Top 16 PR Professionals in India: Industry Leaders to Follow in 2026

Public relations in India has matured rapidly: from media relations and events to reputation science, data-led measurement, and integrated digital comms. Whether you’re a founder looking for agency counsel, a student exploring PR careers, or a marketer hunting for thought leaders, following the right people helps you spot trends, case studies and practical advice. Below are 15 authentic PR and communications leaders , agency founders, in-house chiefs and industry voices , who are widely respected in the Indian communications ecosystem in 2026.

1. Akshata Singh

Akshata Singh is a communications and public relations professional associated with PressRelease.in, where she focuses on media outreach, content distribution and brand visibility. She studied at Mumbai University and brings a strong foundation in media strategy and PR execution to her role.

2. Kunal Kishore — Founder & CEO, Value 360 / PRCAI leader

Kunal Kishore is a veteran tech & corporate PR leader and founder of Value 360 Communications, a leading PR and integrated communications firm in India. He’s known for building specialist tech, start-up and brand reputation practices and for industry leadership through PR bodies.

3. Rana Barua — Group CEO, Havas India (Advertising & Communications)

Rana Barua is an influential advertising and communications leader whose work spans agency leadership, brand strategy and cross-market expansion in India and South/SE Asia. He’s a frequent industry commentator on integrated brand + PR strategy.

4. Rahul Mehta — CEO, Media Mantra (and industry jury/panelist)

Rahul Mehta is a senior leader in media and PR services, frequently seen on industry juries and lists; he heads Media Mantra and is noted for growth-oriented PR and digital communications offerings.
Follow: Industry pages / profiles.

5. Shipra Singh — Communications Leader (Healthcare / Corporate)

Shipra Singh has deep experience in healthcare and corporate communications across consultancies and in-house leadership roles. She’s known for crisis management, stakeholder advocacy and enterprise communications.

6. Shivaram Lakshminarayan — Senior Comms Leader / Agency Head

Shivaram (Shivaram Lakshminarayan) is recognised in industry watchlists and is known for leading strategic corporate communications practices, especially in B2B and enterprise tech.

7. Khushboo Mehra — Brand & Communications Lead (consumer brands)

Khushboo Mehra appears on trade lists of communications professionals to watch; she’s associated with brand-side communications at major consumer businesses and contributes thought leadership on brand storytelling.

8. Shivalika Chadha Malik — Senior Comms / Brand Strategist

Shivalika is a recognized communications professional featured in industry roundups; her experience spans brand comms, influencer advocacy and integrated campaigns.

9. Ranjini Chalam — Communications Head / Brand-side Leader

Ranjini Chalam is featured among communications professionals to watch for her role in corporate and consumer communications, particularly in retail and lifestyle brands.

10. Anu Ranjan — Founder, GRM (PR & Media Communications) | Founder, Indian Television Academy

Anu Ranjan is one of India’s most respected PR veterans with over three decades of experience in media relations, celebrity PR, brand reputation, and corporate communications. She is the founder of GRM, one of India’s earliest professional PR agencies.

11. Divya Jain — Communications & PR Expert (recognized in industry lists)

Divya Jain has been recognised by Reputation Today / Exchange4media lists for contributions to corporate communications and PR practice; she’s known for strategic counsel for brands and thought leadership.

12. Richa Gopal Shrotriya — Senior Partner / Agency Leadership

Richa Gopal Shrotriya is a senior agency partner featured on industry juries and award panels, working across corporate communications and counsel for large clients.

13. Diana Fernandes — Founder / Agency Leader (boutique PR and creative PR)

Diana Fernandes (and peers like her) are named in industry rosters and are notable for creative PR, influencer campaigns and niche agency growth. She’s recognized among PR practitioners shaping modern comms practice.

14. Nawal Ahuja — Co-founder, exchange4media (media & industry platform leader)

Nawal Ahuja is a notable industry figure as co-founder of exchange4media, a major trade platform for communications, marketing and media , a key voice who shapes and curates PR & comms conversations.

15. Rohit Ohri — Senior Advertising & Communications Leader (culture and creative)

Rohit Ohri (advertising veteran) leads agency and culture-focused consultancies; while his background is advertising, his influence on brand communications, creative leadership and reputation strategy is significant for PR pros watching integrated storytelling.

16. Prasanto K. Roy — Strategic Communications & Public Policy (tech & public policy comms)

Prasanto K. Roy (PKR) works at the intersection of tech, policy and communications , a useful follow for PR practitioners tracking public policy, tech regulation and stakeholder comms in India.

Conclusion

Follow a mix of agency founders (for tactics and pitching), in-house chiefs (for measurement, stakeholder comms and employer branding), and industry platform leaders (for trends, awards and conference learning). The 15 names above give you a balanced cross-section of the Indian PR ecosystem in 2026: strategic counsel, creative campaigns, policy-adjacent comms and brand-side execution.