Speyside Group, the global south leading consultancy in corporate affairs and public policy, announces its leadership team’s expansion with Rafael Arantes’ appointment as Country Manager for Brazil and Rahul Sharma as Country Manager for India. These strategic appointments underscore Speyside’s commitment to strengthening its presence and service capabilities in key, rapidly growing markets.
“India and Brazil are critical growth markets for us. They represent enormous potential in terms of economic development, regulatory evolution, and demand for sophisticated public affairs expertise. Strengthening our leadership in these regions allows us to better support our clients in navigating complexity and unlocking opportunities,” said Ian Herbison, CEO of Speyside Group.
Rafael Arantes Appointed Country Manager for Brazil
Rafael Arantes joins Speyside with over 15 years of professional experience in corporate affairs and public policy across Brazil’s major cities, including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Brasília. His background features leadership roles in public and government affairs for both local and global multinationals in the healthcare, food, and agribusiness sectors, along with consultancy on some of the country’s most prominent issues.
“We are delighted to welcome Rafael to Speyside. His deep insight into Brazil’s political and business environment will be instrumental in driving growth and delivering exceptional results for our clients” said Herbison.
“I’m thrilled to join Speyside and contribute to our clients’ success in Brazil. I look forward to applying my experience to help them navigate an increasingly complex landscape with confidence and impact,” said Rafael Arantes.
Rahul Sharma Appointed Country Manager for India
With about two decades of professional experience, Rahul Sharma joins Speyside from Burson, where he led the firm’s India Public Affairs and Advocacy division. A former journalist with leading media organizations, including India’s first 24*7 parliament channel (Lok Sabha TV), Rahul has developed and executed programs for clients across a broad range of sectors on market access, policy advocacy, reputation management, and undertaking multi-stakeholder engagement. He has also advised companies on significant issues and crisis communication, as well as worked on government/public sector communication. He has an education in economics, journalism, and public policy. He also writes regularly on public affairs and policy issues, and has recently authored an academic working paper on, “Greening India’s MSME’s: A co-innovation Approach”
“Rahul brings tremendous depth and experience in public affairs, coupled with a nuanced understanding of India’s policy environment. His leadership will be key to scaling our impact and capabilities in this important market,” added Herbison.
“I’m excited to be part of Speyside and to build on its strong foundation in India. My goal is to enhance our strategic offerings and ensure we remain a trusted partner for clients navigating public policy and corporate affairs and deepen structured stakeholder management,” said Rahul Sharma.
With these appointments, Speyside reinforces its commitment to delivering high-impact, locally grounded solutions for clients in Brazil and India, further consolidating its position as a leading advisor in the Global South.
Conclusion
With these leadership appointments, Speyside strengthens its regional presence and ability to deliver tailored, high-impact solutions in Brazil and India—two markets with growing economic and regulatory complexity. The experience and local insight of Arantes and Sharma position Speyside to better support clients navigating dynamic public policy environments, further cementing its role as a trusted advisor in the Global South.