Assistant Manager, External Communications

AKANKSHA JAIN Mobile: 098******** ~ E-Mail: eqiruo@r.postjobfree.com

~ PUBLIC RELATIONS/ CORPORATE COMMUNICATION/ BRAND MANAGEMENT /CLIENT SERVICING~

A dynamic professional with nearly 6 years of experience in Brand Management, PR, Customer Relationship Management and Team Management. Presently associated with HCL Technologies, Noida as an Assistant Manager, External Communications. Experience in devising strategies for global public relations- activities and communications for enhancing the image of the company. Significant exposure in analysing market/ competition trends to provide critical inputs & formulating and implementing marketing strategies. A keen planner, strategist & implementer with demonstrated abilities in corporate communications, account planning & management, devising brand building activities and accelerating the business growth. Expertise in strengthening relationships with corporate clients, negotiating with them and finalising rates. Proven potential in organizing & handling complete management of events for Brand Management, Public Relations, Corporate Communications as well as Product Promotion. Talent for proactively identifying & resolving problems - reversing negative trend, controlling costs and maximizing profits. Proficiency in spearheading the operations with keen focus on accomplishment of company’s mission & profitability. Possess excellent interpersonal, communication & organizational skills with proven abilities in team management, customer relationship management & effective crisis management.

Personal Skill Set

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A leader with exemplary communication and interpersonal skills.

Ability to collaborate with staff at all levels and work under pressure.

Visible decision making ability with execution to conclusion capability.

Professionally grown in highly competitive business environment well networked in the industry.

Generating healthy business relationships with professionals and the corporates.

DOMAIN SKILLS

Brand Management

Framing strategies for establishing greater awareness about company & its products

Building brand focus in conjunction with operational requirements

Handling appropriate media selection for new product launch campaigns

Executing all PR activities which include developing campaign strategy, roll out plans and evaluation while handling brand management & corporate communication activities

Corporate Communication

Developing and coordinating corporate communication programs for a range of internal and external audiences with a focus on customer relations and other corporate relationship initiatives

Handling strategic events like the Quarter results

Handling communication for strategic events like World Economic Forum and Nasscom Leadership Forum

Analysing data to identify opportunities and providing recommendations to address key communications goals and objectives

Innovating ideas in the forms of communication & developing media strategies for the execution of media strategies: utilising various channels of media, for building image & creating awareness

Develop relations with key stakeholders/ activists at regional level

Develop communications programs at a global level and customize the same in various regions like USA, Europe and APAC regions

Public Relations

Preparing research reports and making recommendations on business organizations and competitor public relations activities

Ensuring excellent consultancy through in depth market and industry knowledge

Establishing relationship with marketing communications team; leading corporate brand image campaign as it relates to campaign localization, content development and advisor to media placement strategy

Evaluating new communication media from time to time and effectively adopting the same. Networking with media agencies and establishing long-standing associations with them

Arranging public awareness programmes, camps and other events to promote the organization

Ensuring proactive and reactive PR across IT, telecom, consumer durables, media and lifestyle verticals

Ensuring effective measurement of PR tactics used for the client on a monthly basis

Planning and measurement of PR strategy on a six monthly basis

Conceptualizing and planning the PR approach for product launches

Driving the corporate PR campaign for Xerox and Headstrong

Writing of regular features, Press releases, speeches, reports, channel notes, plans (yearly/ half yearly/ event based), review presentations, briefing documents, case studies, meeting agendas, contact reports

Providing regular media strategy recommendations to the client

Conceptualization and execution of media briefings/ press conferences/ interviews/ media round tables and educational briefings for clients across New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Kochi and other emerging cities

Business Development:

Building strong relationships with clients / customers for business growth & profitability

Strategizing the long term business directions of the region to ensure maximum profitability in line with organisational objectives

Gathering business requirements from key users and creating a business blueprint; exhibiting products at events; ensuring effective PR that rides on marketing plans for augmenting the business volume by enhancing brand visibility & recall

ORGANISATIONAL SCAN

Since Jan’10 HCL Technologies, Noida Assistant Manager, External Communications

Worked as the ‘Global Lead’ for External Communications for HCL Technologies Infrastructure Services Division. The job profile entailed devising corporate communications strategy at a global as well as a local level across USA, Europe and APAC regions. The job responsibility included working with the CEO’s office on a variety of communications. I was responsible for developing, coordinating, and directing corporate communications and public relations activities for the organization. I have led some key announcements for HCL ISD from conceptualization to execution stage, while at HCL.

Key Responsibilities:

Planning and implementing the organization's Corporate communications and public relations strategies,

policies and procedures

Acting as local resource of communications expertise and guidance

Handling strategic events like the Quarter results

Handling communication for strategic events like World Economic Forum and Nasscom Leadership Forum

Implementing corporate external communication policies, strategy and guidance

Advising on the preparation and presentation of product or service information at trade shows, displays, and exhibits

Playing active role in the national network promoting communication best practice and driving up standards

Engaging with Indian media and developing relationships, arranging interviews and visits and developing proactive strategies to achieve positive media coverage

Identifying, collecting and generating ‘good news’ stories for feature articles, interviews, presentations and other public relations activities

Driving the speaker calendar for key stakeholders

Conceptualization, planning and executing media briefings/ press conferences/ interviews and media round tables across cities across the country

Drafting and sending out press releases for important announcements

Driving the HR/ employee engagement mandate

Developing detailed storyboards for identified themes in the global/ local media

Creating media pitches for proactive pitching

Drafting bylined articles and exploring placement in mainstream media

Pitching and coordinating media interactions for the identified spokespeople

Assisting the CEO with Board presentations, quarterly Investor presentations, internal mailers and results specific messaging every Quarter results announcement

Jul’ 09- Jan’10 Gutenberg Communications, New Delhi Account Manager

Key Accounts Served:

MTS India (Sistema Shyam Teleservices)

Convergys Corporation

Wipro

Connectiva

Steria India

Key Deliverables:

Conceptualization, planning and executing media briefings/ press conferences/ interviews and media round tables across cities across the country

Drafting and sending out press releases for important announcements

Involved in sourcing and personal profiling for CEOs/ Senior Spokespersons of clients in Electronic/ Financial/ Mainline media

Driving the HR/ employee engagement mandate

Sharing latest announcements on the industry/ competition landscape

Developing stories and ensuring visibility for the clients across key media as identified with the client

Jul’06- Jul’ 09 TEXT 100 India Pvt. Ltd.,New Delhi Senior Account Executive

Key Accounts Served:

Xerox India

Xerox Corporation

Nokia India

Headstrong

Key Deliverables:

Conceptualising and executing media briefings/ press conferences/ interviews/ media round tables and educational briefings for clients across New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Kochi and adjoining cities.

Involved in sourcing and personal profiling for CEOs/ Senior Spokespersons of clients in Electronic/ Financial/ Mainline media.

Developing stories and ensuring visibility for the clients across key media as identified with the client.

Notable Attainments:

Conceptualized and executed Xerox’s foray into tier-2 markets- Organized press briefings of Xerox Color Showcase - in 2 tier- 1 cities in Nov’08 and Xerox Emerging Markets Launch in 5 tier- 2 cities in Jun’08

Instrumental role in creating mindshare for Nokia Eseries devices amongst the IT journalists/ reviewers/ bloggers/ target customers since their launch in August 2006

- Nokia E75 launch in New Delhi and Reviewers Briefing in Mumbai and Bangalore in April 2009

- Nokia E71/E66 launch during Jul’08

- Nokia E51 Launch Road Shows in Hyderabad & Ahmedabad in Sep-Oct’07

- Nokia E90 Launch in Jun’07

Efficiently handled crisis management for Nokia during battery recall.

Holds the distinction of:

- Formulating and executing the strategy of Xerox India’s foray into emerging markets

- Streamlining the product review program for Nokia and Xerox products

- Conceptualising the seeding program for Nokia Eseries devices

- Proactive and reactive PR to build Xerox as a ‘document management company’

- Consistent media engagement to position Nokia as a provider of smart devices and email solutions that are ‘designed for the way we work’

- Devising a well planned PR strategy to introduce and creating a mind recall the key tier-1 and tier-2 spokespeople amongst the target media houses

Dec’05-Jun’06 Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick, New Delhi Account Executive

Key Accounts Served:

Sony India

Kimaya

Schwarzkopf

Ansals Properties Limited

Oriflame

Key Deliverables:

Providing proactive and reactive account management and public relations services

Handling PR related activities on the sidelines of Fashion Events/Page 3 Parties

Writing regular features, press releases, speeches, reports, channel notes, briefing documents, meeting agendas, etc

Notable Attainments:

Proven excellence during PR for Kimaya on the sidelines of India Fashion Week 2006 and launch of Schawarzkopf Summer style 2006-07

Considerable excellence in lifestyle, consumer and product PR for Oriflame and Sony India

Mar’05-Dec’05 Perfect Relations, New Delhi Associate Account Executive

Key Accounts Served:

Coca-Cola India Private Limited

Godfrey Phillips India

Bridal Asia

Rasna

Hindustan Times Leadership Summit

Indian Music Industry

Jagran Summit

Key Deliverables:

Developing and strengthening business relationships with key decision-makers in target organisations for business development

Ensuring effective media strategy recommendations to the client; formulating and executing media briefings/ press conferences for clients across New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore regions

Creating regular features, press releases, speeches, reports, channel notes, plans (yearly, half yearly & event based), briefing documents, meeting agendas, contact reports, etc

Responsible for constant media engagement to generate coverage as well as maintaining the media database

Notable Attainments:

Demonstrated abilities by handing PR functions around:

- Bridal Asia - the first of its kind of exhibition for all the wedding needs.

- Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.

- Jagran Summit

- Coca Cola and Rasna

PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENTS

Apr’04-Dec’04 EXL Service Ltd., NOIDA Customer Care Executive

EDUCATION

Pursuing Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Symbiosis Centre of Distance Learning. Specialisation: Marketing

2004 Bachelor of Information Sciences (BIS) from Hansraj College, Delhi University.

IT Skills: Conversant with MS Office (Excel, Word & PowerPoint) and Internet Applications

INTERNSHIP SCHEDULE

Title : Customer Relations Management

Organisation : LG Electronics, Noida

Duration : 2 months

Synopsis : The project dealt with developing an application in visual basic environment.

PERSONAL DETAILS

Date of Birth : 20/03/1983

Contact Address : 28A, Nilgiri-1, Sector-34, NOIDA, 201307, U.P.

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