MAM
Burson-Marsteller acquires Genesis Public Relations
MUMBAI: Global public relations firm Burson-Marsteller has acquired India’s Genesis Public Relations.
Filings have been made today with India’s Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) for approval of the transaction. After completion of the acquisition, the company will be renamed Genesis/Burson-Marsteller and will be integrated within the Burson-Marsteller Asia Pacific regional network.
“This is one of the most significant milestones in the 53-year history of Burson-Marsteller. Genesis Public Relations is a world class company with exceptional leadership. We are very proud that they have agreed to become part of Burson-Marsteller,” said Burson-Marsteller founding chairman Harold Burson.
Having recently returned from a visit to India, Burson added, “I was privileged to experience first-hand a company of extraordinary quality, with impressive intellectual and geographic reach. I also have received many compliments from Burson-Marsteller clients who work with Genesis.”
Genesis/Burson-Marsteller will be led by Genesis Public Relations principal and founder Prema Sagar and Genesis Public Relations CEO Ashwani Singla. Both will also join Burson-Marsteller’s Asia Pacific Leadership Board.
“Burson-Marsteller is the global PR firm by which others are measured. To be a part of the best global public relations company reflects the strong strategic fit and shared values between Burson-Marsteller and Genesis Public Relations. This is a momentous occasion made possible by countless contributions from so many people who have worked in the firm since its inception,” said Sagar.
Burson-Marsteller Asia-Pacific president and CEO Bill Rylance said the acquisition further strengthens the company’s strong regional capabilities. “Genesis is a clear leader in India in terms of talent, thought leadership, geographic reach and reputation. This is the coming together of two exceptional companies in a market that is globally-significant and critical to our clients,” said Rylance.
By number of employees, India and China now represent Burson-Marsteller’s second and third largest markets worldwide. “However, it is the quality of that talent more than the quantity which really excites us. The collective zeal to learn and grow in India – as in all of our vibrant Asia Pacific offices – is a constant source of inspiration and innovation for our company. It all points to a very bright future,” Rylance said.
Singla said, “Clearly, our vision at Genesis is to build a sustainable and a competitive institution that expands the growth horizons of the people in the firm and provides greater opportunities to collaborate with professionals all over the world.”
“We can now more than ever leverage the global expertise, experience and reach of Burson-Marsteller to further enhance our ‘One Team, One Experience’ promise of seamless network, deep insights, innovation and quality, not only for all of our clients in India, but also for those organisations looking beyond our shores,” Singla added.
Genesis has offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai, and representations in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, reaching over 80 cities across India.
For the third time in five years, Burson-Marsteller’s Asia-Pacific team was named “Network of the Year” at the 2005 annual Asia Pacific PR Awards. The company was also the top-ranked firm in Media Magazine’s 2005 Asia Pacific Consultancy Report Card.
MAM
Dettol launches new emotional campaign for Antiseptic Liquid
Heartfelt film celebrates mother’s instinct with the tagline “Nothing protects like Mom & Dettol.”
MUMBAI: Dettol has found the perfect formula for its latest campaign, a generous mix of maternal love and antiseptic care that’s sure to tug at every Indian heartstring. The iconic germ protection brand has rolled out a touching new campaign for Dettol Antiseptic Liquid built around the universal truth of a mother’s instinctive care. The film brings to life the simple yet powerful idea: “Nothing protects like Mom & Dettol.”
Set against the lively chaos of a shaadi ka ghar, the story follows a young boy who hurts himself but puts on a brave face to hide his pain. The moment he reaches his mother, she instinctively senses something is wrong. As she gently tends to his wound with Dettol Antiseptic Liquid, his guard drops, leading to a tender role reversal where the child ends up comforting his mother. The film ends with the poignant line, “Apnon ki suraksha ka mazboot sahara.”
The campaign reinforces Dettol’s timeless place in Indian homes as a reassuring companion in moments of vulnerability. It was conceptualised and written by Prasoon Joshi
, with an original track composed by Vishal Khurana K, sung by Javed Ali, and lyrics by Prasoon Joshi. Amit Sharma directed the film.
Reckitt EVP regional director for South Asia Gaurav Jain said the campaign captures the deep emotional bond between a mother’s instinct and Dettol’s protection. “This campaign encapsulates that delicate, human truth, a mother senses hurt even before it is spoken, and Dettol strengthens her ability to respond with care and confidence,” he noted.
Prasoon Joshi added, “When a child is hurt, the first instinct is to reach for their mother, their ultimate safe space. And in that moment, the mother turns to Dettol, something she trusts to protect what matters most.”
As the flagship product in the Dettol portfolio, the Antiseptic Liquid continues to offer unmatched protection for cuts and wounds, standing shoulder to shoulder with mothers through life’s small scrapes and bigger worries.
In a world full of flashy advertisements, Dettol has quietly reminded us once again that the strongest protection often comes wrapped in the simplest, most heartfelt moments, the kind only a mother and a trusted bottle of Dettol can provide.
