Weber Shandwick has brought in Valerie Pinto for the role of chief executive, effective as of 1 January 2015. Pinto will be responsible for the company’s business in India. Atul Ahluwalia, vice chairman, Weber Shandwick India will continue in his role.
Her appointment has been made as part of a ‘broader strategy to build on the agency’s best-in-class India team’, informed an official statement. Pinto’s appointment let’s her join the Asia Pacific senior management board of the PR company. Prior to this, Pinto led Perfect Relations in India.
Pinto, now, will also be a part of the firm’s India Leadership Council and partner Ahluwalia in the same. The Council also includes managing director of client services, Dilip Yadav; deputy managing director, Carolina Bajaj, and executive vice president, operations, Mabel Phoon who will all report to Pinto. Yadav is also Managing Director, India of Weber Shandwick’s second brand, Creation.
Sutton, said, “In the last few months, I have spoken to very many senior people in India – at agencies and clients, in media and business - for advice on the very best person to take our business in India to the next stage of market leadership. It was quite remarkable how many of them put Valerie at the very top of their ‘recommendation list’. She is a class act with a legendary reputation.”
He added, “She had many other options at this stage of her career, including running her own business, and I am so thrilled that our vision and ambition have persuaded her to join Weber Shandwick. This appointment signals our absolute determination to become the market leader in India. We are already blessed with a wonderful senior management team assembled by vice chairman Atul Ahluwalia. They have made Weber Shandwick the most awarded agency in India.”
Ahluwalia added, “I am very delighted to welcome Valerie to our team. She brings huge experience and stature with her.
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