Tag: Prema Sagar

Genesis BM pockets Zee Entertainment’s corporate, broadcast and non-b’cast PR mandate

MUMBAI: Genesis Burson-Marsteller, a leading public relations and public affairs consultancy, has bagged the public relations mandate for the global content company, Zee Entertainment.

From a consumer outreach programme perspective, Genesis BM will work to position Zee as the entertainment destination and the powerhouse of creativity by following a strategic and customised communications approach across its various brands.

While the Mumbai office of the consultancy will be spearheading the relationship, the expanse of work will spread across India, including key tier-I and tier-II markets. Handling the diverse bouquet of channels across movies and general entertainment in multiple languages like English, Hindi, Marathi, Bangla, the team from Genesis Burson-Marsteller will work closely with the team at Zee Entertainment to ensure seamless integration and delivery to create business impact.

Zee head – corporate brand and communications Sunil Buch said, “We look forward to their breadth and depth of expertise to manage our corporate reputation.”

Zee chief marketing officer Prathyusha Agarwal added, “At Zee, we are conscious of the exponential consumer connect and word-of-mouth that a strategic and focused PR programme can build. It’s our endeavour to create integrated communication across the corporate and channel brands and we needed a communications partner who has the apt expertise and scale.”

Burson-Marsteller vice-chair – Asia Pacific Prema Sagar said: “With committed teams, our strength in evidence-based, ideas-driven and result-oriented communications and the expanse of our presence across India, I am certain that this partnership will help strengthen and enhance Zee’s reputation in India.”

September 14, 2017
WPP & ISDI partner to launch communication school in Mumbai

MUMBAI: WPP and the Indian School of Design and Innovation (ISDI) have joined hands to establish the ISDI WPP School of Communication in Mumbai.

Located on ISDI’s state of the art campus in Mumbai, the ISDI WPP School of Communication marks WPP’s first foray into the Indian education sector. The partnership will help create India’s first professional three-year undergraduate diploma program in communication based on a unique work-study model that will bring together a strong academic and creative curriculum combined with practical application.

The admissions process is currently underway through an online application form. The school recently hosted its first Accepted Students day where students and their parents had an opportunity to interact with the leadership team and faculty. The inaugural batch will commence in August 2015 with the first cohort of 60 students.

The ISDI WPP School of Communication is WPP’s second education initiative globally. In 2011, WPP in partnership with the Shanghai Arts and Design Academy established the WPP School of Marketing and Communications in China. The program has just successfully completed its fourth year with 220 students enrolled.

WPP and WPP companies, which are globally recognized for their in-house training and development programs, have worked closely with ISDI to develop the school’s curriculum and hire full-time faculty. ISDI founder and director Radha Kapoor will lead the school’s board of directors.

Additionally, senior staff from WPP companies will serve as part-time faculty and act as mentors. Internship and training opportunities will also be provided to students. An Executive Council has also been set up to oversee the smooth functioning of the three-year program. ISDI is represented by HR College dean Dr. Indu Shahani, ISDI directors Radha Kapoor and Siddharth Shahani and WPP India by country manager Ranjan Kapur, country finance director Paul Mower and Ogilvy & Mather vice chairman and country head of discovery & planning Madhukar Sabnavis.

While the list of visiting faculty will be marked by Ogilvy & Mather executive chairman and national creative director Piyush Pandey, Encompass Events managing director Roshan Abbas the program directors will include the likes of Sabnavis and GroupM for South Asia CEO CVL Srinivas among others.

WPP CEO Martin Sorrell said, “Amid strong growth in the wider economy and, more specifically, in our sector, India is facing a pronounced talent shortage, one that is expected to become even more acute in the future. As the leading communications group in India and the world, WPP is committed to helping India to further develop the already high level of creative and professional talent in this sector.”

Speaking on the supply-demand gap for fresh talent in the industry, WPP India country manager Ranjan Kapur added, “We employ approximately 15,000 people (including associates) and on an average, we need 3,000 new recruits every year, including replacements and first timers and this school is just a small beginning. We hope to expand this to be able to cover a significantly large part of our requirements and turnout 400-500 young men and women every year from our school. Our first batch of 60 students is just the beginning.”

Committed to introducing a new education model, ISDI had welcomed its founding batch in July 2013. Founded by Kapoor in association with Parsons The New School of Design, New York, ISDI’s partnership with WPP will help create the right mix of design, innovation and effective communication that will shape the careers of future industry leaders.

Kapoor said, “The joint establishment of the ISDI WPP school to nurture world-class creative talents and the development of a new model in the collaboration between colleges and companies is a new exploration on the path of higher vocational education for the ISDI. WPP and its companies are known for their world-class internal training programs. WPP will share its experience in developing such programs and making them relevant to ISDI and its students. Upon graduation, students will have a solid academic background and creative skill sets, providing them with good employment opportunities in our industry.”

The School will offer students a three-year undergraduate program, wherein, the first year comprises basic marketing and communication subjects and the second and third year offers students four major specialisations to choose from- Advertising and Communications, Media, Activation and Digital Marketing and Public Relations. WPP Lectures will run from Monday to Saturday, in the afternoons. Throughout the three years, students will be taught and mentored by top professionals from WPP and the industry, will work on live projects, build a portfolio, develop practical work skills, and have the opportunity to intern with WPP companies and get international exposure through student exchange and study abroad programs.

Graduates will receive a three year Undergraduate Program certification from ISDI and WPP, in addition to a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of Mumbai, IDOL (Institute of Distance and Open Learning).

Going forward, Kapur says that it will hope to replicate this model in more cities. “We would like to take it forward and open another branch in New Delhi in the future,” Kapur said.

July 23, 2015
Burson-Marsteller Celebrates 60 Year Anniversary By Launching New Positioning: Burson-Marsteller, Being More

Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and communications firm, today announced it is taking the opportunity of its 60th anniversary to launch a new global positioning under the title of Burson-Marsteller, Being More. Burson-Marsteller, Being More is an expression of the firm’s ambition to be the leading ideas-driven, results-oriented communications firm in the world alongside its long-standing commitment to evidence-based communications.

To support the new positioning, Burson-Marsteller announced the launch of a new website at www.Burson-Marsteller.com. A newly produced video presentation (http://bur.sn/pH7fx) on the new website provides more detail on Burson-Marsteller, Being More.

Around the world, companies, organizations and individuals are pressed every day, in their own way, to succeed at Being More in highly demanding environments. Burson-Marsteller, Being More is a commitment to help clients meet their challenges and seize their opportunities by harnessing the power of the increasingly dynamic and highly-connected world of communications. It is both about Burson-Marsteller being more for clients as their trusted advisers, as well as a recognition that today’s communications environment demands more of everybody who operates in it. Burson-Marsteller, Being More is based on the belief that the most successful organizations are guided by a clear sense of purpose – a distinct and powerful world view that shapes their business, guides their actions and ultimately determines their reputation and success.

“Our 60th anniversary provides the perfect catalyst to ensure Burson-Marsteller is being more in the service we provide our clients in a fast-changing communications environment,” said Burson-Marsteller’s Worldwide Chair and CEO Don Baer. “Our purpose is to help our clients define and communicate their purpose of Being More and to inspire our people to make Burson-Marsteller the best ideas-driven, results-oriented communications firm in the world.” Baer continued: “For us, this is about being more focused on integrating a wide array of communications, marketing and reputation-building activities. It is about being more focused on creativity, on strategic thinking, on evidence-based communications and on more digital and social outreach.”

“Being More is part of the Burson-Marsteller DNA,” said Harold Burson, Founding Chairman of the firm. ”While Being More has just recently been adopted as our number one priority, it is both recognition of our past and a directional beam for what we know will be a shining future.”

“Genesis Burson-Marsteller in India, is realising the global vision of Being More by focusing on integrated communication to deliver real measureable impact to clients. At Genesis Burson-Marsteller, Being More is a promise to provide clients with strategic counsel, ideas and results across the spectrum of public relations, public affairs, corporate responsibility, digital, content and crisis communications services, thereby addressing the need companies have today for an integrated communication campaign for different audiences,” said Prema Sagar, Principal and Founder, Genesis Burson-Marsteller.

In support of the new Burson-Marsteller, Being More positioning, the firm is rolling out a series of new initiatives over the next several months, including:

• The Burson-Marsteller Conversations: A global thought leadership series of gatherings that will bring together many of the best minds in business, public policy and media to address important issues facing the world and our clients.

• Burson-Marsteller, Being More Global Employee Training: This new training program is designed to ensure that Burson-Marsteller teams around the world learn the essential skills necessary to be more in today’s communications sector, including being more creative, savvy about digital and social media and growth-focused. For the first time, the firm has appointed a Managing Director of Global Talent Development to drive this global initiative.

• Worldwide Strategic Leadership Team: The firm is creating a worldwide strategic leadership team to bring top strategic and creative leaders from different fields and regions to advise Burson-Marsteller’s clients. The firm announced the first member of this team is Jennifer Maguire Isham, a former President of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. Isham previously worked for CNN as Senior Vice President of Programming. She joined CNN from ABC News, where she was an award-winning producer at Primetime Live. Other members of the team will be announced in coming months.

October 13, 2013
Genesis Burson-Marsteller Announces Marketing & Talent Leadership Developments

GURGOAN: Genesis Burson-Marsteller, leader in integrated communications, specializing in public relations, public affairs, corporate responsibility, crisis communications and digital marketing, has announced the appointment of Deepshikha Dharmaraj, in a new leadership role, as Chief Marketing and Growth Initiatives Officer and Kavita Rao, joins the firm as Chief Talent Engagement Officer.

A seasoned communications professional, Deepshikha Dharmaraj, who has been with the firm for 19 years, will focus on Genesis B-M’s Marketing and Growth Initiatives, which include new business development, partnerships, external communication and thought leadership in the industry. She will also continue to oversee the Genesis B-M Learning School, which is a one of its kind in the PR industry.

An alumnus, Kavita Rao returns to Genesis Burson-Marsteller to lead the Talent function. Kavita has over 19 years of experience and until recently, she was the Global Head of Communications at HSBC Technology & Services where she spent close to nine years leading the development and deployment of the Communication strategy across multiple geographies. Kavita played a key role in the integration of the bank focusing on Change and Transformation Communication to support the priorities and achievement of HSBC’s changing business imperatives As Chief Talent Engagement Officer, Kavita will be responsible for developing and driving the People Strategy to attract, develop and maximize potential of the talent across the firm She will also provide strategic counsel to clients on internal communication campaigns, leveraging the experience she has gained in this area over the last decade. Speaking on her return to the firm, Kavita said, “Genesis Burson-Marsteller is a firm that puts its people at the heart of its strategy which is the key reason our people like to stay and grow with us, as well as have Alumni return to us as I have done. It’s wonderful to be back and I’m looking forward to contributing to the future growth of the organization.”

Speaking on these appointments, Prema Sagar, Principal and Founder, Genesis Burson-Marsteller said, “At Genesis Burson-Marsteller, we are committed to investing in exceptional quality talent and by appointing Deepshikha and Kavita in their new roles, we are strengthening our Marketing and Talent functions. This will further accelerate our continuing growth story. Kavita’s vast experience will bolster our talent-building efforts, while with her experience and understanding of the communications industry in India, I believe Deepshikha is the right person to deliver the marketing and growth strategy for the firm.”

Nikhil Dey, President, Public Relations said “Sheena Sharma, Chief Client Studio and Corporate Responsibility Officer who has spent over 19 years in the firm will focus and lead all executive communication trainings for our clients and the firm while she continues to be Mentor South. Kriti Makhija, Chief Financial and Compliance Officer, who has spent over 10 years at Genesis Burson-Marsteller ensures the financial health, compliance, governance and IT infrastructure of our business. We continue to grow and augment the backbone of the organization to reinforce the clients business.”

September 4, 2013