Google has handed PR duties for its consumer and enterprise units to Genesis Burson-Marsteller.
Genesis B-M secures the business following a competitive review. It is understood that Google has previously worked with 20:20 MSL in the country.
The assignment covers Google’s products for both the consumer and business markets, aside from YouTube, which is overseen by Perfect Relations. The latter firm also handles Google’s corporate PR brief.
The web giant has faced numerous challenges in India, particularly in terms of its government relations. The country’s Competition Commmission is currently investigating Google for alleged anti-competitive practices. India’s Consumer Unit & Trust Society believes that Google is potentially misusing a dominant position in online search and search-related advertising markets.
It is thought that Google requires a more proactive approach to its public relations, bearing in mind public affairs issues such as these. While the company is the dominant player in terms of online search, it is hoping to broaden its cloud services offering, versus key rival Microsoft.
Google’s consumer and enterprise business also includes its mobile, Android and Google+.
Google India corporate comms head Paroma Roy Chowdury did not respond to request for comment, while representatives from Genesis B-M declined to comment.