Programme

Public association with a company is via the brands promoted by them. Brands are the driving force behind any company. Thus one needs to pay attention to its positioning and invest time and effort in building them. How does one create excitement around a brand even if it’s the simplest product?  This session will attempt to review some tactics that have shaped brands in an intensely competitive scenario. The speakers will share their company experience and some personal observations.

B S Rathor, V P External Affairs, Ford India Ltd.
Yashpal Khanna  Sr VP Corporate Communications, News Television (I) Ltd.

Where does the IT industry stand today in terms of brand presence? Are we in the big picture? It is important for the industry today to create awareness about the progress made over the years, the pioneers of the industry and its contribution towards the country. Communications relating to information technology is about image and brand building. This session talks about the steps that need to be taken as a corporate communicator in building awareness about the "brand" and the work done by the company vis-à-vis the image that exists at present about the industry as a mere body shopper. Communications is about changing perceptions. How does one do this in the international market. What are the resources that can be exploited are some areas for discussion

Vijay Gupta, Head Corporate Communications, Wipro Limited
Pramod Khera, CEO, APTECH, Training &Education

Does your company CEO's image add or detract from the value of the organisation? CEO reputation is a perceptual representation that describes the firm’s overall appeal when compared with other leading rivals. The issue is how and what efforts are required by CEO, aided by Corporate Communications to move the company’s image to a desired level. Is conveying messages of an organisation in an attention-arresting manner enough? What are the other factors from a CEO’s perspective that tilt the balance in favour of a company in the market place? This session looks at ways and means by which organisations can successfully develop strategies to enhance and sustain their reputations using their dynamic CEO presence and in turn derive benefits to the corporate reputation.

Tony Singh, CEO & Managing Director, Max New York Life Insurance  

Demand for increased service at low cost is fuelling an industry-wide trend toward consolidation, the competition in each and every sector products and services is intensifying. PR programmes need to aggressively address corporate positioning and have an equally forceful media relations campaign to raise awareness. Apart from supporting launches of innovative products and services in the market place, a programme needs to position key management executives as authorities on subject matters. It is important to take advantage of an "opportunistic" news opportunity to leverage authority and comment in response to the industry developments.

Rajiv Ahuja, Head of Public Affairs & Commns, India & Area Countries American Express Bank
Ishan Raina, CEO, Euro RSCG

Public relations quite simply means interfacing with the media. Over 80 per cent of time is spent devising and managing media interface. But as practitioners do we really understand the how the media works - print electronic and newer media like the internet. This session to reassess what they need and seek their opinion and advice on matters that bother and ail us practitioners!

Tony Joseph, Former Editor, Business World
Raj Rishi Singhal, Resident Editor, Economic Times