Global IT firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) today selected Saffron Chase to deliver PR and Public Affairs for its UK public sector division.

TCS, a global top ten IT and business services organisation, believes it can bring its global expertise and innovative approach to deliver UK public sector IT programmes. They have digitised the equivalent of Companies House records across India and health patient records on a computer database in the state of Andhra Pradesh – which has a larger population than the UK.

TCS feels that the timing is right to hire a separate PR and Public Affairs firm to raise the profile of its expertise of running successful Government IT projects around the world. Fleishman Hillard look after TCS’s global PR and Public Affairs and Saffron Chase have been selected to support the company’s UK and Ireland public sector business drive.

Brian Woodford, TCS Director of Public Sector - UK & Ireland, said:

“There is an opportunity for TCS to become a serious player in the UK public sector. We have an unrivalled track record of delivering complex IT and business solutions globally and believe we can bring real value to deliver change in the UK public sector.”

Saffron Chase has built a strong reputation as a PR and Public Affairs firm that can help British and Indian businesses build a presence in each other’s markets, having worked with the likes of ICICI Bank and the Commonwealth Business Council.

Managing Director of Saffron Chase, Vikas Pota, who is about to launch a book on Indian entrepreneurs going global, said:

“We firmly believe that the subject of UK Government IT is ripe for a player to offer some genuine thought leadership. We need to show how TCS will not just offer solutions but will actually address the current and future challenges of the whole sector.”

“TCS has a lot to offer this debate because it has so much experience from around the world, particularly India. TCS has introduced IT systems in Indian states which, on their own, have a larger population than the whole of the UK and can be more complex given the diversity of the challenges in India.”

“Globalisation has frankly changed the rules of how companies operate around the world. Their expertise is open to everyone and anyone. As each country opens up to new ideas so must others if they’re to stay competitive. It is a very exciting time to do PR and Public Affairs across national boundaries.”

Saffron Chase is, today, delighted to welcome its new advisory board to improve its focus on developing the opportunities of globalisation.

Having already built a reputation as a PR and Public Affairs firm that has embraced globalisation, in
particular looking to the emerging economies for new business, Saffron Chase hopes the new board will
help it stay ahead of the curve in finding new opportunities in a fast changing world.

Having already helped Indian corporates such as ICICI Bank and Tata Consultancy Services break new
ground in the UK as well as promote the Commonwealth Business Council’s first ‘African Outsourcing
Summit’ it is no surprise to see that the names on the new Advisory Board have deep connections to India,
China and African countries.

The three members of the board are:

Alex Crossman – Head of Strategy & Communications for Global Markets at Deutsche Bank

Rita Payne – BBC World’s former Asia Editor and current Chair of the UK branch of the Commonwealth
Journalists Association.

Mark Kobayashi Hillary – Offshoring Director of the National Outsourcing Association and author of
eight books on globalisation.

Managing Director of Saffron Chase, Vikas Pota said:
“We’re excited by the opportunity of working with the new board and would like to welcome them to Saffron Chase. They have a unique combination of skills which enables us to have a first class understanding of the effects of globalisation on business, Governments, consumers and the media. We hope their objective perspectives and new ideas help us craft the best strategy for the next phase of our development.”

“We believe that the future of business will depend on how you take advantage of the opportunities that globalisation presents and particularly the rise of emerging economies such as India and China. With the counsel of our new board, Saffron Chase will look for innovative ways to widen our engagement in these markets.”

Alex Crossman said:
“Saffron Chase is open to ideas, which is why I believe my experience of growing an international institution in a dynamic sector can be leveraged effectively. It is exactly because Saffron Chase is embracing the fast changing world, particularly in these challenging times, that they will return exceptional results to their clients and why I’m delighted to join their Advisory Board.”

Rita Payne said:
“Global news is changing fast, with important stories from one part of the world increasingly becoming news in another. Our interdependence means we live in a better informed and connected world in which every story, every agenda, has an international dimension. Saffron Chase is at the cutting edge of media relations because they understand the borderless nature of news, which is why I’m looking forward to contributing towards their success.”

Mark Kobayashi - Hillary said:
“Quite simply, Saffron Chase gets globalisation. Whether it’s in relation to the IT industry where the challenge of communicating the huge value of off-shoring is central to the debate, or whether it’s championing the merits of a new international deal to tackle climate change.” “Saffron Chase’s ability to create campaigns that ensure a win-win for their clients in diverse places like India or the US, demonstrates their understanding of international issues. I’m pleased to join their Advisory Board as I believe I can help them further in developing an international client base.”


Saffron Chase has particularly raised the bar on how to help business make the most of the UK-India opportunity. It recently launched the India Briefing Centre which provides the first bespoke training courses for small and large firms needing an in depth understanding of the Indian political, economic, and cultural climate. It followed this up by setting up Chase India, the first UK-India public affairs company, giving firms a new joined up approach to lobby the Indian Government. Vikas Pota is currently, also, writing a book on Indian businesses going global.


Alex Crossman
Head of Strategy & Business Development, Global Markets Division, Deutsche Bank

Worldwide responsibility for strategy development, including financial planning, investor relations, marketing and brand management, and global government relations. Before this, Alex held editorial positions with the Financial Times, Euromoney Magazine and IFR Magazine.


Rita Payne
BBC World’s former Asia Editor and current chair of the UK branch of the Commonwealth Journalists Association

Rita spent 29 years at the BBC which included being Duty Editor and Presenter of South Asia Report on World Service Radio. She then moved to BBC World TV News in 1995 as Producer of Asia Today and was later promoted to Asia Editor. She held this position until her retirement in August 2008.


Mark Kobayashi Hillary
Offshoring Director of The National Outsourcing Association and author of several books on Globalisation.

Mark is a writer focused on globalisation and corporate issues. As well as being an author, journalist, consultant, commentator and speaker, he is also a visiting lecturer at London South Bank University and business mentor for the Prince’s Trust.

The Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), set up by former Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1997,
has outsourced its PR function to communications consultancy Saffron Chase.

The CBC, whose board includes powerful business leaders such as steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and Chairman of Rio Tinto Paul Skinner - was set up to be the voice of the Private Sector for Commonwealth Heads of Government to listen to.

The CBC brokers practical solutions between the private sector and Commonwealth nations – particularly developing economies - to stimulate investment and growth. With a series of ground breaking initiatives lined up, it has hired outside help to publicise the increasingly important role it is playing on the
world stage.

Over the next few months, the CBC is organising the first ever business conference for East African leaders as well as the first ever ‘Africa Outsourcing Summit’.

Director General of the CBC, Dr Mohan Kaul, said:
“Globalisation has made the CBC’s role in the world much more relevant. Companies are increasingly looking to expand and invest in new places and we have already thought long and hard about the best ways they can do this so there’s a win-win for everyone.”

“Now is the time for us to publicise the real difference we’re making in bridging the gap between the world’s developed and developing nations. We have a whole series of projects about to take off which will bring clean energy, profitable farming and new infrastructure to many Commonwealth countries from India to Tanzania to Uganda.”

“Saffron Chase’s years of expertise in publicising international initiatives to a truly global audience is exactly what we need. They’re very unique in that they have as many clients from developing economies as they do from developed world.”

Saffron Chase is a leading Communications consultancy for helping businesses in developed and emerging markets communicate and engage with each other. Their client list straddles the continents of North America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

Managing Director of Saffron Chase, Vikas Pota, said:
“Helping to raise awareness of the CBC’s initiatives will hopefully urge more businesses and organisations to back their schemes and help encourage investment and growth in some of the poorest nations.”

“It is crucial that we continue to build a bridge between the developed and emerging world. As the world becomes increasingly smaller we know that someone else’s problem can very quickly become ours. This is why we take pride in helping business and organisations communicate effectively across this divide.”

Global Legislators Organisation - Globe International - has hired London based, business communications firm - Saffron Chase for an international PR campaign to highlight the boundaries of an ambitious climate deal that is politically possible at the UN Copenhagen Climate Change Conference at the end of 2009 - dubbed the second Kyoto.

Globe International brings together senior legislators, businesses, economists and thought leaders from the G8+5 countries to form negotiated policy positions on a range of environment issues - from how to deal with peak oil to the effects of the credit crunch on climate change. This process shadows the formal negotiating process of international summits such as the G8 and G20 and aims to show that there can be agreement between leading legislators from different nations on new and radical solutions.

Secretary General of Globe, Adam Matthews said:
“It is crucial to start a PR drive through the international media, to highlight exactly where different countries are likely to make key trade-offs. We aim to politically and economically test these trade-offs to provide world leaders with the guidance and insight needed to inform their negotiations for the real deal.”

He added: “I know Saffron Chase has particular experience of dealing with the media in countries such as India and China. It is these nations which will in the end determine whether we have a deal which makes a real and lasting difference.”

Vikas Pota, Managing Director of Saffron Chase, said:
“With the world becoming increasingly interconnected and interdependent, international media organisations that reach far flung corners of our world have a greater role to play in any communications strategy. With an appetite for instant news, we’ve seen the coming of age of digital and internet media, which means that nations are devoting much more airtime to international news.”

He added: “If PR companies fully understand and tap into the global nature of media, I believe they can play a huge role in influencing global opinion on matters which need a global consensus, such as the environment.”

He concluded: “Global leaders like President Barack Obama, German Chancellor – Angela Merkel, British PM – Gordon Brown have backed Globe to push the boundaries and explore what a future international consensus on climate change looks like. I am delighted that Globe has selected Saffron Chase for its international PR drive.”

NOTES:

Globe has established three International Policy Commissions to test particular trade-offs and develop specific politically and economically tested recommendations for G20 leaders. The Commissions are: The International Commission on Land Use Change and Ecosystems, The International Commission on Climate and Energy Security and the International Commission on Economic and Population Growth. All three commissions comprise senior legislators from around the world who will negotiate and agree policy statements over the course of the year.

US President, Barack Obama said of Globe’s mission:
“I would like to commend the participants of the Globe G8+5 Legislator’s Forum on Climate Change. There is much work to be done, and I applaud you for your continuing efforts.”

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel added:
“Globe is a unique environmental forum in which parliamentarians from industrialized countries and the emerging economies get together with business leaders and scientists to develop proposals on how the world can cooperate beyond 2012.”

President of Globe, Elliot Morley MP said:
“Globe can be a guiding light to world leaders as they try to delicately negotiate their way to a climate deal. Our negotiated policy positions are tested and debated rigorously by legislators from the US to China to Brazil. We can show Governments around the world a path which has fewer obstacles than they may have previously feared.”

“Through our work, Governments will be put in a much stronger position to secure a deal at the G8 in Italy in July and the UN Climate change conference in Copenhagen later this year.”

For further information on Globe please visit http://www.globeinternational.org/

Saffron Chase, a leading communication consultancy for UK-India business, announced today that it will
provide a pro bono UK public affairs operation for Pratham - a charity dedicated to helping 100 million
illiterate Indian children with reading, writing and basic arithmetic.

Pratham started in the slums of Mumbai 15 years ago and now has operations in the UK, USA and the
Middle East. In 2000, the charity was named one of the top three development projects by the World
Bank. Recent donations to Pratham include $9 million by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as well as $2 million by Google org.

Saffron Chase will focus its public affairs operation on lobbying the Department for International
Development and UK business to help fund Pratham’s programmes. A parliamentary reception has already
been organised on 21st Jan to raise Pratham’s profile in the UK.

At the UK-India Summit in January 2008, the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh signed up to a partnership to fight global poverty. At the summit, Prime Minister Gordon
Brown announced that the Department for International Development (DFID) will spend £825 million
for development in India over the next three years, £500 million of which will be devoted to health and
education. This is further to the £1045 million DFID has given India in bilateral aid over the past five years.

Managing Director of Saffron Chase Vikas Pota, said:
“There is a unique bond between the UK and India which can benefit both our nations. Two way trade and investment is growing fast but we must do more to help each other. In a world which is growing smaller by the day I see India’s problems as the UK’s problems.

“It is unacceptable that millions of Indian children at primary school age do not know a single letter of the
alphabet. If Saffron Chase can bring this problem and Pratham’s successful solution to decision makers in
the UK then we’re playing our part in strengthening the UK-India bond.”

Reita Gadkari, Chair of the Pratham Ball Committee and UK Trustee said:
“Saffron Chase provides public affairs support for some major blue chip companies. I am delighted that
Pratham can tap into this high level of expertise to raise awareness of our plight to the very elite of UK
Government and business. The millions of Indian children who currently have no hope of a better future
deserve no less.”

The Pratham UK annual gala takes place at the Old Billingsgate market, London on November 15th. Last
years gala, which was attended by Ozwald Boateng, Meera Syal, Sanjeev Bhaskar, and the Queen of Bhutan, raised over £2 million. With this and other funds Pratham was able reach 21 million children by mobilising 400,000 volunteers in 350,000 Indian villages to help children and teachers.

Acknowledging Saffron Chase's India focus in Europe, The Chairman of the Left Front & West Bengal's State Secretary for the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Mr. Biman Bose attended a meeting convened with political analysts and influential commentators in London.

Vikas Pota said: "Given the political turmoil in India, we are pleased to be able to organise such a topical event with a leading player in Indian politics. Such outreach activities can help in explaining crucial decisions that in today's globalised world have impact beyond geographical borders."

At a time when UK – INDIA bilateral trade has increased over 15 % in the last year alone, Vikas Pota, Managing Director of Saffron Chase said: “These services are the first of their kind when it comes to helping UK companies do business in India. We have set the pace and I’m sure others will now follow.”

The two new services are:

India Briefing Centre

The first time UK companies can have bespoke training to help them conduct business in India – whether new to export or more experienced. It could be an overarching understanding of the business or political environment or it could be a sectoral understanding of say the ‘Indian ICT market.’ It could even be something really specific such as understanding Indian contract law. It will be the first service of its kind specifically tailored for a company’s needs and timing as lessons can last half a day or a full day.

The courses will run to the highest standards with teachers that include top UK and Indian experts from the field of business, academia and Government.

Chase India

The world’s first joint UK-Indian public affairs company. British companies increasingly need to lobby the Indian Government on liberalising their market at both state and federal level. Public affairs is still a relatively new industry in India. Chase India combines UK best practice and corporate governance with an Indian team on the ground with the right contacts. Chase India will have offices in London, Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai.

The Chairman is Mark Runacres. He was previously Deputy Chief of Mission at the British high Commission in New Delhi and Trade Director for Africa and South Asia at the former Department of Trade and Industry. He will be joined by Nitin Mantri and Nikhil Khanna, whose company Avian Media is an integral part of ‘Chase India.’ Avian Media currently manage the PR for companies such as ‘BAE Systems’ in India as well as the Punjab cricket team in the brand new Indian Premier league.


Vikas Pota, Managing Director of Saffron Chase added: “Doing business in India is like cracking a giant nut. Inside is the sweetest kernel. Today, we’re giving businesses the tools to get through the hard shell.”

Please click here to view full press release. (PDF)

Former Whitehall Press Officer Pallab Sarker today became Head of Communications of Saffron Chase. Most recently, Pallab was a senior press press officer at UK Trade & Investment working to Trade & Investment Minister Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham, former Director - General of the CBI.

Vikas Pota said: "Having Pallab on board gives us some serious firepower when we convince new clients to use our services. Through his experiences of working with several Government departments and Ministers, Pallab brings with him a wealth of experience. I'd like to welcome him to our team."

“Working to Digby was inspiring and fun. I was really touched by the personal advice he gave in helping me make the transition from Government to the private sector” PallabSarker said.

It was whilst accompanying Lord Jones to India alongside the Prime Minister’s visit to India in February this year that Pallab realised how the business relationship between the UK and India had turned a corner.

“I was sitting in the Taj Hotel in Delhi when Richard Branson, who was on the PM’s business delegation, strolled up and joined me for a cup of tea. You can imagine I was pretty shocked!

“But he started talking passionately about how the UK and India are natural partners. He made it clear that even though India was part of our past it was going to play an even greater role in our future.”

“On returning to the UK I knew the world had changed even more than I imagined. I immediately looked to join a company that was doing day to day business with the emerging economies.

“Saffron Chase seemed like the obvious choice for me. They’re so ahead of the curve when it came to the opportunities that India now offered their business."

Speaking at a premier event in London on 22nd April 2008, British Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown MP highlighted the work of Saffron Chase in his keynote address to 150 substantive business leaders.
Vikas Pota said: "I am grateful to the Prime Minister for recognising Saffron Chase as a company that is committed to strengthening the UK - India business relationship. The Prime Minister emphasised the need to engage India, wholeheartedly, in order to be successful in the global marketplace. At Saffron Chase, by working on challenging briefs and campaigns we've developed a fantastic suite of services based on our exposure of working with emerging giants from India."

Building on its specialism on India, Saffron Chase has developed a series of training programmes and briefings for businesses interested in India.

Vikas Pota said: “In recognition of the huge interest in India, we’ve built on and developed a range of training courses & briefings aimed at companies and senior executives who need to be better informed about various aspects of being successful in India.”

Please visit www.indiabriefingcentre.com for more details.

Recognising the need to tap global markets, Saffron Chase has invested in the establishment of offices in India under the auspices of a newly formed company called ‘Chase India’.

Explaining the reasons behind this move, Vikas Pota said: “In its own right, India is a huge market and one where we believe we can be successful. Given the increasingly international characteristic of business communications, our existing clients have encouraged us to take this huge step. They recognise the investment we’ve made in our processes and would naturally demand the same internationally benchmarked practices – which currently aren’t the norm in India. By selecting Chase India, our clients stand reassured that we understand the risks that they aren’t willing to take with their reputations”. www.chase-india.com

Saffron Chase has been selected to launch the India Infrastructure Finance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Government of India. Finance Minister, Mr Chidambaram will inaugurate the operations to an audience of stakeholders in London.

Vikas Pota said: “We are delighted to have been selected for this assignment. Our experience on India stands us in good stead to deliver an exceptional service to our Asian clients”.

Saffron Chase has been chosen by The Heathrow City Partnership, a regeneration company, to manage the PR launch of the first Indian acting academy in Europe.

Vikas Pota said: “Our focus on India coupled with our European capability has provided us with a competitive edge in understanding the relevance of an acting school in the UK for one of the world’s most demanding film industry. Our familiarity with Bollywood and the current interest in all things Indian are the key factors in being appointed for this campaign.

Fusion Condoms, a new entrant in the highly competitive market, have selected SC to coordinate their PR & marketing campaigns.

Vikas Pota said: “We’ve had enormous fun in pitching for this assignment. The Fusion team have recognised the Saffron Chase team as being creative, imaginative and able to think laterally in order to maximise their reach in a market dominated by one key brand”.

Globally reputed management consultancy – Accenture, appoint Saffron Chase for Healthcare in India seminar.

Vikas Pota said: “Despite being provided a tough brief by Accenture, I am pleased that our team have put together the content, logistics, and great entertainment for an event that their delegates are going to remember for a very long time”.

India’s largest telecom company select Saffron Chase to launch their ‘Trueroots’ calling service in the UK.

Vikas Pota said: “I am pleased to have the Tata’s entrust us with the launch of their first telecom offering in Britain. Our experience and understanding of the buying habits of Britain’s multicultural community are the primary reasons for our success”.

At a glittering ceremony in London, Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the 2012 Olympics, awarded Saffron Chase the 2006 ‘New Market Entrant’ in recognition of the success of its India Practice. The Judging Panel for the AAA Awards included eminent persons from business, politics and academia.

Vikas Pota said: “We’d like to convey our thanks to the judging panel for this accolade. Our India Practice provides British businesses with advisory services that have resulted in several of our clients reaping huge dividends in India. Our particular focus on mid-market companies and on certain industry sectors has proven advantageous in creating a offering that is unparalleled”.