Valerie Pinto to take over as India CEO of Weber Shandwick

Valerie Pinto, formerly CEO, Perfect Relations will join Weber Shandwick as CEO of the firm’s India Operations in the first week of January. Valerie will also be on the Asia Pacific board of Weber Shandwick and part of the India leadership council along with Vice Chairman, Weber Shandwick India, Atul Ahluwalia

Valerie told PRmoment India that, “Weber has a brilliant team in the country and will be adding significantly more people at the senior level as well as to the India leadership council.

The Council will currently also include managing director of client services, Dilip Yadav; deputy managing director, Carolina Bajaj, and executive vice president, operations, Mabel Phoon who will all report to Pinto. Yadav is also Managing Director, India of Weber Shandwick’s second brand, Creation.

Valerie, who will report to APAC chairman Tim Sutton, and will work along with Atul Ahluwalia but not under him, will be responsible for growing the India operations.

Sutton said: “In the last few months, I have spoken to very many senior people in India – at agencies and clients, in media and business - for advice on the very best person to take our business in India tothe next stage of market leadership. It was quite remarkable how many of them put Valerie at the very top of their ‘recommendation list’.  She is a class act with a legendary reputation.

“She had many other options at this stage of her career, including running her own business, and I am so thrilled that our vision and ambition have persuaded her to join Weber Shandwick.  This appointment signals our absolute determination to become the market leader in India.