NEW DELHI–The Holmes Report has joined forces with the Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) to launch the SABRE Awards in India.
Now in their ninth year worldwide, the SABRE Awards have become a global benchmark for public relations work, attracting more than 2,500 entries across North America, EMEA and Asia-Pacific.
By bringing the Awards programme to India, the Holmes Report and PRCAI aim to evaluate, showcase and elevate the role of PR in the country.
“What has been missing here in India is a credible and internationally respected platform for PR professionals to showcase their work and get recognition for it,” said PRCAI president Sharif Rangnekar. “Awards such as SABRE completes that for our industry but also helps in pushing the levels up and creating new benchmarks that makes our industry a lot more creative and relevant. We have been waiting for this and are delighted that we have SABRE with us.”
The SABRE Awards India will be judged by a jury that comprises senior agency and in-house comms heads, which will be announced in due course. Entries will open in March, with the awards gala expected to take place in early July.
“We feel that the time is right to establish our first local market SABRE Awards and India is the ideal launchpad for this initiative,” said Holmes Report managing editor Arun Sudhaman. “The Holmes Report has expanded its India coverage considerably in recent years, as evidenced by our roundtables and editorial, so we are looking forward to showcasing the best PR work that the engrossing Indian market has to offer.”
Modelled on the UK’s PRCA, India’s PRCAI is a trade body that represents the country’s PR agencies.
Members of the Jury has also been announced.
NEW DELHI–The SABRE Awards India will be judged by a senior jury that features some of the country’s top in-house and agency executives.
The jury, revealed below, will be charged with selecting winners at the first SABRE Awards India, which is being run by the Holmes Report in conjunction with the Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI).
Entries for the competition will open in March, with the awards gala expected to take place in early July.
SABRE Awards India Jury
Atul Ahluwalia, president, Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
Roma Balwani, chief group communications officer, Mahindra & Mahindra
Madan Bahal, CEO, Adfactors
Dilip Cherian, founding partner, Perfect Relations
Paroma Roy Chowdhury, director and country head, corporate communications and public affairs, Google India
Deepa Dey, head of corporate communications, Bharti Airtel
Meenu Handa, director of corporate communications, Microsoft India
Robert Holdheim, president, Edelman India, Middle East and Africa
Nandita Lakshmanan, founder and CEO, the PRactice
Sudip Mozumder, external affairs advisor, World Bank India
Rachana Pande, director of corporate communications, GE India
NS Rajan, managing director, Ketchum Sampark
Prema Sagar, principal and founder, Genesis Burson-Marsteller
Senjam Raj Sekhar, director of group corporate communications, Vedanta
Rishi Seth, co-founder and CEO, Six Degrees PR
Radhika Shapoorjee, president, IPAN H+K Strategies
Jaideep Shergill, CEO, MSLGroup India
Shweta Shukla, country head, communications, Procter & Gamble India
Shivnath Thukral, group president, corporate branding and strategic initiatives, Essar Group
Co-Chair: Arun Sudhaman, managing editor, Holmes Report
Co-Chair: Sharif Rangnekar, president, PRCAI