MAM
28 young practitioners accredited with prestigious AIPR Certification from PRCAI
Mumbai: Today, the Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) announced the results of Summer 2023 round of the Accreditation in Indian Public Relations (AIPR), witnessing an increasing number of ranked professionals’ year-on-year, with higher quality submissions. A growing cohort, saw 28 promising young PR professionals from across the country secure their elite certification, contributing to distinguished group of certified practitioners, now reaching a total of 68 since the program launch.
“As the realm of communication and reputation management continues to evolve, the need for highly skilled and certified Public Relations professionals has become more important than ever before for our industry. This intensive certification process offers a transformative learning experience and motivation for individuals seeking to thrive in the world of public relations,” said PRCAI president Atul Sharma.
In this batch, 128 people applied for the certification with 57 moving on to the final jury round. Furthermore, the bar has been raised with a higher cut-off score.
The results showcase the dedication and progress of the applicants. The numbers are indeed telling of the quality and dedication of these professionals. Among the 21 Accredited candidates of Level 1, the cut-off rose to 69.22 percent, and of the seven Accredited candidates of Level 2, the aggregate cut off scores grew to 68.92 percent.
The AIPR Summer 2023 top rankers:
• Level 1 was aced by Ravindra Samant, Adfactors PR, who topped with the highest aggregate score of 78.87 per cent, followed by Tanu Gupta of On Purpose Consulting with a score of 76.89 per cent. In third place, is Manya Tandan of Edelman India who earned 76.27 per cent.
• Level 2 witnessed Tanoo Gupta, Ruder Finn PR (India) with the highest aggregate score of 81.05 per cent, followed by Riya Jain of Ruder Finn PR (India) as first runner-up with a score of 78.23 per cent. The second runner-up is Sonia Rachel Abraham of Avian WE who earned 73.27 per cent.
School of Communications & Reputation (SCoRe), a technical partner for this rigorous testing for PRCAI, evolved the program further by adding a literacy education kit comprising guidelines on both assessment rounds, a detailed curriculum and guidelines on how to prepare for them, and sample
papers for the applicants. Candidates were assessed for their competencies and expertise across the entire spectrum around public relations. This encompassed evaluation through an Aptitude Preliminary Round that scrutinized their proficiency in various facets of the field, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge and skills required for success.
In the final jury round encompassing 20 jury members, those who qualified the prelims, presented to a jury bench comprising a dynamic set of consultancy leaders, corporate communication, academic and HR professionals who came forth to meet them on 5 August across four centers in Bengaluru, Delhi, Gurgaon and Mumbai.
“It is heartening to see the pool of certified professionals have grown to 68, who stood the test of skill and leadership across levels to prove their mettle. The certification is the gateway for AIPRodigy to aspire and inspire others who are entering this profession and to take it seriously and by making a mark early on. It is crucial as an industry body to empower practitioners that will raise the bar in efficiency and quality of talent year-on- year,” said PRCAI CEO Deeptie Sethi.
The Accreditation in Indian Public Relations stands as the foremost certification for PR experts within India, acknowledging individuals who have showcased unparalleled proficiency and mastery in this domain.
Dean of School of Communications & Reputation Hemant Gaule concluded, “We’re elated to announce this year’s accredited PR professionals, and it’s heartening to witness a significant surge in the performance of the candidates. This not only underscores the elevating standards of PR talent in India but also reflects the dedication and hard work poured into their craft. A special thanks to the PR firms and their leadership for their unwavering support and commitment to this program.”
Brands
Vodafone Idea elevates Vineeth Jayendranath as VP, marketing head Mumbai
Telecom marketer takes charge of Mumbai circle with growth and brand focus
MUMBAI: Vodafone Idea Limited has promoted Vineeth Jayendranath to vice president, marketing head for the Mumbai circle, marking a key milestone in his career as the telecom operator sharpens its regional strategy.
In his new role, Jayendranath will lead marketing efforts across prepaid and postpaid segments in one of the country’s most competitive telecom markets. His mandate includes driving revenue growth, strengthening brand positioning, and deepening customer engagement, while also managing profit and loss responsibilities for the circle.
Sharing the update, Vineeth Jayendranath said, “Excited to share, I am starting my new stint as Vice President, Marketing Head for Mumbai circle at Vodafone Idea Ltd. Would like to thank everyone who has supported me in this journey.”
Jayendranath brings over 12 years of experience spanning telecom and IT, with a strong focus on customer value management and data-led marketing. Since joining Vodafone Idea, he has held multiple leadership roles, most recently serving as general manager leading customer value management and prepaid business across Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa.
During this period, he handled large subscriber bases and multi-billion rupee revenue portfolios, while rolling out hyper-personalised campaigns and a “segment of one” strategy to improve customer retention and upgrades. He also championed a digital-first approach, pushing adoption of data services and unlimited plans through targeted, insight-driven initiatives.
Earlier, he worked with Idea Cellular Ltd in strategy and business intelligence roles, and began his career at Infosys as a systems engineer. A brief stint at Hyundai Motor India Ltd during his internship added early exposure to marketing strategy.
An alumnus of SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Jayendranath has steadily built a reputation for combining analytics with marketing execution.
His elevation comes as telecom players double down on circle-level strategies to stay competitive, and Vodafone Idea appears to be betting on data-backed marketing to keep Mumbai firmly in its corner.
