The PRactice and ON PURPOSE unite as The PRactice Group

The PRactice and ON PURPOSE today announced that they are coming together under The PRactice Group. While the two firms will continue to work as independent brands, the new structure will help unlock the strengths and growth potential of both firms by bringing their leadership and capabilities closer together. Girish Balachandran will become Group CEO of The PRactice Group. Nandita Lakshmanan will transition from CEO of The PRactice to Founding Partner of The PRactice Group. Zach James and Rishi Seth will continue as Managing Partners of The PRactice Group. The new structure will take effect on 1 September 2026.

The PRactice Group is being built as a future-forward integrated communications group, bringing together specialist capabilities, independent brands and strong leadership. The common Group structure will allow the two firms to work together when relevant, giving clients access to a broader range of expertise without diluting what makes either firm distinctive.

Nandita Lakshmanan will transition from her day-to-day role as CEO of The PRactice to Founding Partner. In her role as Founding Partner, Nandita will continue to consult select clients, while focusing more on training and development, and mentoring senior talent.

Girish Balachandran, Founder, ON PURPOSE, takes over as Group CEO of both The PRactice and ON PURPOSE Girish has had a stellar run in creating ON PURPOSE over the last decade. In his expanded role, Girish will lead strategy and growth for both companies and oversee client servicing.

 As part of strengthening the leadership at The PRactice, the firm announced a slew of senior appointments. Senior leadership members announced today are:

• Sabah Kazi, Vice President (Based in Mumbai)
• Bala Krishnan, Vice President (Based in Bengaluru)
• Sudipta Das, Group Account Director, (Based in Delhi)

Nandita Lakshmanan, Founding Partner, The PRactice Group, said “This is not an incremental change. It reflects an ambitious growth mindset that Zach James and Rishi Seth have stood for. It also underscores our conviction that the right structure creates space for the right talent to lead both firms to success in these dynamic times. Girish brings a genuinely refreshing approach to building the modern-day public relations consultancy, and I am excited to see what The PRactice Group builds next.”

Girish Balachandran, the new Group CEO, commented “This is a pivotal moment for our industry. The coming together of The PRactice and ON PURPOSE represents the future of modern reputation and purpose-led communications that unlock business value. In my expanded role as Group CEO, I am excited to work alongside Nandita, Zach and Rishi to realize the synergies between our complementary strengths in corporate reputation and social change communications and build a model that is resilient, impactful, and truly future-ready.”

“The value of a Group is not in how many firms sit under its name, but in what those firms can achieve together for clients. We believe that is what will define the next generation of independent communications groups. By combining the complementary strengths of The PRactice and ON PURPOSE with stronger leadership across levels, we are building a more relevant, resilient and future-ready communications business.” Said, Zach James, Managing Partner, The PRactice Group.

“Really excited with the alignment at The PRactice and ON PURPOSE. Indian Founders are coming of age in leading the communications industry, and I am really happy to be a part of this journey. The last two years have been a great learning experience for me to work with Nandita, one of the finest leaders in the industry. Am happy that we will continue to benefit from her experience. At the same time, I am excited to work with Girish in helping us grow faster and expand our portfolio of services.” Said, Rishi Seth, Managing Partner, The PRactice Group.