Leadership Tables Rank Business Leaders at the Top in the Year 2013 - Ketchum's 2013 Leadership Communication Monitor Reveals Interesting Findings

MUMBAI, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

• IT, Telecom and Automotive Sectors are Seen to Demonstrate More Effective Leadership Compared to Other Sectors
• Technology, Telecom and Entertainment Sectors are Seen Communicating More Effectively as Compared to Other Sectors
• Young leaders Aged 18 to 34 are Considered as More Likely to Navigate Through the Upcoming Years

In the year 2013, Indian business leaders are the most effective leaders in the country across categories covering  political, business, non-profit organisations, local community, and union leaders/leaders of labour organizations as per the Ketchum's 2013 Leadership Communication Monitor study. 

As per the findings of Ketchum's 2013 Leadership Communication Monitor for India:

• Business leaders are seen as the most effective with 49 % (8% increase since 2012) of Indians rating business leadership as excellent. This is in line with global trends which rank business people as the most effective leaders.
• Leaders of non-profit organizations rank high at no. 2 with 33%, followed by local community leaders at 28%, political leaders & Union leaders/leaders of labour organizations at 27%.
• As compared to 21% of global citizens, Indian consumers (52%) have more confidence in business leaders moving into 2013. Indian business leaders are nearly on par with expectations, as their performance often matches consumer expectations as compared to other global counterparts.

According to Ajay Sharma, Managing Partner, Ketchum Sampark Pvt. Ltd, "The Ketchum Sampark Leadership Communication Monitor was launched last year, to study trends in effective leadership across various spheres - political, corporate, religious or community-based. We have received an encouraging response to our annual study that examines attitudes to today's leadership in India, and explores the fundamental role of communication in informing and delivering the same."

He further added, "The current year's findings are similar to last year, as people continue to show more confidence in Business leaders Vs Policy makers, as effective leaders who help the country steer through economic uncertainty."

Other findings of the study include:

• India, more than any other country, thinks that the technology industry demonstrates effective leadership (62%, compared to 43% globally). They are also much more likely than others to feel that banks (54%) demonstrate effective leadership (28% globally).
• Unlike many other nations, Indians are just as likely to be influenced positively by company's leadership as they are to be influenced negatively. In the past year, 56% of Indians have purchased less of a company's products and services and 57% have purchased a company's products and services for the first time based on the behavior of a company's leadership.
• The majority of Indians (66%) feel that leaders aged 35 to 50 are most likely to navigate through challenging and rapidly changing times over the coming 3 to 5 years. However, 22% of Indians (more than any other country) feel that millennial leaders aged 18 to 34 are most likely to navigate through the upcoming years (10% globally).
• Within the business community, knowledge-based industries were perceived as communicating more effectively. Ranked highest on leadership effectiveness was technology, with a 65 % approval rating, followed by Entertainment (62%) and Telecom (58%). Banks rank fourth in the poll with 57%. Media ranks fifth with 55% and Hospitality ranks sixth with 54%. Mining is at the bottom of the rankings with 38%.
• Print media ranks the highest on credible media to build leadership with a score of 42% followed by TV media at 39%. Globally, though TV and print media have slid in rankings to 3rd and 4th respectively with press releases and televised speeches ranking higher as credible media. Although it decreased by 7 percentage points from 2012 to 2013, In-person contact continues to be the most credible source at 43% when forming opinions about leaders. 
• Facebook continues to be a pleasant surprise. Facebook with a score of 38 % is marginally behind print (42%) and broadcast media 39%). This is in sharp contrast to global rankings where Facebook scores low at 17% and no 10 in the rankings.

About Ketchum Sampark:

Ketchum Sampark is an independent strategic communication consulting firm set up to assist in image enhancement of corporations and provide clients with a wide range of services for the expanding Indian market including public relations, crisis management, marketing communications, special events planning and assistance.

Founded in 1994 by communication specialists Bela Rajan and N. S. Rajan, Ketchum Sampark employs more than 100 professionals across 7 offices in India (Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad). Ketchum Sampark also has a network of more than 80 associate offices extending throughout the country.

After being a preferred partner of Ketchum Inc., one of the top 3 global public relations agencies operating in more than 50 countries, Ketchum (part of Omnicom's Diversified Agency Services (DAS) division), in early 2011 acquired a majority stake in Sampark P R Pvt. Ltd. The joint alliance is now Ketchum Sampark Pvt. Ltd.

For more information, visit www.ketchumsampark.com

Primary Media Contact: Kevin Braganza, [email protected], 91-22-40425528

Secondary Media Contact: Shivangi Jadhav, [email protected], 91-22-40425523