Welcome to Earned First

Official release here

I'm glad to share that I'm joining the PRomise Foundation as CEO, to oversee the global expansion of an organization that is best known for its acclaimed PRAXIS community platform. I have long admired founders' Amith Prabhu and Roshan Alexander's values and homegrown spirit, so I'm thoroughly invigorated to be joining forces with them.

As part of this collaboration, we will launch 'Earned First' as a media and events community for PR and corporate affairs professionals across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. In addition to operating The PRomise Foundation’s events and properties outside India, Earned First will serve as an essential voice for PR markets across these regions and beyond, providing industry analysis, research/consulting, thought leadership, news/podcasts and peer networking.

For decades, our regions have largely been understood through the lens of New York or London, but the pace of global disruption provides a unique opportunity for the rest of the world to demonstrate why it is a crucial source of innovation, creativity and cultural intelligence for the global PR and communications sector.

Building on The PRomise Foundation’s Indian roots and homegrown success, our expansion kicks off with several events that aim to elevate, inspire and foster community, including:

• 🇦🇪 The Huddle Communication Conclave in Dubai on May 21 – benchmarking and recognising the MENA region’s best in-house communication teams.
• 🇱🇰 An exclusive Global PR Retreat in Colombo in August
• 🇸🇬 The first overseas edition of PRAXIS on October 14 in Singapore

As you can imagine, there will be plenty more to come. In addition to working alongside the fabulous PRomise Foundation team, I'm looking forward to continuing my 20+ year collaboration with a global community that has provided me with invaluable backing, advice and encouragement throughout.

There are far too many names to mention, but all of you deserve my most sincere gratitude, not least the Folgate Advisors, LWSTD-FM and Asian Communications Network families that will continue to receive my wholehearted support 💙 And I will remain involved with my various other initiatives, including the Institute for Public Relations and the Asia-Pacific Association of Communication Directors.

📸 The photo above comes from last week's enthralling ACN event, which provided yet more proof of how conclusively the global world order is being redrawn. There is no question that these shifts are significantly reshaping the public relations world, raising fundamental questions about its continued progress and evolution.

Those of you that know me are probably well aware that I'm not exactly prone to unbridled excitement. But, if anything, the current turbulence only strengthens my conviction in both the critical value of public relations, and the importance of a movement that rebalances its global narrative.

Ultimately, our shared community is built on the enduring truth that underpins the resilience and vibrancy of our regions: trust, influence and reputation must be 'earned first'. Let's see what we can build together 🤩