Aniq Zafar – CEO, CRS Public Relations

Aniq Zafar, CEO                       CRS Public Relations

Aniq Zafar is the CEO and President of the Islamabad headquartered CRS Public Relations agency. He comes from a background in Journalism as a Reporter for the ‘Pakistan Times’ from 1993-95. Later he joined hands with Husain Haqqani, another Pakistani journalist, and together in 1996 they started Communications Research Strategies (CRS).

CRS is a PR agency with offices in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi and a lean but experienced team. Their areas of service include media relations, issue management, event management, event management, corporate productions, corporate communications and media monitoring.

CRS is particularly known in the PR industry for it public and government sector experience other than its select corporate portfolio. CRS has been consulting on national image related subjects as well as regarding the current regional security and national interest related matters. One of their recent productions includes a TV drama titled ‘Faseel e Jaan se Aagey’. This production is a joint project of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) and CRS. ISPR is the official spokesperson organization for Pakistan’s military forces. This national drama depicts the true stories of brave Pakistanis including civilians, civil law enforcement agencies and Pakistan Military Forces who demonstrated resilience, loyalty and sacrifice during the insurgency in Swat in Northern Pakistan.

Aniq is a graduate of the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad from the 1988-1990 batch. He is now in the PR consulting business for almost 15 years.

Journalism and Advertising Veteran Javed Ansari joins Corporate and Marketing Communications Pvt. Limited as the VP & COO

Javed Ansari joins CMC (Pvt.) Limited as the VP and COO

Karachi, 2010: World renowned PR Network-Ketchum’s exclusive affiliates in Pakistan, CMC (Pvt.) Ltd. has announced the appointment of Javed Ansari as Vice President & Chief Operating Officer.

Javed will be responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of all activities pursued by CMC in Pakistan, but with special emphasis on public relations and image marketing.

Before joining CMC, he was serving as Senior Creative Director at Leo Burnett Pakistan (Manhattan Communications (Pvt.) Ltd.), the Pakistan affiliate of Leo Burnett Worldwide. He brings to his new position rich experience in advertising and journalism spanning over 3 decades. He is one among a few people in Pakistan who combine active careers in both advertising and journalism.

“I warmly welcome Javed Ansari to CMC and we look forward to immensely benefiting from his vast experience and professional dedication in driving the company forward,” remarked Syed Jawaid Iqbal, President & CEO, CMC (Pvt). Ltd., on appointment of the company COO.

CMC (Pvt). Ltd. is one of Pakistan’s leading image marketing and communications agencies and Ketchum’s exclusive affiliate in Pakistan. Ketchum ranks among the largest global public relations agencies, operating in more than 65 countries.

CMC maintains offices in Karachi and Islamabad that offer a full portfolio of public relations, community development, strategic counseling, crisis management, government lobbying, media management, behavioral change communication and public policy services.

It is the only PR agency in Pakistan with equally strong advertising and publishing wings. Leveraging the power of its comprehensive range of capabilities, CMC serves a roster of some of the world’s leading companies, including Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Microsoft, Emirates Airlines, ICI,  British High Commission, Barclays, Dubai Islamic Bank, IMC (Toyota), Samba, NCR, Teradata, PSO, KESC, among others.

Burson-Marsteller resigns Pakistan’s Public Relations Contract

Burson-Marsteller is a global Public Relations firm that had signed Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the ruling political party of Pakistan, lobbying contract in March 2008 after the Pakistan People’s Party won the elections and came to power.

CEO Mark Penn of Burson-Marsteller recently resigned account of lobbying and managing Pakistan’s country and political image amongst the American politicians, media people and the affluent. The contract terms also included research contribution from Mark Penn’s market research firm called Penn, Schoen, Berland & Associates of which Penn is also the President.

Burson-Marsteller says that since March the PR agency had not undertaken any assignment for the Pakistani Government and that the PR agency was in the process of documenting the resignation process.

It is also noteworthy that Penn was ousted as the head strategist of the Hillary Clinton election campaign team and says that the Clinton owes him campaign fee (over USD. 5 million) that has been mutually agreed for clearance.

Secretary of State-elect Hillary Clinton would have to manage relationships with Pakistan and India and with the following resignation of the Pakistan account after Penn’s ouster from the Hillary camp new questions have emerged on the dynamics of the relationship and most of all who shall pick up the Pakistani account and what relationship would the new company enjoy with the new Secretary of State.

The full story may be read at POLITICO.COM (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16827.html)