Aparna Arora — CEO

Strategic communications leader with over 20 years of experience shaping corporate reputation, brand narratives, public affairs, and advocacy across India and Asia. Skilled in counselling leaders, crafting high-impact narratives, and driving integrated communication strategies across global markets. I’ve led communications for some of the world’s most influential organizations — Facebook (Meta), ByteDance (TikTok), Mars Chocolate, Walmart, Save the Children, The World Bank, and HBO — driving trust, visibility, and measurable impact across technology, FMCG, retail, entertainment, and development sectors. Core Expertise: External Communications & PR – Corporate, product, reputation and brand storytelling; crisis management; influencer & creator strategy Internal Communications & Leadership Positioning – Culture, transparency, and employee engagement Public Affairs & Advocacy – Policy communications and government relations Digital & Brand Communications – Integrated campaigns, content strategy, and social storytelling CSR & Sustainability – Building purpose-led narratives that align business goals with social impact Currently, I’m leading the entrepreneurial launch of a premium D2C food brand, developing its go-to-market, sustainability, and digital communication strategy for India and global markets. I’m passionate about authentic storytelling that goes beyond reputation — communications that inspire trust, drive advocacy, and create lasting change.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a strategic communications leader with expertise in B2C brand management and public affairs.

Location: Delhi, India

Experience: 24 yrs 9 mos

Skills

Digital & Brand Communications
Corporate Reputation
Public Affairs & Advocacy
Internal Communications

Career Highlights

Over 20 years of strategic communications experience.
Led communications for major global brands.
Expert in crisis management and brand storytelling.

Work Experience

Kapil Anand Agro Pvt.Ltd. (Family-owned enterprise)

Director Global Communications & Brand (3 yrs)

Koo

Acting Global Communications Director (11 mos)

ByteDance (TikTok, Helo, Resso, Lark, Vigo)

Director Communications India and South Asia (2 yrs 2 mos)

Facebook

Communications Lead India and Central Asia (1 yr 2 mos)

The World Bank

Communications Lead - Asia (1 yr 10 mos)

Mars Chocolate

Head Corporate Affairs (Comms) (2 yrs)

Walmart

Senior Manager Corporate Affairs (Communications) (5 yrs)

Save the Children

Communications Lead (2 yrs 1 mo)

HBO

Corporate Affairs Manager (Communications) (5 yrs 1 mo)

CNN

Public Relations (1 yr)

Cartoon Network

Corporate Communications (1 yr)

Education

Fellowship at Cornell University

Post Graduation at Indian Institute Of Public Relations

BA Hons at Indra Prastha College

Higher Secondary at Modern School

Aparna Arora

CEO

Delhi, India24 yrs 9 mos experience

Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

Over 20 years of strategic communications experience.
Led communications for major global brands.
Expert in crisis management and brand storytelling.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a strategic communications leader with expertise in B2C brand management and public affairs.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Digital & Brand CommunicationsCorporate ReputationPublic Affairs & AdvocacyInternal Communications

Other Skills

Brand PositioningDigital StorytellingGo-to-Market StrategyAgency ManagementExternal CommunicationsDigital StrategyTeam LeadershipStakeholder AlignmentCrisis CommunicationsCampaign ManagementMedia StrategyCrisis ManagementStorytelling FrameworksMessaging StrategyStakeholder Engagement

About

Experience

24 yrs 9 mos

Total Experience

2 yrs 3 mos

Average Tenure

3 yrs

Current Experience

Kapil anand agro pvt.ltd. (family-owned enterprise)

Director Global Communications & Brand

Jun 2023 – Present · 3 yrs · Gurugram, Haryana, India · Hybrid

Leading the entrepreneurial launch of a premium D2C food brand (currently in stealth), building the company’s first consumer identity after 14+ years as a B2B manufacturer.
Shaping brand positioning, narrative, and digital-first storytelling for domestic and global markets.
Partnering with the CEO and managing agencies to execute go-to-market strategies across branding, packaging, PR, sustainability, and digital communications.

Brand PositioningDigital StorytellingGo-to-Market StrategyAgency ManagementDigital & Brand CommunicationsCorporate Reputation

Koo

Acting Global Communications Director

May 2022 – Apr 2023 · 11 mos · Gurugram, Haryana, India · Hybrid

Developed and executed Koo’s global internal and external communications and digital strategy, launching in India and Brazil with expansion frameworks for Asia.
Coached founders and senior leadership to craft data-led brand narratives enhancing reputation and user trust.
Led a high-performing team, collaborated cross-functionally, and partnered with external agencies across PR, events, and influencer programs to drive user growth and brand visibility.

Internal CommunicationsExternal CommunicationsDigital StrategyTeam LeadershipPublic Affairs & Advocacy

Bytedance (tiktok, helo, resso, lark, vigo)

Director Communications India and South Asia

Oct 2019 – Dec 2021 · 2 yrs 2 mos · Gurugram, Haryana, India

Led communications across five platforms, ensuring narrative consistency, stakeholder alignment, and reputation management across India and South Asia.
Drove flagship campaigns like #MatKarForward (featuring Deepika Padukone, Shilpa Shetty, Ritesh Deshmukh) and EduTok, reaching 200+ million users and earning widespread media coverage.
Managed internal comms for 2,000+ employees and led crisis comms during the India ban and regulatory challenges, maintaining transparency and employee engagement.
Launched Resso & Lark with tailored product & B2B PR strategies that accelerated awareness and adoption.
Built and led in-house teams and agency networks, managing multi-crore budgets to deliver high-impact results aligned with business goals.
Shifted brand perception of TikTok, highlighting its diverse creator ecosystem and positioning it as India’s leading short-video entertainment platform.
Led digital and influencer strategy, driving creator collaborations and social storytelling.

Stakeholder AlignmentCrisis CommunicationsCampaign ManagementDigital StrategyPublic Affairs & AdvocacyCorporate Reputation

Facebook

Communications Lead India and Central Asia

Jul 2018 – Sep 2019 · 1 yr 2 mos · New Delhi Area, India

Led corporate, policy, and business communications during the post-Cambridge Analytica era, managing media strategy and safeguarding reputation across India and Central Asia.
Built the social-impact and trust narrative, highlighting community, entrepreneurship, and inclusion; launched the Transparency Center and elections PR playbook, and led SME thought-leadership programs positioning Facebook as a key business enabler.
Handled crisis and policy communications, addressing misinformation, privacy, and regulatory challenges with proactive, data-informed responses.
Created storytelling frameworks and proactive media moments to strengthen brand perception and drive positive visibility, including high-profile events with Priyanka Chopra and global leadership.

Media StrategyCrisis ManagementStorytelling FrameworksCorporate ReputationPublic Affairs & Advocacy

The world bank

Communications Lead - Asia

Sep 2016 – Jul 2018 · 1 yr 10 mos · New Delhi Area, India

Developed and implemented communications strategy for Asia. Draft messaging targeting national/ state-level networks across key stakeholders in government, media, private sector and civil society.

Messaging StrategyStakeholder EngagementPublic Affairs & Advocacy

Mars chocolate

Head Corporate Affairs (Comms)

Feb 2013 – Feb 2015 · 2 yrs · Gurugram, Haryana, India

Managed government relations (FSSAI, Industry bodies) to influence regulatory reforms and secure approvals for Mars’ first India factory.
Directed the launch of Snickers and Galaxy, combining PR, media, and influencer engagement.
Led CSR, sustainability, and internal communications programs improving stakeholder alignment and brand credibility.

Government RelationsCSR StrategyMedia EngagementPublic Affairs & Advocacy

Walmart

Senior Manager Corporate Affairs (Communications)

Aug 2008 – Aug 2013 · 5 yrs · Gurugram, Haryana, India

Led PR, CSR, advocacy, and internal communications, improving Walmart’s reputation during India’s FDI policy reforms.
Spearheaded award-winning sustainability programs in recycling, skilling, and women’s empowerment in partnership with CARE, WWF, P&G, and Unilever.
Recipient of the Bharti Group Sustainability Award and Star News Best CSR Practice Award.

PR StrategyCSR ProgramsAdvocacyPublic Affairs & Advocacy

Save the children

Communications Lead

Jul 2006 – Aug 2008 · 2 yrs 1 mo · Greater Delhi Area

Hbo

Corporate Affairs Manager (Communications)

Jun 2001 – Jul 2006 · 5 yrs 1 mo · Gurugram, Haryana, India

Lead India comms & digital strategy towards building brand, promoting and publicizing content and maximizing distribution of HBO in India; was No.1 English Movie Channel within 2 years.