PR News September 2026

One question, 196 stitches: Arkreach's reputation installation at PRana 2026

At PRana 2026, the Brand India Reputation Summit and Story Convention, Arkreach turned this year's theme, India Inside – Shaping India's Reputation from Within, into a live installation for the audience.

The installation, titled India's Reputation, Woven by the Room, asked delegates one question: What will carry India's reputation by 2047? The four options matched the convention's four pillars: Tech and Scale, Culture and Citizens, Institutions and Trust, and Talent and Soft Power.

A map built one stitch at a time

Each vote added a coloured cross-stitch to a map of India, so delegates could watch the room's view take shape in real time. The installation recorded 196 votes, and all four choices finished within five votes of each other:

• Tech and Scale: 52
• Talent and Soft Power: 49
• Culture and Citizens: 48
• Institutions and Trust: 47

Grounded in the news

Arkreach reviewed 30 days of news coverage across 19 sectors and identified 1,411 people, companies and institutions. It chose 147 of these to appear on screen. After each vote, a relevant name appeared in cross-stitch under the prompt, "What's making news around your pick?" Examples included RBI, Airtel, Virat Kohli and Neeraj Chopra. The map followed the Survey of India's official outline. AI organised the news data, editors reviewed it, and custom code turned each vote into a stitch.

"PRana allowed delegates to see a useful application of AI in action… More importantly, it made the audience part of the conversation around India's reputation," said Kunal Kishore Sinha, president, PRCAI.

"AI helped us scan and organise a large volume of news… The intelligence behind the experience is what gave a simple interaction its depth," said Vishal Sharma, co-founder & CEO, Arkreach.

Before the event, Arkreach sent four briefs introducing the pillars to more than 4,000 CXOs. "Each vote became part of a collective view of what may carry India's reputation towards 2047," said Deeptie Sethi, CEO, PRCAI.

• Copied

Value 360 signs Amazon mandate worth ₹4.74 crore a year

Value 360 Communications has signed a services agreement with Amazon Development Centre (India) to provide PR services on a monthly retainer, according to a disclosure to the National Stock Exchange on 21 September.

The agreement runs from 1 September 2026 to 30 August 2027 and is expected to bring in about ₹4.74 crore a year, excluding commission and taxes. The company has classed it as a material agreement. Amazon will issue individual work orders for the work.

It is a sizeable win for the Delhi-based agency: the annual value is about 7% of its consolidated revenue for the last financial year. The deal comes four months after Value 360 listed on NSE's Emerge SME platform in May, following a ₹37.5 crore IPO priced at ₹98 a share.

Shareholders vote on staff stock options

Shareholders will also vote from 1 October on a special resolution to ratify the company's Employee Stock Option Scheme 2025. The scheme was approved before the IPO, at an extraordinary general meeting in July 2025, but now needs fresh approval under SEBI rules because the company is listed.

The scheme allows the company to grant up to 6,25,000 options to employees at an exercise price of ₹45 per share, less than half the IPO price.

Voting is only through remote e-voting on NSDL. It opens at 9 am on 1 October and closes at 5 pm on 30 October, and the result will be announced by 2 November.

A strong year

Value 360's audited results for the year ended 31 March 2026 show consolidated revenue from operations up 26% to ₹68.96 crore, from ₹54.57 crore. Profit attributable to shareholders rose 73% to ₹9.90 crore, from ₹5.73 crore.

Employee costs remain the biggest expense at ₹31.54 crore, while finance costs rose 61% to ₹3.94 crore.

Results for the half year to 30 September are due next. The company has closed its trading window from 1 October and will announce the board meeting date separately.

• Copied

Paras Health Marks World Heart Day with #APartOfYourHeart Campaign

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Paras Health (@parashealth)

Gurugram, September 30, 2026: This World Heart Day, Paras Health launched #APartOfYourHeart, a campaign that invites people to look at heart health in a more personal way. We usually think of the heart as a single organ, yet in real life, a part of it belongs to our children, our partners, our parents, our loved ones, our dreams, and the life we have yet to live.

That message carries added relevance as the burden of cardiovascular ailments continues to rise in India. Against this backdrop, #APartOfYourHeart places prevention and everyday heart care in a more meaningful context. The campaign is built on the belief that a heart never belongs to one person alone. 

To bring this idea to life, Paras Health hosted an interactive on-ground activation at the hospital, engaging patients, attendants, visitors and staff. At the centre of the activation was a large 3D jigsaw puzzle installed in a high-footfall area of the hospital premises. Participants were invited to place the individual pieces together and complete the installation, reflecting the campaign's central thought that, just as every piece is needed to complete a picture, the people, relationships and aspirations we hold close are an integral part of the life we want to protect..

Speaking about the campaign, Vineet Aggarwal, chief operating officer, Paras Health, said, “Cardiovascular health is becoming an increasingly important priority, with heart-related conditions affecting people across age groups and often having a wider impact on families and everyday life. As a healthcare organisation, we believe the conversation needs to move beyond treatment to prevention, early detection and timely intervention. Through #APartOfYourHeart, we wanted to bring this message closer by reminding people that every heart is connected to a larger circle of people, relationships, and aspirations. Encouraging regular health checks and healthier everyday choices is an important step towards protecting not just individual health, but also the lives and moments that people want to be present for.”

• Copied

Emmy® Award winning AI video firm Brahma AI names Shweta Rajpal Kohli as senior policy advisor

LONDON and MUMBAI, India, Sept. 29-  Visual AI technology firm Brahma AI today announced the appointment of Shweta Rajpal Kohli, president & CEO, Startup Policy Forum, as senior policy advisor and member of the advisory board.

The appointment comes days after Brahma AI announced it has raised $150 million led by 'Multiples Alternate Asset Management'. Shweta is president and CEO of the Startup Policy Forum (SPF), representing 75+ of India's high-growth companies together valued at over USD 100 billion. 

Prabhu Narasimhan, founder & CEO of Brahma AI, said,  "As AI-generated and AI-transformed content becomes the norm, knowing what is authentic, where it came from and whether we can trust what we see and hear will only become more important. That belief has shaped how we have built Brahma."

Shweta Rajpal Kohli, president & CEO, Startup Policy Forum, said, "Very few companies have such a policy-first approach to building. That conviction is what has drawn me in. This is a real opportunity to contribute to a global conversation on AI policy that is still being written and shaped right now, and to engage with governments, regulators and policymakers around the world as rules around responsible AI evolve.

• Copied

Air India's Partha Ghosh joins JSW Group as group head of communications

Partha Ghosh, veteran 'Economic Times' editor and seasoned communicator, has now joined infrastructure major JSW ( Jindal South West) as group head of communications and senior VP. In the past, Ghosh has led PR mandates at Samsung and Air India.  

Announcing the move on LinkedIn, he said, "My family and I are also making Mumbai our new home, a city whose energy and spirit we are excited to embrace. What drew me to JSW is its leadership and sense of purpose. Here is an organisation that is not only building world-class businesses, but is also laying the foundations of a progressive India, nurturing sports champions of tomorrow, conserving our rich heritage and art, and transforming communities across the country.

I am looking forward to working alongside passionate, talented colleagues who are building this extraordinary organisation every single day."

• Copied

Amazon's Madhavi Kochar joins home services major Snabbit as vice president – communications

Bengaluru, September 28, 2026: Snabbit, a quick home services platform, announced the appointment of Madhavi Kochar as vice president – Communications. Madhavi will lead the company’s external and internal communications, including corporate reputation, stakeholder engagement, and employee communications.

Madhavi brings two decades of communications experience and joins Snabbit after an 11-year tenure at Amazon. She most recently served as head – 'IN Stores' communications, having previously held the role of head – India corporate communications. 

Aayush Agarwal, founder and CEO of Snabbit, said, “Communications is critical in a category-creation journey like ours. It is a strategic lever for building trust, strengthening relationships and keeping our stakeholders connected to what we are building. Madhavi brings deep experience and judgement to this role, and I’m excited to work closely with her as we build Snabbit into an enduring institution.”

Speaking about her appointment, Madhavi Kochar, vice president – communications, Snabbit, said, "Snabbit is helping shape a new category in the country, and I am excited to bring my experience of building trust at scale to this role. What excites me most is the transformational impact our success can have on the lives of the women experts at the heart of the business."

• Copied

Zomato Live's Zeenah Vilcassim joins DailyObjects as global chief marketing officer

DailyObjects, the Indian-born design-led lifestyle tech brand, has appointed Zeenah Vilcassim as its global CMO. Prior to joining DailyObjects, Zeenah led marketing for Nothing in India. She previously served as CEO of Zomato Live, now District by Zomato, where she built the business from the ground up. 

Commenting on the appointment, Pankaj Garg, co-founder and CEO of DailyObjects, said, "We want to build a brand that means something to people, wherever they are. Zeenah understands consumer behaviour well and has built brands at global companies, at fast-growing businesses and from scratch. She shares our ambition, and I'm excited to build the next phase of DailyObjects with her."

Zeenah Vilcassim, global chief marketing officer, DailyObjects, said, "Pankaj and Saurav's ambition to take this India-born brand to the world is something DailyObjects is strongly poised to achieve, with both its local relevance and international appeal. I look forward to joining them on the next stage of this journey."

• Copied

Bhaskar Majumdar: a communicator who built community

Bhaskar Majumdar, communications veteran and co-originator of CommsAdda, passed away on the morning of 24 September 2026 after a prolonged illness.

Over 25 years, he worked on both sides of the industry. He led corporate communications as general manager at Reliance Industries and, earlier, as manager at ESPN Star Sports. He also advised clients through APCO Worldwide, Genesis PR, Vaishnavi Corporate Communications and Adfactors PR. His work won Davos Digital PR honours, and he was on the PRmoment 3030 jury.

He was also a generous teacher, lecturing at IIMC, the India Today Institute, GGSIP University and the Delhi School of Communication.

In December 2023, he co-founded CommsAdda, a community for corporate communications professionals inspired by the Bengali tradition of adda. As he told PRmoment India in 2024, the idea was "keeping in touch with a community spirit and discussing not only PR issues but also larger issues."

A LinkedIn Top Voice in public relations, he practised what he preached online. He kept a content calendar and reminded peers that the first hour of engagement on a post counts most.

He will be missed by the many he taught, advised and brought together.

• Copied

Concept PR secures communications mandate for app based buses platform Cityflo

Mumbai, 23rd September 2026: Cityflo, an app-based platform for office-based buses, has appointed Concept Public Relations Ltd as its official PR and communications partner. As part of this strategic collaboration, Concept PR will drive Cityflo’s public relations strategy, focusing on strengthening corporate reputation, strategic media relations, thought leadership, executive profiling, and its brand proposition across key markets such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Hyderabad.

 The partnership comes as Cityflo continues to expand its presence across Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, strengthening its position in India’s evolving shared mobility ecosystem and solutions.

 Sankalp Kelshikar, CMO and co-founder of Cityflo, said, “Mobility is one of the defining challenges for India’s rapidly growing cities. Addressing it will require shared, organised mobility supported by better-connected networks and technology. That is the opportunity we are building towards at Cityflo. As we scale, Concept PR will help us take this conversation beyond our growth story and establish Cityflo’s perspective on how cities can move more efficiently, sustainably and at scale.”

 Suhas Tadas, senior vice president, Concept PR, added, “This mandate is a continuation of Concept PR’s multiple wins in the consumer sector. We look forward to bringing our expertise to the partnership and building a strong, distinctive narrative for Cityflo as the brand continues to scale.” 

• Copied

Appliances firm XECH Technologies names Ravi Lalwani as head PR & corporate communications

XECH Technologies has appointed Dr Ravi Lalwani as head – corporate communications & PR, strengthening the company’s communications function as it continues to expand its presence in consumer electronics and home appliances. In his new role, Lalwani will lead the communications mandate for XECH, Everyday Organisers and Timalfi.

Commenting on the appointment, Ravi Lalwani, head – corporate communications & public relations, XECH Technologies, said, “Communication today is not only about visibility; it is about building relevance, credibility and meaningful conversations. At XECH, the opportunity is to create stronger narratives around our brands, products, people and business journey, while making our innovations more relatable to consumers and relevant to the industry.”

Ravi holds a doctorate in management and a Master's in marketing management from the prestigious 'Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies', Mumbai.

• Copied

R. Balki, Santosh Sivan among jury for national visual storytelling contest for 'The Association of People with Disability'

The Association of People with Disability (APD) has announced the launch of AS i AM, a photography and videography movement challenging how disability is portrayed in India’s visual culture.

India is home to over 50 million people with disabilities. Yet in mainstream media and advertising, they remain largely invisible, and when they do appear, it is often through the lens of pity or inspiration. AS i AM aims to change that by inviting photographers, videographers and visual storytellers across India to document the honest, ordinary and joyful realities of people living with disability, while building a permanent visual repository that changes what India sees.

AS i AM is backed by a distinguished jury including filmmaker and screenwriter R. Balki, cinematographer Santosh Sivan, BBDO India Chairman and CCO Josy Paul, Nirvana Films founder Sneha Iype, Indian para-badminton champion Manasi Joshi, filmmaker and visual artist Ishaan Nair, Know Disability founder Mohit Ahuja, and Indian School of Public Policy co-founder Luis Miranda.

Tanishq from Titan Company (Lead Sponsor) and the Azim Premji Foundation have joined as anchor supporters of the campaign.

"At Tanishq, we have always believed that every individual carries a story worth celebrating. AS i AM resonates deeply with that belief - it is a movement that goes beyond imagery to assert that the lives of people with disabilities are rich, layered, and deserving of the same spotlight as anyone else. We are proud to support an initiative that dares to change the conversation and the vision to make that change last," said Pelki Tshering, chief marketing officer, Tanishq.

"Disability has always been a part of the human story, but rarely has it been told on its own terms. AS i AM is our call to each visual storyteller in India to change that; whether you live with a disability or not, your lens and your perspective have a place in this movement. Pick up your camera, find your subject, and help us show the world what has always been there but never fully seen," says Jacob Kurian, The Association of People with Disability (APD).

"People with disabilities lead full, ordinary lives, but you wouldn't know that from the images you see every day. AS i AM is changing that, and it's long overdue. I'm proud to be associated with a movement that is giving visual storytellers across India the platform to finally get this right," said Manasi Joshi, Para Badminton Champion and Jury Member, AS i AM.

How to enter 

Submissions are open until midnight on October 31, 2026, with winners to be announced on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2026. Entries will be recognised across three categories – Best Entry, Best Emerging Storyteller, and Best Photographer with a Disability.

Winners will receive prizes in cash and kind, one-on-one mentorship sessions with jury members, entry into a permanent global stock image library with royalties in perpetuity, placement in a landmark public exhibition, national media features, and formal APD certification as a Certified Disability-Sensitive Visual Storyteller. In addition, a total prize pool of ₹10 lakhs will be distributed to the winners.

To submit an entry or learn more, visit www.asiamapd.com or write to asiam@apd-india.org.

• Copied

Ishita B Roy joins Novartis India as head of marketing

Ishita B Roy has joined Novartis India Limited as head of marketing, based in Mumbai.

She brings over 20 years of experience in pharma marketing, most recently as general manager marketing at Mankind Pharma, where she led a portfolio worth more than ₹1,000 crore. Before that, she spent close to four years at Cipla, rising from group product marketing manager to head of marketing, and has also held senior marketing roles at Cadila Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer India earlier in her career.

Her expertise spans across portfolio growth, product launches and cross-functional leadership.

• Copied

Andy Marthaler joins MedTech major DePuy Synthes as director, communications & external affairs, EMEA

Andy Marthaler has stepped into a new role as director, communications & external affairs for EMEA at DePuy Synthes.

He joins after more than 12 years across Johnson & Johnson's Innovative Medicine and MedTech divisions, bringing over a decade of pharmaceutical and medical technology communications experience to the new position.

The move comes at a significant moment for DePuy Synthes, which is preparing to become a standalone company as it separates from the wider J&J business.

• Copied

PivotRoots appointed digital media partner for Meghna Gulzar's Daayra

PivotRoots, a Havas company, has been appointed as the digital media partner for Daayra, the upcoming film directed by acclaimed filmmaker Meghna Gulzar and starring Kareena Kapoor Khan & Prithviraj Sukumaran. Produced by Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios, the film is slated to release in cinemas on September 18, 2026.

Through the partnership, PivotRoots will lead the film’s digital media strategy, leveraging its expertise across media planning, performance marketing, audience intelligence and digital amplification to build anticipation and connect the film with relevant audiences in the lead-up to its theatrical release.

Shibu Shivanandan, founder & CEO, PivotRoots, said, “Digital has fundamentally changed how audiences discover and engage with films, with anticipation building well before a theatrical release."

"Daayra brings together a strong creative proposition, an acclaimed director and an exciting cast, giving us an opportunity to build digital momentum."

He further added, "Predictive analysis is also reshaping movie marketing, enabling data-led planning that goes beyond traditional reach and frequency models to focus on outcomes. At PivotRoots, we will combine audience intelligence, media strategy and performance to ensure Daayra reaches the right audiences and builds momentum towards its release.”

The mandate builds on PivotRoots’ expanding footprint in the entertainment and movie business. The agency led digital media and performance marketing for the global trailer launch of Ramayana in July 2026, the cinematic adaptation produced by Prime Focus Studios and DNEG. Its recent movie portfolio also includes Alpha with Yash Raj Films, along with Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari and Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri, reflecting PivotRoots’ growing role in driving digital visibility and audience engagement for high-profile entertainment properties.

• Copied

Saksham Gupta joins Mahindra & Mahindra's marketing communications team

Saksham Gupta has joined the marketing communications team at Mahindra & Mahindra Limited's Automotive and Farm Equipment Business, stepping in as deputy manager.

He brings a background in automotive communications, having worked with brands including Mercedes-Benz India, Volkswagen India, Stellantis India and JSW MG Motor. Saksham is also a past winner of the PRmoment India 30 under 30.

• Copied

Tinu Cherian Abraham moves on from UST; global communications leader brings deep media and industry relationships

Tinu Cherian Abraham, senior director and head of global PR & media relations at UST, is set to move on from the technology services company. Cherian is expected to explore senior leadership opportunities across global PR, corporate communications, and public affairs.

Cherian's career has included leadership roles at UST, HARMAN and Ola, alongside earlier technology roles with organisations including Infosys, Cisco and Juniper Networks.

Cherian said, "UST has been an incredible chapter in my career. I am grateful to my team, colleagues, leaders and agency partners around the world for their trust, collaboration and support. I'm excited about what lies ahead."

With 22+ years of professional experience, including 13+ years leading communications for multinational technology and consumer companies, Cherian has built a reputation as a senior communications leader with a broad network spanning Indian and international media, corporate communications leaders, PR professionals and business executives.

At UST, Cherian has led global PR & media Relations with a global team and agency network, overseeing communications across 30+ countries. His remit included corporate reputation, executive visibility, thought leadership, media relations, public relations, government relations, and crisis communications.

Over the years, under his leadership, he has generated visibility and media coverage for organisations and senior executives across leading global and Indian media, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, CNBC, BBC, Financial Times, The Guardian, Fortune, The Australian and Australian Financial Review, among others.

Beyond international media relationships, Cherian has built deep, long-standing ties across India's media fraternity, including senior journalists, editors and media leaders covering technology, business and corporate affairs. He has also developed an extensive network across India's corporate communications and PR professionals the ICG, bringing together the community.
 

• Copied

Havas India launches global luxury and lifestyle experiential agency, Shortcut, in partnership with Shobiz

Havas India has announced the launch of Shortcut Shobiz India, a new luxury and lifestyle experiential agency, created in partnership with Shortcut, a Paris-headquartered agency curating high-end luxury and lifestyle experiences, and Shobiz, Havas India’s leading experiential agency.

The launch marks the entry of Shortcut in India, a strategic move to tap into India's booming luxury market, valued at approximately $10 billion and $12.1 billion (Source: The McKinsey and Business of Fashion (BoF) State of Fashion Report, 2025).

Shortcut Shobiz India will be led by Farah Lauren Khan, an experiential marketing and brand strategy leader with over 15 years of experience in creating immersive brand experiences across luxury and lifestyle sectors. Based out of Mumbai, Farah will report to Sameer Tobaccowala, CEO, Shobiz, in her role as vice president of Shortcut Shobiz India.

Christophe Pinguet, co-founder & co-president, Shortcut, said, “Shortcut Shobiz India marks a defining milestone in our entrepreneurial journey. Having celebrated 30 years of Shortcut in July 2026, this venture represents both the strength of our legacy and the beginning of an exciting new international chapter."

"Together with Shobiz and Havas India, we are bringing together French savoir-faire, artistic intelligence, operational excellence and India’s remarkable creative talent to design experiences that are locally meaningful and internationally inspiring. I sincerely thank Yannick Bolloré, Sameer Tobaccowala and Rana Barua for their confidence in this shared entrepreneurial ambition.” He added.

Lionel Laval, co-founder & co-president, Shortcut, added, “Shortcut Shobiz India is, first and foremost, a creative partnership built on trust, shared values and complementary expertise. From our first conversations with Rana, Sameer, Farah and the Shobiz teams, it was clear that we shared the same passion for creativity, craftsmanship and executional excellence. Beyond their professionalism, I have been deeply impressed by the generosity, curiosity and creative energy of the India team."

Lionel further added, "By combining Shortcut’s artistic intelligence and finesse with Shobiz’s creative dynamism, production capabilities and deep local understanding, we have a unique opportunity to create a new generation of immersive experiences for luxury, beauty, fragrance and lifestyle brands in India.”

Rana Barua, group CEO, Havas India, SEA & North Asia (Japan & South Korea), said, “Shortcut Shobiz India will not only add more power to our suite of expertise but also strengthen our integrated offerings. Of the 1000+ clients in Havas India’s portfolio, we already have a significant roster of luxury and lifestyle client partners. And there are many more that want to expand into the luxury category. Shortcut Shobiz India will help us further strengthen our client partnerships and unlock many new business conversations."

Sameer Tobaccowala, CEO, Shobiz, added, “I’ve spent much of my career watching India’s experiential industry evolve from delivering events to creating moments that shape how people connect with brands. What excited me about this partnership is that Shortcut and Shobiz share a core belief: true creative brilliance only happens when world-class design and flawless execution exist as one."

"By anchoring this agency at Shobiz’s offices across India, we’re blending Shortcut’s global conceptual heritage with our creative depth, scale, and understanding of the Indian consumer. Together as partners, we’re setting a new standard for what collaborative experiential marketing can achieve here.” Sameer added.

• Copied