Council of Public Relations Firms Announces 2008 Board of Directors

NEW YORK, NY (November 8, 2007) - The Council of Public Relations Firms (Council), www.prfirms.org, the industry’s trade association, announced today the election of its new officers and directors.

The new chair of the Council’s Board is Ray Kotcher, CEO of Ketchum, one of the world’s leading public relations firms. Kotcher was named to his current post of CEO in 2000 after joining Ketchum as vice president in 1983, then moving on to president of the firm in 1992. Additionally, Kotcher is a member of the World Economic Forum, PR Seminar, and a trustee of the Arthur W. Page Society.

The Council also announced the election of its new board members, all CEOs/Principals of their firms: Mark Hass (Manning Selvage & Lee), Lou Hoffman (The Hoffman Agency), Jim Terman (Jasculca/Terman and Associates), John Seng (Spectrum Science Communications), and Otis Wragg (Wragg & Casas Public Relations).

Continuing directors, all CEOs/Principals of their firms, are: Fred Cook (GolinHarris), Andy Cooper (CooperKatz), Joel Curran (CKPR), Rick French (French/West/Vaughan), Aedhmar Hynes (Text 100), Margery Kraus (APCO Worldwide), Marina Maher (Marina Maher Communications), Cos Mallozzi (Gibbs & Soell Public Relations), Kathy Obert (Edward Howard), Helen Ostrowski (Porter Novelli), Mark Penn (Burson-Marsteller) and and Marcia Silverman (Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide).

“Being a voice for the value created by public relations firms will be my top priority,” said Kotcher. “Now, more than ever before, the consumer is in control of defining corporate reputations and shaping brands. This personal empowerment provides an even greater need for giving voice to the power of public relations. As chair, I will work hard to provide that voice and represent the industry's role and its continued expansion in this evolving landscape.”

“The Council is committed to not only building, but defining the market for public relations,” said Kathy H. Cripps, president of the Council of Public Relations Firms. “It is equally important that we help our members meet the needs of an increasingly dynamic and complex marketplace. Ray Kotcher has been an active Board member for the last two years; we know that he will bring his renowned passion and energy to his role as Chair.”

About the Council of Public Relations Firms

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 agencies across every discipline and practice area. The Council’s mission is to increase awareness of the value of public relations firms in corporate strategy, business performance and social education, serving as an authoritative source of industry information and to develop standards for the public relations industry. For more information about the Council of Public Relations Firms, call 1-877-PRFIRMS or visit our website at www.prfirms.org.