MAM
Dentsu Aegis bulks up; acquires Perfect Relations
MUMBAI: He has got ambition. Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia CEO Ashish Bhasin has been saying how he is going to get his group in the top two agency network bracket in India. He seems to be in a hurry to get there through the acquisition route.
Over the past two years, he has acquired at least three companies. Now, the next one is in his bag. Dentsu has announced the acquisition of the Perfect Relations group, one of India’s top-notch public relations communications firm. The price tag for this is not known, but estimates are that it is in the triple crore digit range.
The buy brings with it the parent company, Perfect Relations, and other agencies Accord Public Relations, Image Public Relations, Imprimis Life PR, India Media Monitor and Buzz. And an A-list of clients from the IT and tech sector and Fortune 500 companies like Coca-Cola, Nokia, Airtel and Honda across diverse sectors.
Perfect Relations Group has now become a member of Dentsu Aegis Network India, retaining its branding. This addition will strengthen Dentsu Aegis Network’s overall communications offering in this rapidly growing market.
Perfect Relations Group’s presence spans across 19 offices and 50 cities in India with over 500 associates, offering a full suite of core PR services including corporate reputation management, brand and marketing communications, media management and crisis management.
Perfect Relations promoter group managing director Dilip Cherian and CEO Pradeep (Bobby) Kewalramani will be joining the leadership team at Dentsu Aegis and report in to Ashish Bhasin.
Says Dentsu Aegis Network Asia Pacific CEO Nick Waters: “The PR segment in India is forecast to grow at double digits annually and having a scaled business that is well integrated to our company enables us to build on our overall strength and reputation in the market. With Perfect Relations Group’s strong quality management and established digital capabilities, we are well positioned to support our clients in an increasingly convergent environment in the country.”
Adds Bhasin: “The joining in of Perfect Relations Group moves us a huge step closer towards achieving our mission of being the second largest group in this business in India. PR is an important and integral part of the advertising and communications business in India. We look forward with excitement to having them on board.”
“In order to accelerate growth and tap into the latest global platforms and tools, we wanted to partner with a great global network.A good cultural and strategic fit is a top priority in making the decision on who we would like to join. We are very pleased that Dentsu Aegis Network is our choice partner in taking Perfect Relations Group and our spectacular team to the next level,” expound both Cherian and Kewalaramani.
Brands
Axis Bank named Official Banking Partner of DP World PGTI
Partnership supports all tournaments this season to grow professional golf in India.
MUMBAI: Axis Bank just teed up a hole-in-one partnership because when a bank sponsors golf’s biggest swing in India, even the fairways feel more financially secure. Axis Bank has been appointed Official Banking Partner of the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (DP World PGTI), strengthening its commitment to sporting excellence and community engagement while backing the growth of professional golf across the country.
Under the partnership, Axis Bank will support all DP World PGTI tournaments this season, contributing to talent development, enhanced tournament experiences and wider fan engagement. The collaboration aligns the bank’s values of precision, discipline and trust with the Tour’s focus on performance and opportunity.
Axis Bank executive director Munish Sharda said, “We are pleased to partner with DP World PGTI as its Official Banking Partner. Golf embodies precision, discipline, and a pursuit of excellence qualities that strongly reflect who we are at Axis Bank. This association also strengthens our engagement with India’s growing premium customer segments, where the sport has a deep and enduring connect.”
Professional Golf Tour of India president Kapil Dev said, “We are extremely pleased to welcome Axis Bank as a Tour Partner of the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India. Partnerships of this stature play a vital role in strengthening the foundation of the Tour, enhancing opportunities for our players, and expanding the sport’s reach across the country.”
Professional Golf Tour of India CEO Amandeep Johl added, “Axis Bank’s strong legacy of excellence, innovation, and nationwide reach aligns perfectly with DP World PGTI’s goal to elevate professional golf in India and provide greater opportunities for our players.”
In a sport where every stroke counts and every partnership drives distance, Axis Bank isn’t just backing golfers, it’s investing in the fairway to future, turning India’s greens into a stage where precision meets passion and every drive has the power to inspire.
