NEW DELHI: Ajay Kakar has been appointed as the country head of Ogilvy Public Relations. Kakar, who will also continue to be the executive director and head of finance practice, O&M India, was previously involved with one of the core practices of Ogilvy PR.
He succeeds Mahnaz Curmally, who retired after being involved with Ogilvy PR for a decade. “I have just taken over as the country head of Ogilvy PR, though I was partnering the consultancy for the last few months. I was previously involved with one of five core practices of Ogilvy PR, in corporate and finance. Now I would be responsible for the entire operations, which would be an additional responsibility,” said Kakar.
Ogilvy PR Worldwide chief executive Asia Pacific, Mathew Anderson said, “Ajay brings rare experience; he is a valued counselor to top executives, he understands PR within a broad framework of communications and he is a caring leader of people. His decision to take on the leadership of PR reflects how PR will develop as a specialist function.”
“In addition to our offices in India, we have an office in Colombo. Ajay's main focus will be on India,” answered Anderson, in reply to operations in southern part of Asia.
On the Indian operations, he added, “In terms of potential, India will benefit enormously from more systematic linkages to our centres of excellence around the region and world. Combining unique aspects of India, with the latest thinking in such areas as brand protection, senior executive coaching, CSR and public affairs will make India one of the
world's most interesting markets for PR.”
Anderson feels that there is also a substantial market for working with headquarters of multinationals outside India and helping them with the lifecycle of communications needs as their commitments to India grows.
“On the domestic side, one factor we have been paying attention to is the fact that the cost of capital for Indian companies has dropped significantly. This will propel more investment in production and in expansion outside of India. Both of these factors will create demand for higher end corporate positioning,” concluded Anderson.
