MUMBAI — Longtime PR exec Hemant Batra has left his role as an Adfactors PR senior VP to start his own firm, called Veritas Reputation PR, with the goal of capturing a significant share of India’s banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector business.

“VRPR aims to occupy this space by offering an effective, high-quality option to institutions and corporations in the BFSI space,” Batra said. “We aim to be among the top three PR companies in India for BFSI sector, before the end of 2019.”

VRPR, which launched this week, is off to a running start, thanks to its acquisition of the agency Prime Communique — a deal that comes with the right to handle the boutique firm’s current accounts, Batra said. Prime Communique’s owner Mansi Sheth has joined VRPR, joining a team with extensive experience in issues management and crisis communications, he said.

The firm, which will serve a range of industries including pharmaceutical, fintech and others, will serve clients with an integrated approach to PR, leveraging traditional and digital mediums, Batra said. VRPR will have operations in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

Batra brings to VRPR 18 years of experience at Adfactors, which he joined just two years after the agency’s launch.  Batra is credited with helping build the agency’s financial products practice, working with the State Bank of India and Bombay Stock Exchange among others during his tenure.