Ketchum embraces Sampark founders Bela, N S Rajan

Ketchum, part of the Omnicom group and one of the world's largest global public relations consultancies, has acquired a 51-per cent stake in Mumbai-based Sampark PR, one of the largest PR firms in India, for an undisclosed amount.

Sampark will now operate as Ketchum Sampark. This acquisition further expands Ketchum's footprint in markets with rapidly growing demand for communication services. It had recently acquired similar firms in China and Russia.

The deal will enable Ketchum's roster of international client businesses and global brands. In turn, Ketchum will provide greater access to international markets for Indian companies and brands.

"Its yet another important milestone for Ketchum as we continue to implement our global vision of providing consistently excellent communications service to our clients in the key business and communications markets where they operate," Ketchum senior partner and chief executive officer Ray Kotcher said in a statement.

He also said that told a Mumbai paper on Tuesday that N S Rajan and Bela Rajan, the husband and wife team who founded Sampark in 1994, would continue to give direction to the agency while retaining a significant holding in it. Ketchum has in fact already been working in alliance with Sampark for about three years.

Sampark PR has a national reach with offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad, and a network of 80 associate offices across the country. This will help easy penetration for Ketchum, the statement said. In turn, Ketchum will provide greater access to international markets for blue-chip and burgeoning Indian companies and brands.