Tag: Atul Ahluwalia

First Partners wins PR Mandate for Dr. Oetker India

MUMBAI: First Partners Communications has won the Public Relations mandate for Dr. Oetker in India. The mandate was awarded after a multi-agency pitching process. The PR mandate extends over digital and traditional media domains along with innovative influencer and stakeholder programs to help crystallise the corporate and brand initiatives of Dr. Oetker and its sub-brand FunFoods.

On the appointment, Dr. Oetker India VP- marketing Devarshy R Ganguly said, “As the leading brand in Western comfort food category in India, we were looking for a communications team that shares our enthusiasm and zeal to grow the category. We found that in First Partners and are happy to bring them on board as our communications partner. We are confident that they will be instrumental in driving our business and brand communication.”

Speaking on the appointment, First Partners founding partner Atul Ahluwalia said, “We are delighted to be a part of Dr. Oetker in this important juncture of their India journey. FunFoods by Dr. Oetker is a household brand in India and it is necessary to build and extend this enviable connect with audiences in the new, young and innovative India. We look forward to a long and successful association with Dr. Oetker.”

March 14, 2019
Weber Shandwick appoints Valerie Pinto to lead India operations

MUMBAI: Weber Shandwick has roped in Valerie Pinto to the role of chief executive, effective as of 1 January 2015. Pinto will report to Weber Shandwick, Asia Pacific chairman Tim Sutton.

In her role, Pinto will have overriding responsibility for the firm’s business in India. Her appointment is part of a broader strategy to build on the agency’s best-in-class India team. She will also join Weber Shandwick’s Asia Pacific senior management board.

Vice Chairman, Atul Ahluwalia will continue in his role. Pinto partners Ahluwalia in Weber Shandwick’s India Leadership Council. The Council also includes managing director of client services, Dilip Yadav; deputy managing director, Carolina Bajaj, and executive vice president, operations, Mabel Phoon who will all report to Pinto. Yadav is also Managing Director, India of Weber Shandwick’s second brand, Creation.

Pinto brings over sixteen years’ experience in communications and reputation management, having previously led Perfect Relations, a leading independent public relations consultancy that gained strong momentum under her leadership in India. During her distinguished career, she has led strategic counsel to a wide range of companies and executives across numerous industries. She has an outstanding track record in business growth and a particular reputation for effective talent management, having mentored many highly motivated and high performing professionals under her leadership.

Sutton said: “In the last few months, I have spoken to very many senior people in India – at agencies and clients, in media and business – for advice on the very best person to take our business in India to the next stage of market leadership. It was quite remarkable how many of them put Valerie at the very top of their ‘recommendation list’. She is a class act with a legendary reputation.

“She had many other options at this stage of her career, including running her own business, and I am so thrilled that our vision and ambition have persuaded her to join Weber Shandwick. This appointment signals our absolute determination to become the market leader in India.

“We are already blessed with a wonderful senior management team assembled by vice chairman Atul Ahluwalia. They have made Weber Shandwick the most awarded agency in India.”

“I am very delighted to welcome Valerie to our team,” said Ahluwalia. “She brings huge experience and stature with her.”

November 18, 2014
Weber Shandwick Strengthens India Leadership Team

MUMBAI: Weber Shandwick, one of the world’s leading global public relations firms, announced a strengthening of its India leadership team today. Atul Ahluwalia, formerly managing director, takes on a new role as vice chairman and will continue to lead the firm’s India operations. Dilip Yadav, formerly deputy managing director, is promoted to become managing director – client services and additionally is appointed managing director of Creation, one of Weber Shandwick’s best-in-class engagement brands.

At the same time, Carolina Bajaj joins the firm from Edelman and has been appointed deputy managing director, India. Bajaj will be responsible for overseeing the Weber Shandwick Mumbai and Bangalore operations, as well as the India practice teams. Bajaj joins the India senior management team alongside Ahluwalia, Yadav and Mabel Phoon, executive vice president, operations, India.

Bajaj comes to Weber Shandwick from Edelman, India, where she led their India Corporate practice and was head of their West Region, India. She has more than 14 years of experience in public relations across corporate, aviation, real estate, sports, tourism and consumer sectors. She has also previously worked for the Wadia Group.

“Atul continues to deliver strong leadership in India. His new role reflects his stature in the local market,” said Tim Sutton, chairman of Weber Shandwick Asia Pacific “Dilip’s new roles are testament to his supreme aptitude to build strong, successful client relationships.

“We are also delighted to welcome Carolina. She holds all the cards to grow our operations in Mumbai and Bangalore significantly and is a great addition to our India-wide leadership team,” said Sutton.

Yadav will continue to report to Ahluwalia but will have additional dotted reporting lines to Baxter Jolly, vice chairman, Asia Pacific, for his client services role, and George Coleman, president of Creation worldwide. Bajaj will also report to Ahluwalia, with dotted reporting into Jolly.

June 19, 2014
Weber Shandwick elevates Mabel Phoon to EVP international client services

NEW DELHI: Weber Shandwick, the public relation firm today elevated Mabel Phoon to the position of executive vice president, international client services, Asia.

As part of her new role, Phoon will relocate to India with immediate effect and also becomes a part of the Indian leadership team. She will report jointly to vice chairman Asia Pacific Baxter Jolly and Weber Shandwick India managing director Atul Ahluwalia.

In India, she will divide her time between New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru offices focusing on supporting key client programmes. She will also take a lead role in managing relationships within the global Weber Shandwick network and also join Weber Shandwick’s newly formed India management board.

Phoon joined the agency in Singapore in 1997. There she rose to lead the local technology practice before being appointed regional practice head, advancing to executive vice president in 2008.She then moved to New York in 2010 as a client leader for one of the firm’s top global clients.

“We are thrilled to have Mabel return to the region,” said Jolly. “Her move to Weber Shandwick India reflects the huge importance we attach to developing our operations and capabilities in India. We will be investing heavily in new talent and services in India in the coming months and Mabel will be very involved in helping us bring these plans to fruition. Her experience with major campaigns in Asia and with driving key global client relationships from New York will be major assets to our India leadership team.”

September 18, 2013
Weber Shandwick takes full ownership of India operation

NEW DELHI: Weber Shandwick, part of the Interpublic Group, has reached an agreement with majority equity holder MAA Group Holdings to up the firm’s previous 40 per cent equity share of multi-award winning agency Corporate Voice | Weber Shandwick (CVWS), to 100 per cent. CVWS has offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata.

MAA Group Holdings Chairman Bunty Peerbhoy will continue in his role as chairman of CVWS. Atul Ahluwalia and Dilip Yadav also will continue in their roles as president and executive vice president, respectively. Ahluwalia will report directly to Tim Sutton, chairman Weber Shandwick Asia Pacific.

CVWS‘ campaigns have been recognised three times by Cannes PR Lion Silver awards. The team was named 2011 India Consultancy of the Year by The Holmes Report, and has been honoured at the prestigious APAC SABRE Awards three out of the past four years.

Weber Shandwick CEO Andy Polansky said, “I am delighted to welcome CVWS into full membership of the wider Weber Shandwick family. For the past 16 years, Weber Shandwick and CVWS have built a close relationship that has benefitted clients across industry sectors. We have always considered Bunty Peerbhoy to be a valuable partner and supporter of building important capabilities, and we are very pleased that he will continue to serve as our chairman in India.We see great growth potential for the business in the years ahead.”

Bunty Peerbhoy, commented: “We have always believed in a deep long-term relationship with Weber Shandwick. Both parties have always been hugely committed to each other and it is that trust and friendship which makes this feel like such a right and natural step.I am delighted to be able to continue supporting both the business and our wonderful staff who make our business so special.”

Weber Shandwick’s network spans 73 owned offices in 31 countries and affiliates and partners that expand the network to 126 offices in 81 countries. Weber Shandwick operates in virtually every major media, government and business center on six continents.

February 25, 2013