One Source, an integrated marketing consultancy, has been appointed as the corporate communications partner for Bata India Limited, marking a strategic move as the iconic footwear brand sharpens its transformation narrative in India’s fast-evolving retail landscape.Under the mandate, One Source will lead corporate communications, leadership visibility, and reputation-building efforts, supporting Bata India’s ongoing evolution across product design, retail experience, and consumer engagement.
Why This Partnership Matters
Bata India is at a pivotal point in its journey balancing heritage and scale with modernisation and reinvention.
As the company expands its footprint and accelerates transformation, clear, consistent, and strategic communication becomes essential to:
- Articulate its transformation story across stakeholders
- Strengthen leadership presence in public discourse
- Reinforce trust with media, consumers, and industry influencers
- Align corporate narrative with evolving brand priorities
In today’s environment, corporate reputation is not just managed it is actively built.
Bata India’s Transformation Narrative
Bata India’s evolution spans multiple dimensions:
- Product design aligned with contemporary consumer preferences
- Enhanced retail experiences across physical and digital touchpoints
- Deeper consumer engagement in a highly competitive market
- Scale-driven growth with brand-led differentiation
Communicating this transformation requires storytelling that is credible, cohesive, and leadership-driven not just campaign-led.
Leadership Perspective: Bata India Limited
Badri Beriwal, Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer, Bata India Limited, said:
“Bata India is undergoing an exciting transformation across product design, retail experience, and consumer engagement. As we expand our footprint and evolve our brand, strategic and consistent communication becomes vital. Our partnership with One Source will help us shape a cohesive corporate narrative and deepen engagement with the media, customers, and industry stakeholders.”
His statement underscores the role of communications as a strategic growth lever, not a support function.
One Source’s Role and Focus Areas
As Bata India’s corporate communications partner, One Source will focus on:
- Leadership visibility and executive positioning
- Strategic corporate storytelling aligned with business priorities
- Media engagement and reputation management
- Narrative coherence across transformation initiatives
The mandate reflects a shift toward long-term reputation building, rather than episodic communication.
Agency Perspective: One Source
Sandeep Rao, Managing Director, One Source, said:
“Bata is a brand that commands trust and affection across generations. We are honoured to support their strategic communication goals at such a pivotal time in their growth journey. Our focus will be on strengthening Bata’s reputation through thoughtful storytelling, leadership visibility, and a sharp corporate narrative aligned with their evolving brand priorities.”
The emphasis on thoughtful storytelling signals a move away from noise toward substance.
Strategic Implications
This partnership highlights several broader trends:
- Corporate communications is becoming central to business transformation
- Leadership narratives are increasingly critical to brand credibility
- Legacy brands are investing in modern reputation frameworks
- Integrated consultancies are gaining ground over tactical PR models
For Bata India, the mandate ensures its transformation story is told with clarity, consistency, and authority.
The Bigger Picture
In India’s evolving retail ecosystem, brands that succeed are not only those that innovate—but those that communicate innovation effectively. Bata India’s partnership with One Source reflects an understanding that reputation, trust, and leadership perception are key competitive assets
By appointing One Source as its corporate communications partner, Bata India is reinforcing the strategic role of storytelling in its growth journey. As the brand balances heritage with transformation, this partnership aims to ensure that its leadership voice, corporate narrative, and reputation evolve in step with the business.This isn’t just a communications mandate.It’s a narrative reset for a legacy brand in transformation.
