Atul Ahluwalia

Founding Partner

A key proponent of innovation and creativity, Atul has been the brain behind some of the most famous and award-winning public relations campaigns in India. With more than three decades of consulting experience, Atul has designed extensive campaigns that have received wide recognition, including the United Nations Grand Prize for PR Excellence, IPRA Golden World Award, Asia Pacific SABRE Awards, Gold and Silver awards in the Media Lions Category at the Cannes, Government Relations Gold Standard Award by the Public Affairs Asia Forum, Sabre Award for Best Campaign in India Subcontinent, among others. Prior to co-founding First Partners, Atul worked with Weber Shandwick for over two decades and was designated Vice-Chairman of India operations at the time of his departure from the company.

Atul has been the Founding Member of Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI), and Chairman of the Constitutional and Advisory Committee of PRCAI. Atul has been inducted into the Comms News Hall-of-fame and bestowed with IPRCCA Lifetime Achievement Award by Exchange 4 Media in 2023. Earlier, he was also named PR Professional of the Year (Agency) by IPRCCA in 2011. He has also been part of several juries for award programmes organised by Sabre South Asia, IPRCCA, as well as the Global Head of Jury for a category of Stevies Awards.

Dilip Yadav

Founding Partner

In a career spanning over 25 years, Dilip has held senior management positions at global consultancies, has guided business leaders of Fortune 100 companies on communications-related issues, built award-winning public opinion campaigns and helped accelerate startups. Dilip specialises in media, marketing and corporate communications. Public relations campaigns designed and led by him have won coveted global and Indian awards.

Prior to co-founding First Partners, Dilip worked with Weber Shandwick for two decades and was the Managing Director, Client Services India as well as the Managing Director for Creation, India (later rechristened as Current Global) at the time of his departure.

Dilip has been a certified media and crisis management trainer and has coached country leaders at large organisations.

Dilip is an MBA in marketing and also holds a Master's degree in Statistics, a Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Public Relations and a Bachelor's degree in Law.

Dilip has consistently featured among the 100 Most Influential Communication Leaders in India shortlisted by Exchange4Media and Reputation Today.

Santanu Gogoi

Founding Partner

Santanu is a seasoned professional with over 22 years of experience in PR and communications. He has spearheaded numerous campaigns that have not only bolstered brand reputations, but also cultivated robust corporate narratives for leading corporates, including Fortune 500 companies. His work has spotlighted critical issues for public discourse and he has deftly managed complex crisis situations for prominent organisations.

Before co-founding First Partners, he spent over 12 years at Weber Shandwick India, where he was Vice-President, Corporate Practice. He has witnessed from close quarters the evolution in the PR and communications realm in India and has been feted for his outstanding contributions, being named one of the top-100 influential gamechangers in 2022.

Currently, Santanu holds the position of 'National Chair, Learning and Thought Leadership' in the Executive Committee of PRCAI (Public Relations Consultants Association of India), the largest PR consultancy industry body in the country. Santanu has also been an integral part of award-winning campaigns at SABRE, IPRCCA and Fulcrum Awards. He holds a Master's Degree in English from Delhi University and resides in Gurugram with his wife and two daughters.