Adfactors PR, India’s largest public relations firm, takes a majority stake in one of Australia’s leading consultancies, combining reputation, critical issues advisory and change communications across Asia Pacific.
Mumbai, India/Melbourne, Australia – 20th August 2026: Adfactors PR, India’s largest reputation and critical issues advisory has acquired a majority stake in SenateSHJ, one of Australia’s most successful independent communication consultancies.
The transaction brings together two independent firms with complementary strengths, beliefs, a shared commitment to outstanding work and a common ambition to help their clients navigate reputation, stakeholder issues and change in an increasingly complex environment.
SenateSHJ will retain its identity, client teams under the leadership of Co-founder and Chair Angela Scaffidi AM and Chief Executive Officer Darren Behar. The business will continue to operate from its offices in Sydney and Melbourne. Chief Executive Officer of Adfactors PR, Nijay N. Nair, who also leads all M&A and global initiatives, will join the SenateSHJ board.
Mr Madan Bahal, Co-founder & Managing Director, Adfactors PR, said, “SenateSHJ is a formidable business with an outstanding reputation, exceptional leadership and proven expertise in solving complex communication challenges. There is a strong alignment in the way our two organisations think about the world, clients, people and the role we can play in shaping the future.
India and Australia are emerging as a strategic business corridor, and we trust the new partnership will help clients in both markets to create new opportunities in the wider Asia Pacific region. We hope to explore more opportunities in the region to create a strong Asia Pacific presence.”
Mr Rajesh Chaturvedi, Co-founder and Chairman, Adfactors PR, said, “We have had the privilege of serving India Inc. for the last 29 years through many cycles in the global and domestic business environment. I am happy that with this new partnership our relationship capital will expand to a significant market like Australia.”
Ms. Angela Scaffidi AM, Co-founder and Chair, SenateSHJ, said, “We’re incredibly proud of the business SenateSHJ has become over the past 24 years – our people, the work we do and our relationships with clients. We have built a relationship of deep trust with Adfactors PR over the past decade. We feel a deep connection to the way they think and feel about the world, their people and the work they do with clients. There is strong alignment and great respect. The problems clients bring us increasingly cross borders. Being part of a group with real scale across India, Asia Pacific and beyond means we can help them with more of those problems – without changing what has made this firm what it is.”
For Adfactors PR, the investment represents a significant expansion of its presence and capabilities in the Asia Pacific region. For SenateSHJ, it provides access to scale and an international network while creating new opportunities to grow its own expertise, intellectual property and impact.
About Adfactors PR:
Founded in 1997, Adfactors PR is India’s largest PR firm providing reputation management and critical issues counsel. A multi-specialist, full-service firm, Adfactors PR enjoys a market-leading position in multiple practice areas, including reputation, media relations and crisis, financial communications, policy communications, ESG and social impact consulting. The firm has market-leading practices across most key sectors of the Indian economy.
The consultancy serves over 600 retained clients, including many of India’s largest conglomerates, financial institutions, and new economy unicorns. It has a staff strength of over 1,400 professionals spread across 15 offices in India, Sri Lanka and Singapore.
About SenateSHJ:
Since 2002, SenateSHJ has helped organisations solve their most challenging reputation, change and engagement problems. In these 24 years in operation, SenateSHJ has evolved to meet clients’ needs and build their capabilities, making it one of Australia’s most successful independent consultancies. The firm’s expertise spans across reputation, engagement, change management, social change, digital, and research and intelligence. In 2026, SenateSHJ was named as one of The Australian’s Best Places to Work and among PRovoke Media’s Best Agencies list. SenateSHJ exists to help people communicate – the force that drives progress and connection.
Media contacts:
SenateSHJ
Amy Watson
Partner
[email protected]
+61 431 907 999
Adfactors PR
Aniket Thakur
Senior Vice President
[email protected]
+91-989 217 3022
