MAM
Indian PR firm’s role in opposition leader’s India visit discussed in Australian parliament
Mumbai: In what may be termed as a unique event in the history of public relations, a homegrown Indian PR firm, PR Professionals, finds itself at the centre of a huge political debate in the Australian Parliament regarding the firm’s role in shaping the public image of Australia’s leader of opposition Peter Dutton’s recent visit to India
Australia’s former Minister of Defense and Home Affairs Dutton, embarked on a high-profile visit to India almost a month ago bringing a long power-packed business delegation, aiming at further strengthening Indo-Australian trade relations. The four-day visit was a huge success with widespread publicity in the most prestigious and influential news publications.
Seeking to reinforce trade relations between India and Down Under, Dutton participated in a range of engagements, from meetings with captains of industry to interactions with schoolchildren; and visits to religious sites.
The visit was strategically curated to showcase Dutton’s multifaceted persona, emphasizing both his business acumen and softer side. And therefore, the agency finds mention in Australian politics. Australia’s assistant manager to the prime minister and assistant minister for the public service Patrick Gorman, accused the leader of the opposition of secretly organizing an India trip aimed at showcasing his softer side.
Gorman’s accusations took a specific turn as he claimed that Dutton engaged the services of – PR Professionals -, employing the firm as a strategic communications partner. According to Gorman, this partnership led to the crafting and dissemination of specific communications to the Indian media, along with orchestrated interviews to mould a tailored narrative for Dutton’s public image.
The assertions made by Gorman in the parliamentary session were published by one the world’s largest read, Daily Mail, further amplifying the matter.
The claims raised in the Australian Parliament shed light on the significant influence wielded by PR firms in sculpting political personas and narratives in the global landscape. This unexpected mention of an Indian PR firm in a foreign political forum sparks intriguing discussions on the broader implications of strategic communication in international relations.
Brands
Tech Mahindra names Jeetu Anandani VP & country head – enterprise & strategic accounts
Veteran tech leader to drive enterprise growth across Australia and New Zealand
MELBOURNE: Jeetu Anandani has stepped into a larger leadership role at Tech Mahindra, taking charge as vice president and country head for enterprise and strategic growth across Australia and New Zealand.
Based in Melbourne, Anandani will steer the company’s enterprise portfolio in the ANZ region, focusing on expanding business across high-growth sectors such as retail, energy and utilities, health insurance and logistics. The move signals Tech Mahindra’s intent to deepen its presence in one of the world’s most competitive enterprise technology markets.
In his new role, Anandani will lead growth initiatives, build strategic partnerships and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders across industries. His mandate also includes accelerating business development efforts in sectors such as manufacturing, travel and logistics while helping clients navigate digital transformation and AI-led change.
The promotion caps a steady rise within Tech Mahindra. Anandani most recently served as communications, media and entertainment head for BPS across the Asia Pacific and Japan region, where he worked on expanding enterprise deals and strategic partnerships. Before that, he held the role of account director, managing key client relationships and delivery programmes.
Prior to joining Tech Mahindra in 2020, Anandani spent nearly eight years at Telstra as country manager in Mumbai, overseeing operational growth and partnerships. His earlier career includes leadership stints at Tata Consultancy Services, Vodafone and JPMorgan Chase.
With more than two decades of experience across telecom, banking and IT services, Anandani now takes the helm of Tech Mahindra’s enterprise push in ANZ, a region where demand for AI, digital transformation and large-scale technology partnerships continues to gather pace.
