Exclusive: Sonia Dhawan joins SAIF Partners as Corporate Comm advisor

After making a comeback in the startup ecosystem in June 2019, former vice president of corporate communications and public relations at Paytm, Sonia Dhawan has shifted to another firm. This time Dhawan will be working with venture capital firm SAIF Partners as Advisor - Corporate Communications.

SAIF will be the third firm where Dhawan will be handling its communications since her re-entry into the ecosystem last year. She worked with Sheroes and Paytm-owned gaming company FirstGames. 

According to Entrackr’s sources, Dhawan has left Paytm and already started working with SAIF. “Besides leading communication and public relation for SAIF, she will also be advising portfolio companies of the early-stage VC firm,” said one of the above sources on the condition of anonymity.

Responding to Entrackr's query, SAIF Partners has confirmed the development.

Soon after receiving bail in an extortion and data theft case at Paytm in March 2019, media reports suggested that Dhawan would be joining the company again. However, she made her comeback to the industry through Sheroes in June where Paytm’s founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma is one of the early investors.

Three months later, Dhawan joined FirstGames as vice president for public relations and marketing.

It’s worth noting that Dhawan had never worked for any investment firm. Before FirstGames and Paytm, she had headed business operations at Times Internet Limited for three years.

With $3 billion assets under management, SAIF is one of the top active investors in India, which has funded more than 100 startups including Paytm, Swiggy, MMT, BookMyShow, Rivigo, Coverfox, FirstCry and ShareChat.