MTN hires PR agency in India

South African telecom giant MTN, currently negotiating a potential amalgamation deal with Anil Ambani-led RCom, has hired Avian Media, a communications consultancy, to help manage its media relations in India.

While Avian Media, whose clients include aircraft maker Airbus and global majors like BAE Systems and Porsche, is understood to be working with MTN for past couple of months on certain other services, now it has been mandated as a facilitator between Indian media and Johannesburg-based firm.

MTN and RCom on announced extending their exclusive negotiations for a possible deal till July 21, after the earlier 45-day exclusivity agreement expired yesterday.

Avian Media is a specialist communications consultancy focused mainly on travel, hospitality, auto, infrastructure, defence and technology sectors.

Its clients include Airbus, IATA, SIXT India, Iron Port, SKF, Sona Group, IHG, BAE Systems, TotalFinalElf India, Yatra Online, Porsche, Dunhill and Escada with mandates like media outreach programmes, strategic counsel, corporate PR and planning and conceptualisation of international communication.