Indian PR industry basks in glory

Today is probably a red-letter day for the Indian PR industry with the key media acknowledging the invaluable contributions made by the communications campaign leaders of the Ambani brothers in the big gas battle.

Perhaps this is one of the rare occasions when public relations professionals are being single out for praise as ‘key people’ and ‘top generals’. The Economic Times today wrote about both Niira Radia, Chairperson and Managing Director, Vaishnavi Corportate Communications Pvt Ltd whose subsidiary NeUcom Consulting manages PR for Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited, and Tony Jesudasan who heads the communications department of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.

“The chairperson of Vaishnavi Corporate Communications is possibly the most successful public relations entrepreneur in India, as her company handles the PR business of two of India’s largest business conglomerates — the Tatas and RIL,” writes The Economic Times. “She has emerged as Mukesh Ambani’s key Delhi ally in the past two years.”

The paper continues, “Radia is known for her connections in the government and media and is reputed to be an astute barometer of political and media dynamics, apart from being a charming conversationalist. Her colleagues describe her as thorough, hands on and very demanding.”

“Chief troubleshooter and ace spinmaster of the Anil Ambani establishment, Tony Jesudasan manages the group’s media needs from his second-floor office on 6, Aurangazeb Road,” writes the paper. “His involvement goes back to the days of the undivided Reliance empire.”

Jesudasan has “the rare ability to think and function calmly under great pressure. Chose to join the younger sibling when the brothers split, and has since then remained Anil Ambani’s trusted lieutenant in Delhi as Group President, Corporate Affairs, R-ADAG.”