The Institute for Public Relations has announced new trustees for the 2007-2009 term, further broadening the international stance of the independent nonprofit organization.
Newly elected international members of the Board are Matthew Anderson, Group Director for Communications and Brand Marketing, British Sky Broadcasting Ltd.; and Ernst Primosch, Corporate Vice President, Henkel KGaA. Also newly elected are Tony Cervone, North America Vice President-Communications, General Motors; Thomas G. Mattia, Senior Vice President-Worldwide Public Affairs and Communications, The Coca-Cola Company; MaryLee Sachs, Chairman, Hill & Knowlton USA and Director, Worldwide Marketing Communications Practice; and Arthur E. F. Wiese, Vice President-Corporate Communications, Entergy Corporation.
Peter Debreceny, Vice President-Corporate Relations, Allstate Insurance Company, has been re-elected to chair the Institute Board. The treasurer for 2007 is Michael Fernandez, Vice President-Corporate Communications & External Relations, State Farm Insurance. Frank Ovaitt will continue to serve as President and CEO.
Other Trustees re-elected to an additional three-year term include: Matthew P. Gonring, Consultant, Gagen MacDonald; Gary F. Grates, President & Global Managing Director, Edelman Change; Robert W. Grupp, Vice President-Corporate & Public Affairs, Cephalon, Inc.; William C. Heyman, President & CEO, Heyman Associates, Inc.; Maril MacDonald, Chief Executive Officer, Gagen MacDonald; and Kirk T. Stewart, Executive Vice President-Corporate Communications Practice, APCO Worldwide.
“The Board will refresh the long-term strategic plan in 2007, because we have accomplished our previous five-year plan in little more than two,” said Institute chairman Peter Debreceny. “Broadening this Board to represent the leadership of our profession worldwide recognizes the increasing impact of globalization on our profession, and is vital to accomplishing our mission to build, document and mainstream the science beneath the art of public relations.”
