PRCA announces launch of its Global Ethics Council (PRCA GEC)

Its inaugural Chairman is David Gallagher, international president of Omnicom, former chairman of the PRCA, and former president of ICCO.

The PRCA GEC is composed of a small number of the world’s most respected practitioners, alongside two external expert members.

Its launch reflects the PRCA’s status as the world’s largest PR professional body, and the organisation’s actions in raising ethical standards in the industry over recent years, particularly since the expulsion of Bell Pottinger in 2017.

UK PR firm Bell Pottinger has been kicked out of its industry regulatory body

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PRCA director-general, Francis Ingham MPRCA, said:

The launch of the PRCA Global Ethics Council is a key moment for our industry. The creation of this global body will help us to set and then to raise even higher global standards of ethical behaviour. The seniority of the Council‘s membership is unparalleled, and we are grateful that such an esteemed figure as David Gallagher has agreed to be its chairman.

Bridget von Holdt, Business Director of BCW Africa and President of ICCO Africa.

Bridget von Holdt, business director of BCW Africa and president of ICCO Africa added:

Chairman:

• David Gallagher. President, Growth and International Development of Omnicom Public Relations Group. Former chairman of PRCA UK. Former president of ICCO.

Members:

• Bob Pickard. Principal of Signal Communication Inc.
• Bridget von Holdt. Business director of BCW. President of ICCO Africa.
• Claire Walker. CEO of Firefly Communications Group. Chairman of PRCA UK Professional Practices Committee.
• Francis Ingham. Director-general of PRCA. Chief executive of ICCO
• Gustavo Averbuj. CEO and regional director of Latin America of Ketchum. Chairman of PRCA Latin America.
• Kim Sample. President of PR Council.
• Kiri Sinclair. Founder and CEO of Sinclair Comms. Former chair of HKPR.
• Lee Nugent. Executive vice president APAC of Archetype. Chairman of PRCA Southeast Asia.
• Mary Beth West. Senior strategist of Fletcher Marketing PR.
• Massimo Moriconi. General manager & amministratore delegato of OmnicomPRGroup Italy.
• Matt Neale. Global CEO of Golin. Former chairman of PRCA UK.
• Nitin Mantri. Group CEO of Avian WE. President of ICCO. President of PRCAI.
• Omar Qirem. CEO of Edelman Middle East. Chairman of PRCA Middle East and North Africa.
• Philippa Foster Back OBE. Former director of the Institute for Business Ethics
• Rob Flaherty. Chairman of Ketchum.
• Simon Goldsworthy. Former professor of public relations and co-author of the forthcoming PR Ethics: The Real World Guide
• Stephane Billet, President of We Agency. Former president of SCRP.

Its formal remit is as follows:

Aim

• To raise ethical standards around the world

Remit

• Provide advice to Associations on the content of their Codes, and offer practical suggestions for improvement
• Help Associations currently without Codes to create them
• Create an international forum for debating common ethical issues

Outputs

• Create a truly global annual ethics month, with social engagement and ideally events around the world
• Each Council member to take turns hosting a monthly twitter chat on topical ethical issues
• The oversight and collation of ethics thought leadership
• The publication of a global ethics newsletter every month

Meetings

• At least twice a year: at the PRCA International Summit, and at the ICCO Summit. With the expectation of other regional and remote supplementary events.