Avian WE


Avian WE is a public relations company based in New Delhi, India. The company was founded in 2004 by executive chairman Nikhil Khanna. Khanna and Group CEO Nitin Mantri, who joined in 2006, together built Avian into India's second largest independent communication consultancy. They have been supported by a management team comprising Manash Neog, Co-Founder and Director of Avian's public affairs subsidiary Chase, and Neha Mehrotra, National PR Head, who are with the firm since its inception.
In March 2018, WE, a Seattle-based public relations firm often associated with its largest client, Microsoft, made a strategic investment in Avian Media. WE Communications India and Avian Media merged and is now called Avian WE. Chase retained its separate branding under the ownership of Avian WE.

History

Avian WE, then Avian Media, was founded by Nikhil Khanna in Delhi in 2004. The company started operations from an apartment in New Delhi with two employees and two clients; Airbus, still with Avian WE, and Sona Koyo Steering.
In 2006, Nitin Mantri joined the company as CEO. Mantri is also the President of the Public Relations Consultants Association of India and the Vice-President of International Communications Consultancy Organisation. The same year, the Mumbai office was established. Mumbai currently has 44 employees servicing 12 clients, including McDonald's, Sony, BBC Earth, Tourism Australia and Qatar, in western India. In 2007, the Bengaluru and Hyderabad offices were set up, followed by the Chennai office in 2009. Currently, Avian's South India offices have 10 employees and service six clients. In 2014, Avian set up its Pune office.
In 2009, Nitin Mantri and Nikhil Khanna founded Chase India to work on public policy mandate for Indian and multinational companies.

Culture

Avian WE has a reputation for fostering a positive and productive work environment. It was named the Best National Consultancy to Work for in India by The Holmes Report in 2016. It received the Great Place to Work certification in 2017.
As of May 2018, Avian WE employs more than 200 professionals, around 150 of whom come from Avian, in offices located in six Indian cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune.
Avian also conducts an annual award function to recognise the contribution of employees from all the six locations called ACE Awards. The event has a melange of nominated categories such as 'new professional of the year', 'campaign of the year', 'team of the year' and more.

Services

Avian WE has three areas of expertise: technology, health and consumer and provides PR, public affairs, digital content, editorial, content development, corporate social responsibility, crisis management, financial and corporate training services to over 80 companies.
In 2013, Avian WE roped in Palin Ningthoujam to head its digital and content practice which was later branded as Experiential Digital and Content in 2016. EXPD's services include social media, content, video, graphic design, media buying, and development, with clients across private and government sector, including NITI Aayog, a think tank of the Government of India.

Accomplishments