ICCO Executive Director sets out plan to become “pre-eminent voice” of global PR at Summit
At the 2013 ICCO Summit in Paris the organisation has revealed its plans for expansion, welcomed the 29th Association member VPRA, launched the World PR Report with the Holmes Report, and announced the 2013-2015 Executive Committee.
International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) Executive Director Francis Ingham revealed plans for the organisation to become the leading voice of global PR within two years, speaking at the ICCO Summit in Paris last week.
Francis set out a plan to grow ICCO’s membership, services and profile, and also promised to revolutionise ICCO’s membership offering.
Francis said: “My view is very straightforward. ICCO has, for too long, been a sleeping giant. Our reach is wide and deep – 1,700 agencies in 29 countries. That kind of reach enables us to speak for the international PR agency community. And my intention is that we will do so with confidence, enthusiasm and credibility. We will be the undisputed, pre-eminent voice of global PR within the next two years.
“It is our explicit goal to grow our membership in every region of the world. To help agencies establish associations where currently there are none; to bring those that exist now but are not ICCO members into the ICCO family. And to do so quickly.”
Francis also revealed that ICCO’s turnover is now almost three times the amount it was last year, thanks to new services and new partnerships with service providers to the industry.
During the event, ICCO launched its World PR Report, the definitive analysis of the makeup, direction and future of the global PR business, in conjunction with The Holmes Report. ICCO also welcomed its newest members, the VPRA, the professional body for the Netherlands.
At the ICCO Board Meeting that took place prior to the Summit the new ICCO Executive Committee was established. David Gallagher, CEO EMEA of Ketchum, will serve an additional year as ICCO President until the end of 2015. Maxim Behar, CEO of M3 Communication (Bulgaria) and Chairman of Hill + Knowlton Czech Republic, will replace Jean-Leopold Schuybroek as the new Vice-President. Maxim’s previous position as ICCO Treasurer will be filled by Andrey Barannikov, CEO of SPN Ogilvy (Russia).
About ICCO
The International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) is the voice of public relations consultancies around the world. The ICCO membership comprises national trade associations in twenty-nine countries across the globe: from Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australiasia. Collectively, these associations represent some 1,700 PR firms.
