Metigon ropes in three senior communication professionals

Metigon Enterprises, the youngest entrant to specialized Public Relations and Public Affairs industry, has roped in three senior communications professionals. Bakul Gala, Aarif Malik and Sandeep Sarkar have taken office at Metigon in the last week in various senior capacities. The Mumbai-based communications firm already has a roster of several senior professionals heading its regional operations in India, including VK Cherian and Chiranjit Chakraborty in the northern markets, and Jashoda Madhavji in the western markets.

Bakul Gala joins Metigon’s board as Director and will spearhead the Public Affairs business of the company. With over two decades experience in journalism and public relations, Bakul comes with an experience that spans multiple sectors and geographies. Bakul has been involved with providing senior consultancy to companies, several of them blue chip conglomerates, in the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia. He specialises in cross border communications, market entry strategy, crisis communications, stock markets, fund launches and stakeholder relations.

Aarif Malik takes over as Chief Operating Officer and will head the Public Relations business of Metigon. A PR professional of 18 years, Aarif’s career spans long stints in the country’s leading PR agencies, including Sampark PR, Perfect Relations and Madison PR. Better known for his trouble-shooting capabilities and crisis management, Aarif has undertaken operational lead roles in his last two stints - those at Madison and Sampark PR - where he headed the agency's operations and helped set up practices. Having executed campaigns for leading political parties and government administrative bodies, Aarif is also known for his political PR and developmental capabilities.

Sandeep Sarkar joins Metigon from Reliance Industries as Group Account Director and will head the agency’s Corporate practice. With over 18 years in media and public relations, Sandeep is a rare professional to have made a mark in both the fields of communication. Sandeep’s 14 years of journalism were spent in some of the leading media houses such as The Indian Express, The Statesman, The Telegraph and Mumbai Mirror. His career in public relations has taken him to some of the best communications firms in India, including Sampark PR and Vaishnavi. His stint at Reliance Industries had him executing communication strategies for the Group’s corporate communication and that of its retail business.

Says Nikhil Gerard, Managing Director, Metigon Enterprises, “Metigon’s growth path is defined by its positioning, that of a boutique, integrated communications firm. And that is where communication stalwarts like Bakul, Aarif and Sandeep fit in. With their rich and wide-ranging experience in public relations and public affairs, they will help drive the firm on the growth path it has charted for itself. We truly believe that we’re in the middle of some very exciting times. After two decades of existence the communications industry is poised at taking a major leap in the near future. With the core leadership team in place, we will be leading the change in India.”

Established in early 2012, Metigon has a leadership team of prominent professionals at its helm supported by a team of enterprising young professionals from across India. The firm today boasts of a pan India network through a network of 8 own and associate offices, and has plans two more offices in the next two quarters. The company offers integrated services offering of image management and public affairs services and carries out customized communication campaigns for markets and stakeholders of organizations using thought leadership programmes, content creation, strategic public relations, marketing promotions, social media campaigns and interactive advertising campaigns.