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Another Indian PR agency partnering with a global firm?
By Editor on Nov 3, 2006 in PRagency
e,Lexicon PR has dropped the ‘e’ in its name and got itself a new logo. The agency recently had a new senior management lineup from Vaishnavi, rearranged its organizational structure, and expanded its service portfolio. Grapevine says it’s on the way to becoming Fleishman Hillard India or maybe FH Lexicon. Heard that a lot of Fleishman Hillard people have been visiting the agency headquarters at New Delhi like never before in the past one year. How far is it true, time will tell. For the time being, it seems to be contented being the FH affiliate in India.
This seems to be the latest development in global agencies having a partnership spree with PR agencies and venturing into the Indian market. Remember Genesis and Burson Marsteller, and Hill&Knowlton and Perfect Relations. We recently also saw Lewis PR opening office at Mumbai .
Technorati tags: PR, Public Relations, India, India PR,
On Nov 4, 2006, Hawkeye said:
First up - Hobbit rocks !!! I’ve been reading your blog for the last 8 months I guess. Fantastic man. Brilliant.
I’ve been meaning to start one on stuff myself, you know bits on pR, generally stuff happening around … but never got around to doing that. Maybe someday. But such a pleasure to this blog grow with time. Great posts, even better and honest replies, super initiatives…just great.
Godspeed Hobbit
‘Nuff of that. Guys how do you see this coming of the global biggies affecting us ? Life getting more professional? Better, organised training ? Higher pay (Amen!!)?
How has Genesis fared for example? I know for CVWS the WS is more like a fee-based use of brand name.
Any news on Perfect ? On H&K that is ?
On Nov 4, 2006, hobbit said:
hey hawkeye, thanks alot. will be good to see u in the blogosphere soon. and let’s hope wit all these partnerships, we get what u mentioned. Amen.
On Nov 4, 2006, Anonymous said:
To answer your question Hawkeye…
Partnerships and buyouts has only two effects - 1. change of name and corporate identity - international names add the ooomph to the Desi agencies 2. The owners of Desi agencies make the moolah.
Life goes on like always for the worker ants… take for example Perfect….they are shifting to Noida is a slendid office with a H&K name taga and cards… but work culture remains the hell hole that is was (Roasie’s article in publications will not change it).
And for Genesis, apart from again the chic name change and the holier-than-thou attitude of ‘the duo’, nothing has changed. No salary increases (the salary increase in June was a damage control exercise to stop a mass exodus rather than BM-ise the salary levels). However, one positive impact is that employees with more than 3 years of exp in Genesis have the option of applying in another BM office anywhere in the world provided there is a vacancy.
So Hawkeye…get ready to see more ‘goras’ coming and going and maybe some good international templates, but culture and pay will remain the same … till the present leadership stays.
On Nov 6, 2006, Anonymous said:
I completely agree with Mr. or Ms. Anonymous.. Its just a cosmetic change as long as the leadership (now that’s again a question, whether to call them leaders or not..!!) remains same. Well, I dont think agencies are going to change for better whether its a Genesis, Perfect or e,Lexicon. Just by adding few intials or dropping few alphabets are not going to change the way these so called professional agencies function. The change has to come from within - entire approach needs to be changed. But, I have seen many such on paper changes. Everyone comes with their own master plan to control the colony of working ants! (well said my friend) in the name of change management.
Anyways, God save us. God save our indstry. At the end of the day, what do we do.. whether you spend two years of twenty years in this industry, your ultimate work remains the same - run after client, run after media and run after new business!
Anyways, wait and watch in the mantra…
On Nov 20, 2006, Anonymous said:
Yes indeed, you have all heard correctly. Little Bird tells me that not only has the word “e” been dropped from Lexicon’s name, it is now called Lexicon Communications Consultants, and sports a new logo.
Little Bird also says that Lexicon has bagged quite a few Indian and global clients, some American cos called AES and Emerson.
The two Sudeep’s seem to be quietly going about their business in a sureshot way…looks like they are really preparing the ground for FH to take over, which may happen sooner than later, as Hobbit says… coz indeed plenty of FH people have been visiting and talking to the Lexicon-wallas…well all the best to them.
On Dec 11, 2006, Anonymous said:
Its a good effort to have this blog with interesting news and thoughts.
However just a word of caution or say advise to some PR professionals - why are you guys always out there with a negative outlook. Why blame the industry or the companies/ clients or the journalists. If you want change then first do it yourself and be relentless in your efforts. Certainly expecting others to change to suit yourself is self defeating. If you are clear in your objectives and know how to go about it then just do it.
These people who blame others for all the ills perhaps should also honestly ask themselves what have they done to usher in change and waht are they prepared to do themselves. Merely by saying that there is no leadership or no change or the industry needs to do something is a escapist policy and these people indeed will do what they are doing now even after 20 odd years. The smarter ones will move on in life and acheive something worthwhile themself.