Mumbai: The PRactice and ON PURPOSE have announced that they will come together under a new group structure, The PRactice Group, effective September 1, 2026. The two firms will continue to operate as independent brands while bringing their leadership and capabilities closer together to unlock growth opportunities and offer clients access to a broader range of expertise.
Girish Balachandran, Founder of ON PURPOSE, will take on the role of Group CEO of The PRactice Group, overseeing strategy, growth and client servicing across both firms. Nandita Lakshmanan will transition from her role as 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 is aimed at building an integrated communications group that brings together specialist capabilities, independent brands and leadership, while retaining the distinct identity of The PRactice and ON PURPOSE. The firms will collaborate where relevant, enabling clients to access complementary expertise across corporate reputation and social change communications.
As Founding Partner, Lakshmanan will continue to consult select clients while focusing on training and development and mentoring senior talent.
Commenting on the transition, 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.”
Balachandran, who founded ON PURPOSE and has led its growth over the last decade, will assume responsibility for the overall strategy and growth of both companies in his expanded role.
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 PRactice has also strengthened its leadership team with three senior appointments. Sabah Kazi has been appointed Vice President, based in Mumbai; Bala Krishnan joins as Vice President, based in Bengaluru; and Sudipta Das has been appointed Group Account Director, based in Delhi.
Zach James, Managing Partner, The PRactice Group, said, “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.”
Rishi Seth, Managing Partner, The PRactice Group, said, “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.”
The PRactice Group will formally begin operations under the new structure from September 1, 2026, with the two brands continuing to operate independently.
