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.
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Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen to step down after 18 years in role
Board begins CEO search as Narayen prepares to move to chair role
SAN JOSE: After nearly two decades at the helm, Adobe’s long-serving chief executive Shantanu Narayen is preparing to pass the baton.
The company announced that Narayen will transition from his role as chief executive officer once a successor is appointed, ending an 18-year run that reshaped Adobe from a boxed software seller into a global cloud and AI powerhouse. He will remain chair of the board following the leadership transition.
Adobe’s board has formed a special committee to oversee the succession process, led by lead independent director Frank Calderoni. The committee will evaluate both internal and external candidates.
“Shantanu’s leadership has been instrumental in Adobe’s transformation and in positioning the company for the AI-driven era,” Calderoni said in a statement. “As we begin the next phase of succession planning, our focus is on identifying the right leader for the company’s next chapter while ensuring a smooth transition.”
In a note to employees, Narayen described the moment not as a farewell but as a pause for reflection after a long journey with the company.
“I love Adobe and the privilege of leading it has been the greatest honour of my career,” he wrote, adding that he will continue to work closely with the board over the coming months to ensure a seamless leadership change.
Tributes from the technology industry quickly followed the announcement. Microsoft chairman and chief executive officer Satya Nadella congratulated Narayen on what he described as a “legendary run” at Adobe.
“Congrats Shantanu, on a legendary run at Adobe! You’ve built one of the most important software companies in the world, and expanded what’s possible for creators, entrepreneurs, and brands everywhere,” Nadella wrote on LinkedIn.
“What has always stood out to me is the empathy you’ve brought to the creative process and the example you’ve set as a leader. Grateful for your friendship, mentorship, and for all you’ve done for Adobe and for our industry.”
Narayen’s career at Adobe spans nearly three decades. He joined the company in 1998 as vice president and rose steadily through the ranks before becoming chief executive officer in December 2007.
During that time, he orchestrated one of the most significant reinventions in the software industry. In 2013, Adobe made the bold decision to abandon traditional boxed software sales and move its flagship creative tools such as Photoshop to a subscription-based Creative Cloud model. The shift initially rattled investors but ultimately transformed Adobe into a predictable recurring revenue business and a case study in digital reinvention.
Narayen also pushed Adobe beyond creative tools into the world of marketing technology and data-driven customer experience, spearheading acquisitions such as Omniture and Marketo. Those moves helped build Adobe’s digital experience division and broaden its reach far beyond designers and photographers.
The numbers tell the story of that transformation. When Narayen took over in 2007, Adobe generated roughly $3 billion in annual revenue. Today the company reports more than $25 billion. Over the same period, its workforce expanded from around 3,000 employees to more than 30,000.
In recent years, Narayen has steered Adobe into the generative AI era with the launch of Adobe Firefly, aiming to keep the company ahead in a rapidly evolving creative technology landscape.
Born in Hyderabad in 1963, Narayen studied electronics and communication engineering at Osmania University before moving to the United States for a master’s degree in computer science from Bowling Green State University. He later earned an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Widely regarded as one of Silicon Valley’s most steady and effective leaders, Narayen has earned multiple honours during his career, including India’s Padma Shri in 2019.
For Adobe, the upcoming leadership change marks the end of a defining chapter. For Narayen, however, the story is far from finished. As he told employees, the company’s next era of creativity, powered by AI and new digital workflows, is only just beginning.
