Maja Pawinska Sims 03 Jun 2024 // 6:00AM GMT
LONDON — Former PRCA director Steve Miller, who left the trade body in March this year, is returning to the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) after a 14-year absence, to develop its corporate membership base.
In the newly-created role of corporate affiliate consultant – similar to the membership and commercial leadership role he previously held at both the PRCA and umbrella trade body ICCO – Miller will be focusing on growing the number of UK PR agencies who are CIPR members. He previously worked for the CIPR for a decade, until he joined the PRCA in 2010.
As well as nearly 11,000 individual members, the CIPR has 250 corporate members, including Weber Shandwick – which left the PRCA last year – BlackHouse Media, Hard Numbers, Curzon and Jargon, as well as in-house comms teams from organisations such as Barclays, Balfour Beattie, Centrica and IKEA. The PRCA currently has around 570 corporate members.
CIPR CEO Alastair McCapra told PRovoke Media: “We’re very pleased to welcome Steve back. Our membership numbers have increased over the last two years, largely as a result of the growing number of agency employers who recognise the value of CIPR membership in recruiting, retaining and developing their staff. We now have 250 corporate affiliates and with Steve’s help we plan to increase that number over the coming months.”
Miller added: “After a two-month sabbatical to recharge my batteries, I’m back and looking forward to catching up with all my contacts in the PR industry, including at events across the UK. The CIPR has a great offer for corporate members and I’ll be talking to agencies about how membership can help them recruit, develop and retain talent, and flourish in a market that continues to be challenging.”