Saurabh Wahi, Group Vice President, MWW Group
As a driving force behind MWW's relationship with flagship consumer client Nikon, Wahi has successfully altered public perception of the brand once seen as "too expensive"
through multifaceted campaigns, while increasing market share and camera sales. He also directed Nikon's Four to the Floor Tour, which encompassed five urban markets and showcased
the brand and its new products (such as Nikon's Coolpix S51C0) in events featuring live music and top DJs/producers. Partly as a result of Wahi's efforts, Time magazine
named the Nikon Coolpix as the second "Best Invention of the Year," following the iPhone.
Pied Piper of the Younger Set
One of Wahi's specialties is his canny ability to tap into the youthful pulse for Nikon products. For Nikon's Coolpix Style digital cameras, Wahi oversaw a campaign that
leveraged pop culture through associations with supermodel Kate Moss, couture designer Zac Posen, the smash reality show Project Runway and VH1's Save the Music Foundation.
The catchy media bits nabbed 1,000 million impressions in prestigious lifestyle publications, and a 32% increase in Nikon Coolpix Style series camera sales.
Social Media Phenom
Like many other visionary PR professionals, Wahi has incorporated social media tools to drive revenue and generate coverage for Nikon. When research showed that a majority of
Nikon's target audience was spending as much time blogging and sharing photos online as they did with traditional media, Wahi played a key role in orchestrating a program that
built relationships with the top 100 most influential bloggers for Nikon. What resulted was a 700% increase in blog mentions of Nikon, in addition to a 225% increase in search
engine referrals and an average of 500 blog mentions a day.
Honorable Mentions
Huma Gruaz, Founder, Alpaytac
Gruaz's dedication to her agency's founding client, Shark Euro-Pro, is clear in her efforts to market one of their latest innovations, the Shark Steam Mop. Acting as PR counsel
and spokesperson, Gruaz has contributed to Shark Euro-Pro's success, carving out a niche for the Shark Steam Mop in a cluttered marketplace.
Gail Heimann, Co-President, Global Consumer Marketing, & President, New York office, Weber Shandwick
A celebrated communications veteran, Heimann's client roster reads like a who's who in consumer packaged goods, technology and nonprofit organizations. Working with companies
such as Microsoft, Unilever, KFC and MAC Cosmetics, Heimann consistently delivers campaigns that capture attention and alter behavior.