The Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI), the representative body for PR and communication consultants in the country, has announced its new Managing Committee (MANCOM) and Executive Committee (EXCOM) for the 2025–2027 term. The announcement was made at the organisation’s 24th Annual General Meeting.
This year’s elections included a mix of competitive voting and unanimous selections. Five leaders were elected through voting, while four were chosen unanimously.
Kunal Kishore, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Value 360 Communications, who previously served as PRCAI’s Vice President for four years, has been elected President. He takes over from Atul Sharma, CEO, Ruder Finn India and Head, Middle East.
The newly formed MANCOM will continue working with PRCAI CEO Deeptie Sethi. The committee members are:
- Kunal Kishore, Group CEO & Co-Founder, Value 360 Communications – President, PRCAI
- Neha Mehrotra, Managing Director, Avian WE – Vice President, PRCAI
- Santanu Gogoi, Founding Partner, First Partners – Associate Vice President, PRCAI (in a role formerly known as Secretary)
“These are transformative times for the Public Relations industry in India and is projected to nearly double by end of the decade. At PRCAI, we understand the pulse of this change and are committed to build a respected, sustainable and action-oriented industry body,” said Deeptie Sethi, CEO, PRCAI. “As President, Atul Sharma led with exemplary vision and integrity, and with Kunal Kishore and the newly elected and diversely represented leadership team, our focus remains steadfast on ethical standards, industry excellence, capacity development, and nurturing future-ready talent. Together, we aim to elevate the profession, built on reputation, rooted in responsibility.”
Five National Chairs have also been named to EXCOM, including one new role:
- Nandita Lakshmanan, National Chair, Growth & Standardization; Founder, The PRactice
- Dolly Tayal, National Chair, Marketing Communications & Global Networks; Managing Director, Burson Genesis
- Abhishek Gulyani, National Chair, Talent & Academia Connect; Managing Director India and Head of Corporate Affairs, APAC, Zeno Group
- Vivek Rana, National Chair, Learning & Thought Leadership; Managing Partner, Gnothi Seauton
- Rishi Seth, National Chair, Public Affairs and Advocacy; Founder and CEO, Evoc Communications Consulting Pvt. Ltd (a newly created role)
Atul Sharma said, “Having worked in the public relations industry for over two and a half decades, my time with PRCAI has been one of the most meaningful ways I’ve been able to give back to the profession that shaped me. It’s been an honour to lead PRCAI through a period of real change—one that’s seen us move from intent to action, and from ambition to real outcomes. I’m grateful for the trust of my peers and proud of all we’ve built together.”
Kunal Kishore added, “I’m honoured to take on this role at a time when the Indian PR industry is poised for its next phase of evolution. My vision is to build PRCAI as a dominant, respected voice in the country — one that not only represents our industry but shapes it. We will work to expand our national footprint, introduce a new industry charter focused on ethics, innovation, and professionalism, and deepen engagement with all stakeholders — from clients to academia, media to government. It’s time for public relations to be recognised as a core pillar of the media and marketing ecosystem, and I look forward to driving that transformation with all the elected leaders and our CEO.”
Recent PRCAI initiatives include:
- PRana 2024 – A story convention and business summit with over 100 participants focusing on India’s PR narrative
- Growth Hacking: Start-Up to Scale-Up – An accelerator for emerging firms
- Client-Consultancy Partnership Charter – A framework to improve industry standards
- Training – Over 2,500 professionals trained through certification programmes and workshops
- Mediation Desk – A service supporting dispute resolution
Advisory on Misinformation – A guideline promoting responsible communication during national crises
