Hello!
I’m Ronak Thakkar

Public Relations & Communications Professional

A good story never goes unheard

About Me

Featured in Campaign Middle East's 30 under 30 PR Faces to Watch 2022: https://bit.ly/3a9mGLW

I am a Public Relations and Communications professional with over eleven years of extensive experience working in the Middle East and Indian markets. I am currently an Associate Director/Vice President working with FleishmanHillard leading the Corporate and Technology Practice and managing a team of over five executives in the Middle East.

For over a decade, I have worked for global brands in Corporate, Logistics, Technology, Government, Finance, and a few other industries.

My Profile: https://rnkthkkr2402.wixsite.com/ronakthakkar

My areas of expertise include Content Development (Press Releases, Authored Articles, Interviews, PR Reports, Website & Social Media, etc.), International and Regional Media Relations, Communications Strategy, and Planning, New Business Development, Crisis Communications, Campaign Measurement & Influencer Management. In addition, I have also managed 360 Degree Campaign Planning for my clients, Internal Communications, Branding, developing Social Media Strategies, and Advertising and Media Buying and Selling to a certain extent.

I am leading communications for brands such as iot squared (a Saudi PIF company), Museum of the Future, Department of Tourism-Philippines, Bosch Middle East, Agility Logistics, Western Union, Fitbit, Bose, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, 3M, SLB (previously known as Schlumberger), Tata Consultancy Services, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Engie, MUFG Bank, Emerson, Philips-Signify, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Qatar Financial Centre, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Marriott International, GoPro, Huawei, Sony, Corning, Uber, Volkswagen, General Motors, Chevrolet, Honda Motorcycles, Bharat Benz, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Datsun, Piaggio, Parle Agro, CFA Institute, Aster Clinic, Alwaleed Philanthropies, Avari Hotel-Dubai, Kenilworth Hotel-Goa, Cidade De Goa, Pepe Jeans London, Wrangler, Florsheim, Priyadarshni Academy-Global Awards (NGO Event) and various others.

I have been an integral part of the crisis team for the Museum of the Future, CPPIB, Volkswagen, and General Motors.

I was seconded to MUFG bank as a Corporate Communications Specialist via FleishmanHillard India to lead external and internal communications from the bank’s India HQ. My main focus was to launch the intranet for the bank and undertake all the tasks related to branding, HR communications, CSR, internal communications, managing PR and advertising agencies, events, town-hall meetings, speech writing for spokespeople, etc.

I have also earned the Employee of the Month award four times during my tenure at MSLGROUP.

My Experience

Background & Expertise

Associate Director / Vice President | Corporate & Technology Practice Regional Lead
FleishmanHillard - Impact BBDO

August 2023 to present

Leading Corporate and Technology Practice at FleishmanHillard Middle East with a team of over five executives for global brands such as iot squared (a Saudi PIF company), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Engie, SLB (previously known as Schlumberger), 3M, Bosch Middle East, Daikin, Seagate, Emerson, Philips-Signify, UBS, Agility Logistics, FedEx, Organon, Gilead, Department of Tourism Philippines, Museum of the Future, Fitbit, Bose, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, and a few others.

A client lead, acting as a strategic advisor for integrated marketing campaigns and stakeholder management
Developing and reviewing all formats of communications (PR, social media, internal, advertising, and C-Suite comms)
Developing communication strategies, crisis playbooks, and scenarios
Leading international and regional media relations and direct the team with a result-oriented approach
Planning and execution of campaigns + evaluation of results against the set objectives
Identifying and leading new business presentations to meet the business objectives of the company
Appropriate use of business tools, planning, and management of team resources and hiring
Advanced market research skills, both online and offline campaigns
Developing, managing, and keeping track of company and client budgets against the set goals
Managing and mentoring junior team members, undertaking internal planning meetings to keep up with the deadlines and client expectations.

Account Director

FleishmanHillard - Impact BBDO

October 2021 to July 2023

Senior Account Manager
FleishmanHillard - Impact BBDO, UAE

June to September 2021

Managed a team of three executives and leading communications for global brands in the Corporate & Finance, Consumer & Technology, Government, and Travel industry.

Account Manager
FleishmanHillard - Impact BBDO, UAE

February 2019 to May 2021

Managed a team of two executives and leading the work for the global brands from Corporate & Finance, Consumer & Technology, Government, and Travel industry.

Corporate Communications Manager,
Vincitore Real Estate Development

November 2018 - January 2019

Developing Marketing Strategy & Communications plan
Develop a full range of written materials including press releases, website, social media, advertisements, features, speeches, columns, brand guidelines, reports, etc.
Media Relations, planning, strategizing, and implementing media events, testimonials, networking sessions, press conferences/briefings, preparing press kits, etc.
Creating and Executing Lead Generation Campaigns
Manage third-party suppliers, media buying and selling & designing brand collateral
Develop story ideas, strategize and execute the same on digital platforms as well
Brand collaborations, media associations for events & activities
Creating strategies and marketing plans for Social Media Platforms
Managing the company’s LinkedIn account
Liaising with different departments for necessary approvals to release any communication externally.

Freelance Public Relations Consultant

August 2018 - October 2018

Worked for global and local communications agencies as a consultant to help them develop communication strategies and plans, draft content pieces like press releases, authored articles, and also managed media relations for their respective client's announcements.

Account Manager

FleishmanHillard, India

December 2015 - April 2018

Managed a team of 3 & led the work for the global brands in the Corporate, Finance, Technology, Automobiles & Lifestyle sector.

Liaising with the client, proactively offer and implement new ways to meet client needs
Developing Strategy & Communications plan
Develop a full range of written materials including press releases, features, columns, client correspondence & reports & managing products for media reviews
Media relations -developing media contacts, helping other teams with media relations for their projects, guidance on the best ways to build media contacts & strengthen relations with the journalists
Implementations of media events, press conferences/briefings, media tours, preparing press kits, etc.
Team Management
Creating & maintaining budget sheets, financial, CSR & coverage reports
Manage third-party suppliers to clients, media buying and selling & designing brand collateral
Actively involved in new business pitches, developing proposals for new business opportunities
Develop story ideas, strategize and guide clients on the execution of the same on digital platforms
Brand collaborations, media associations for events & activities
Suggesting ideas to the client and creating stories for social media platforms.

I have also worked on the crisis management for Chevrolet in India- developing and strategizing region-specific communication, liaising with media on the necessary communications, and directing positive messages of the brand.

I was seconded to MUFG bank as a Corporate Communications Specialist via FleishmanHillard India to lead external and internal communications from the bank’s India HQ. My main focus was to launch the intranet for the bank and undertake all the tasks related to branding, HR communications, CSR, internal communications, managing PR and advertising agencies, events, town-hall meetings, speech writing for spokespeople, etc.

Corporate Communications Specialist
MUFG Bank (As a part of FleishmanHIllard)

June 2017 - March 2018

Strategize and develop internal communications plan
Developing content for website- external & internal
Single handedly launched the intranet for the brand as the biggest communications platform for MUFG employees
Creating content, managing and working with different departments for the relevant content creation
Drafting financial report, CSR report
Creating branding opportunities internally and externally, developing weekly newsletters
Managing external agencies (PR, advertising, vendors)
Developing speeches for the India head and managing town-hall meetings
Liaising with different departments for necessary approvals to release any communication externally
Identifying NGOs and planning of the necessary investment in the CSR space
Creating and managing CSR and communications budget.

Account Executive
MSLGROUP

April 2014 - December 2015

Liaising with the client, proactively offer and implement new ways to meet client needs
Developing Strategy and Communications plan
Develop a full range of written materials including press releases, features, columns, client correspondence, and reports
Media relations -developing media contacts, helping other teams with media relations for their projects, guidance on the best ways to build media contacts and strengthen relations with the journalists
Implementations of media events, press conferences/briefings, media tours, preparing press kits, etc.
Maintain press car fleet and budget sheets for the entire region
Manage third-party suppliers to clients
Actively involved in New Business pitches, developing proposals for new business opportunities
Brand associations
Develop story ideas, strategize and guide clients on the execution of the same on digital platforms
Brand collaborations, media associations for events and activities
Drafting social media posts for Facebook & Twitter, implementing and working on social media campaigns, etc.

I have also worked on the crisis management for Volkswagen Passenger Cars India- developing and strategizing region-specific communication, liaising with media on the necessary communications, and directing positive messages of the brand.

Senior PR Executive
Synergy Public Relations

October 2012 - April 2014

Liaising with the client, proactively offer and implement new ways to meet client needs
Develop a full range of written materials including press releases, features, columns, client correspondence, and reports
Media Relations
Implementations of media events, press conferences/briefings, preparing press kits, etc
Manage third-party suppliers to clients
Develop story ideas, strategize and guide clients on the execution of the same on digital platforms
Brand collaborations, and media associations for events and activities.

Priyadarshni Academy

May 2012 - October 2012

Inviting and managing media on the ground
Creating pre, during, and post-event reports
Designing and creating content for the branding collaterals like banners, advertisements, books, etc.
Develop press releases, features, and columns
Drafting social media posts for Facebook & Twitter, implementing and working on social media campaigns, etc
Liaising with the Maharashtra government for necessary permission and successful implementation of the event because of VIP guests from political, Bollywood, science, and corporate industry presence.