Mumbai: MSLGROUP India?s Hanmer MSL, Publicis Groupe?s flagship Public Relations, speciality communications and engagement group and the largest Public Relations and social media network in India, has been awarded Agency of the Year by Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) Chanakya Awards 2012. A prestigious award that recognizes excellence and innovation in communications, the accolade was presented at the Global PR Conclave yesterday at the Trident Hotel, Mumbai.

Commenting on the award, Jaideep Shergill, CEO, Hanmer MSL, said, ?On behalf of my colleagues at Hanmer MSL, I would like to thank the PRCI for this honour. We are truly proud of this achievement. An ?Agency of the Year? award is especially sweet and this is recognition of our agency?s boundless creativity and best-in-class, integrated communications expertise. Congratulations to our talented team, and we look forward to supporting our clients? businesses in 2012 with further award-winning work.?

The ?Agency of the Year? award follows a string of accolades for Hanmer MSL?s campaigns including Star Plus, Au Bon Pain, DSC Jaipur Literary Festival and Bonjour India at last year?s Big Bang Awards. Hanmer MSL also announced over half a dozen new clients in December of last year including HISTORY (A+E Networks & TV18 JV), NEO Sports, Biocon, CREDAI Bengaluru, BOC India Limited, HTC Corporation and SBI General Insurance.

2011 also saw a string of thought-leadership content from Hanmer MSL, including the well received Anna Hazare: A Hanmer MSL analysis of the mass movement against corruption in India and its use of public relations tools and techniques to Understanding the Public Relations Industry in India: Challenges, Opportunities & 2012 Outlook, which has paved the way for an open and transparent debate on the future of the industry. As Agency of the Year, Hanmer MSL will look to drive innovative, integrated client solutions such as India?s first Brand and Talent practice which the agency launched in 2011, in partnership with sister agency Saatchi & Saatchi Focus as well as building its award-winning digital and social media practice.

Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) is one of India?s largest communities of public relations, communication and media professionals, and academicians. It engages in providing training, setting standards of professional excellence, and upholds principals of ethics. As a leading voice in the industry, PRCI advocates for greater understanding and adoption of public relations services.