governor of the Advertising Standards Council of India, and an Advisor to the President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry. Throughout his illustrious career, he has played a pivotal role in nurturing a new generation of corporate professionals by establishing the Perfect Relations Centre for Image Management Science (a premier research and training institute) and mentoring them on topics such as business networking, communication strategy, and image management.  

Prema Sagar, Chairperson for the BCW India Group

Prema Sagar leads the BCW in India as the Chairperson of the BCW India Group, which was recently formed by integrating Genesis BCW and Six Degrees BCW. She is the first women entrepreneur, innovator, and creative force who has exemplified the power of public relations in advertising & communication and steered the India strategy for the BCW Group, guiding the leadership for its effective implementation. She has also been instrumental in pioneering several milestones in the Indian public relations and communications industry, including the development of proprietary tools for reputation management, the initiation of service quality measurement practices, early adoption of technology, and the creation of the Live Newsroom. She also serves as the Founder-President of the Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) and the President and Founding Member of the Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI) to establish a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing in the public affairs domain. 

Niira Radia, PR Veteran 

Niira Radia is a PR veteran and the former owner of Vaishnavi Corporate Communications followed by three other companies - Noesis, Victom and Neucom Consulting. From 2005 to 2009, Radia head-hunted several senior Indian bureaucrats. In her illustrious career, she has handled the image management work of most renowned organizations such as TATA Group, Unitech Group, Confederation of Indian Industry, Hindustan Construction Company, and the GMR Group. In less than a decade, her company, Vaishnavi Communications has emerged as the biggest PR player in an industry whose influence has created new waves in the PR landscape.

Atul Ahluwalia, Founding Partner at First Partners

Atul Ahluwalia is the Founding Partner at First Partners, India’s premier corporate communications and public affairs agency, providing fully integrated services for Fortune 500 companies, leading Indian corporations, government entities, industry associations, non-profits, and start-ups. He has also served as the India Vice Chairman of Weber Shandwick, Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI), and Chairman of the Constitutional and Advisory Committee of PRCAI. In his 28-year-long career, he has consistently won coveted international awards such as India’s first United Nations Grand Prize for PR Excellence, IPRA Golden World Award, Asia Pacific SABRE Awards, Gold and Silver awards in the Media Lions Category at the Cannes, Government Relations Gold Standard Award, by the Public Affairs Asia Forum, Sabre Award for Best Campaign in India Sub-Continent, among others for his exceptional leadership and communications skills. 

Rajeev Desai, Chairman & CEO of Comma Consulting

Dr. Rajeev was the founder of India's first PR consulting firm, IPAN, and presently, serving as the Chairman & CEO of Comma Consulting. In his remarkable journey, he has been a pivotal part of significant initiatives, including the entry of Pepsi into India in 1988, the launch of Citibank's global consumer bank in 1989, and more. He has advised prominent tech companies like Microsoft, Cisco, and Intel during the nascent stages of the technology boom, and played a crucial role in opening up the telecom sector for companies such as Nokia, Hughes, and more. Furthermore, he served as a media adviser to Rajiv Gandhi during the 1989 and 1991 parliamentary election campaigns. Presently, at his firm Comma Consultants, he is serving the PR and Communications industry with a commitment to look beyond the ordinary. 

Sunil Agarwal, Founding Editor of 20:20 Media

Sunil Agarwal is the Founding Editor of 20:20 Media, a marketing communications consultancy focusing on the technology industry. In his outstanding journey, he has worked with numerous reputable organizations such as Wipro Systems, USA, and Rediffusion. He is also the Vice President of the Public Relations Companies Association of India (PRCAI). Furthermore, he is an alumnus of IIT Delhi and IIM Ahmedabad who envisions the future of PR as charting out optimal communication paths to effectively disseminate positive word of mouth.

Roger C.B. Pereira, Director of Turning Point Brand Consulting

Roger C.B. Pereira is the Director of Turning Point Brand Consulting Pvt. Ltd., Roger Pereira Communications, and India Partner of Chartwell Partners, U.K. With an impressive career spanning 25 years in advertising, he has collaborated with an extensive array of renowned brands such as 3i, Apple, Amul, TATA, and Xerox. He is not only recognized for his contributions to the advertising industry but has also played a pivotal role as the Founder of The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) and the India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA). His remarkable work has earned him several prestigious awards such as the Max Lewis Trophy, U.N. Award, and recognition from the Hollywood Academy of Arts & Sciences, among many others.

Sunil Gautam, Partner at Pitchforks Partners

Sunil Gautam is an active partner at the India's first strategic consulting and communications firm, Pitchfork Partners, a specialised firm for corporate and business issues. He is a distinguished communication leader, a catalyst for change, and a resolute entrepreneur with more than 35 years of expertise. In 1995, he established Clea PR to provide quality services to the communication industry. Within just three years, he took Clea PR to the ranks of the leading PR firm, serving thousands of renowned businesses. Now, in his early 60s, he remains steadfast in his commitment, eschewing complacency to tirelessly work towards ushering in a revolutionary transformation in the communications industry.

Vinod G. Nair, Clea Group

Vinod G. Nair embarked on a journey with the Clea group and worked till becoming the Chairman & Managing Director at Clea Group, where he played a pivotal role in establishing their public relations business. Notably, he achieved the distinction of becoming the youngest CEO at the age of 26. Over the past 15 years, Vinod has garnered a reputation as a maverick, pioneer, upstart, irreverent thinker, and visionary. Under his leadership, Clea evolved into the largest PR agency in the country, earning acclaim for pioneering numerous dimensions and introducing industry-first practices and initiatives in the field of public relations. For his outstanding contributions, he was honored as one of the 100 Most Admired Professionals in India and received the Communication Professional of the Year 2006 Award. Beyond his achievements in the PR realm, he serves on the boards of directors for over eight listed companies and provides advisory expertise to various institutes and educational organizations. 

Praveen Rikhy, Founder Head of MelCole Public Relations

Praveen Rikhy holds a prominent position as one of the top-ten PR professionals for her detail-oriented approach, reliability, and unwavering integrity who consistently delivers impactful results. She is the Founder and Head of MelCole Public Relations, India's inaugural professional PR agency, and also serves as the Chief Consultant at PR Square Consultants. With a career spanning over three decades, she has been a key consultant for major national and international companies, brands, governments, and NGOs. Her expertise lies in enhancing market reach, introducing ground breaking concepts, fundraising, building awareness, and crisis management. Some of her notable achievements include leading. She has managed numerous PR teams supporting multinational corporations such as HP, NYSE EURONEXT, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, Samsonite, SAB Miller, Embraer, FedEx Express, Trident Group, Voith AG, DuPont India, GPS Technology, AstraZeneca PLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn India, Dow Chemicals, Ansal Group of Companies, Rockwell International Corporation, and others. 

Samir Kale, Founder and Managing Director of CMCG India

Samir Kale, a dynamic and young entrepreneur, serves as the Founder and Managing Director of CMCG India. Leveraging his exceptional skills, CMCG India kickstarted their clientele journey by securing the esteemed and highly coveted organization Enron (Dabhol Power Company) as its inaugural client. Subsequently, the company achieved continued success by securing major clients, including Pepsi, ESPN Star Sports, Radio City, and others. Throughout his journey, he has accumulated invaluable experience in crisis/issues management, media relations, brand building, and communication strategies. Recognizing the surging popularity of sports, he ventured into founding 'SportzPR,' India's pioneering specialized Sports PR firm. His leadership and strategic acumen have played a crucial role in the growth and achievements of CMCG India in the competitive landscape of public relations.

Sunil Khosla, Fourth Estate Public Relations

Sunil Khosla is the visionary and President of Fourth Estate, India's inaugural bespoke Public Relations Advisory firm. With an impressive 25-year career, he stands as an eminent figure in the Public Relations domain, specializing in Strategic Communications, Crisis Management, and Litigation PR. His expertise extends to crafting distinctive Corporate Identities, building robust Brand Equity, and formulating cutting-edge communication strategies for a diverse array of National and International brands for various industries, including Healthcare, IT/Telecom, and beyond, solidifying his reputation as an innovator and leader in the field of Public Relations.

NS Rajan

NS Rajan Ketchum serves as the Chairman of August One Partners LLP and holds a position on the Board of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). With a wealth of experience in public relations (PR), he is a seasoned entrepreneur who previously founded and managed Ketchum Sampark, an Omnicom Group Company. Throughout his career, Rajan has demonstrated expertise in establishing and leading a prominent firm in the public relations and communications sector, catering to esteemed clients. He has played a pivotal role in reshaping financial and corporate communications with his proficiency in marketing consulting, CEO counsel, reputation management, crisis management, investor relations, corporate social responsibility, digital strategies, content creation, and influencer management. Widely acknowledged for introducing ethical standards, moral values, and a sense of pride to the public relations industry in India, Rajan has left an indelible mark on the field.

Bela Rajan

Bela Rajan, a phenomenal PR professional, is the Founder & Director of Ketchum Sampark Public Relations Pvt. Ltd. Her career began at 'Consilium,' India's first Public Relations Consultancy firm, where she collaborated with numerous transnational and multinational clients. In 1994, Bela and her husband, NS Rajan, established Sampark Public Relations Pvt. Ltd., providing comprehensive communication solutions across corporate, finance, healthcare, technology, consumer and brand, infrastructure, and emerging businesses, with a robust focus on both B2B and B2C dimensions. However, in 2021, Bela and NS Rajan made the decision to retire from Ketchum Sampark. Bela's impact on the realm of public relations in India through Ketchum Sampark has been substantial. Beyond her professional achievements, she is actively contributing to the development of the next generation of PR professionals by guiding them through advanced studies in public relations.