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PRCI appoints Baldev Raj as Delhi chapter chairman
Six-month leap signals push for bold, AI-led shift in communications strategy
NEW DELHI: Public Relations Council of India has appointed Baldev Raj as chairman of its Delhi chapter, marking a swift elevation just six months after he took on the role of vice chairman.
The move comes amid growing churn in the communications industry, with trust deficits and misinformation reshaping how brands engage with audiences. According to the latest Edelman Trust Barometer, public trust in institutions continues to decline, while concerns around misinformation remain high.
Industry insiders say Raj’s rapid rise reflects the momentum he has built at Prius Communications, which has picked up five major industry awards in the past four months. His appointment signals PRCI’s intent to bring sharper, more future-facing leadership to the fore.
Under his leadership, the Delhi chapter is set to roll out a series of initiatives aimed at repositioning public relations as a strategic business function. These include an AI ethics and integration framework, a C-suite advisory council, and a revamped young communicators programme focused on mentorship and leadership development.
Commenting on the appointment, Public Relations Council of India chairman emeritus and chief mentor M. B. Jayaram said, “This wasn’t a question of succession; it was a question of strategic necessity. Baldev’s track record of innovation made it clear that we needed his vision and velocity at the helm now.”
For his part, Baldev Raj framed the role as a turning point for the profession. “Our profession stands at a crossroads. We can either be consumed by the tidal wave of AI-generated noise, or become the strategists who restore trust and clarity,” he said. He added that the focus will be on a ‘human plus machine’ approach, blending artificial intelligence with human insight.
Raj, founder of Prius Communications, operates across reputation management and strategic advisory, with specialised verticals in healthcare and brand consulting.
With this leadership shift, PRCI appears to be betting on speed, strategy and a stronger voice for communicators at the decision-making table.
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Mandar V Deo joins JK Tyre as India president
The 50-year-old engineer and MBA brings stints at Cummins and Exide Energy to one of India’s biggest tyre makers
JK Tyre & Industries has a new man at the wheel in India. The tyre giant has appointed Mandar V Deo as president, India, based in Delhi, where he will report to chairman and managing director Raghupati Singhania and managing director Anshuman Singhania.
Deo, 50, is no stranger to heavy industry. He brings over two decades of senior leadership experience, having navigated the corridors of Cummins Inc, Cummins India and Exide Energy Solutions. His academic firepower is equally formidable: a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Pune University, a master’s and a PhD from Pennsylvania State University, and an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.
Raghupati Singhania wasted little time signalling ambition. “I am confident that Deo will provide strong and adept leadership and steer JK Tyre on a new growth trajectory,” he said.
The company Deo inherits is no small operation. JK Tyre has a presence in over 105 countries across six continents, operates 11 manufacturing facilities, including nine in India and two in Mexico, and churns out over 35 million tyres a year. It is also part of the global RE100 initiative, targeting 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2050, and has rolled out smart tyre technology with tyre pressure monitoring systems. Its research and technology centre, the Raghupati Singhania Centre of Excellence in Mysore, anchors product development and testing.
With a PhD engineer at the helm and a growth mandate firmly in hand, JK Tyre has made clear it is not content to simply hold its road.
