Council of Public Relations Firms Announces 2013 Board of Directors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Council of Public Relations Firms (Council), the industry’s trade association, announced today the election of its new officers and directors.

“Dave has already contributed a great deal to the Council, as a Board member, and this year as Chair of our annual Critical Issues Forum. He brings an impressive mix of intelligence and passion. Our members are going to benefit from Dave’s leadership.”

The new chair of the Council’s Board is Dave Senay, president and CEO of Fleishman-Hillard. Senay, who was elevated to the level of president & CEO in 2006, will serve as Chairman through November 2013.

The Council also announced the election of its new board members, all CEOs/principals of their firms: Christopher Graves (Ogilvy Public Relations), Matthew Harrington (Edelman), Jason Mandell (LaunchSquad), Marian Salzman (Havas PR), C. Renzi Stone (Saxum), Mark Thorne (Hill+Knowlton Strategies), and Melissa Waggener Zorkin (Waggener Edstrom).

Continuing directors, all CEOs/Principals of their firms, are: Jens Bang (Cone Communications), Amy Binder (RF|Binder Partners), Scott Chaikin (Dix & Eaton), Dorothy Crenshaw (Crenshaw Communications), Ron Hanser (Hanser & Associates), Sharon Linhart (Linhart Public Relations), Elise Mitchell (Mitchell Communications Group), Andy Polansky (Weber Shandwick), Kathryn Tunheim (Tunheim Partners) and Janet Tyler (Airfoil Public Relations).

“This is an exhilarating time to be in the public relations business. Never has there been more opportunities to grow professionally or to succeed as an industry,” said Senay. “I look forward to working with the Council’s Board of Directors to build on the exceptional, ongoing work being done in the areas of (recruiting diverse) talent, (establishing best practices with) procurement (clients) and maximizing digital opportunities for the industry. It’s also important that as agencies we continue to provide high level strategic thinking to our clients and to foster a culture that emphasizes ethical business decision making.”

“Dave Senay is a proven leader with a clear vision of what the public relations industry needs to reach greater heights,” said Kathy Cripps, president of the Council of Public Relations Firms. “Dave has already contributed a great deal to the Council, as a Board member, and this year as Chair of our annual Critical Issues Forum. He brings an impressive mix of intelligence and passion. Our members are going to benefit from Dave’s leadership.”

On behalf of the Council membership, Cripps thanked Andy Polansky, President, Weber Shandwick for his strong leadership and many accomplishments as the Council’s Chair for the last two years.

The Council of Public Relations Firms is comprised of America’s leading public relations firms. Its membership represents the premier global, mid-size, regional and specialty firms across every discipline and practice area. The Council’s mission is to advocate for and advance the business of public relations firms by building the market and the value of firms as strategic business partners. For more information about the Council, visit www.prfirms.org.

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