Maja Pawinska Sims 24 Jun 2024 // 11:05AM GMT
LONDON — Rob Morbin, the executive director of the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), is stepping down after six years with the global PR umbrella body.
Morbin joined ICCO in 2018 from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and has been a key figure in the organisation’s expansion, serving as deputy chief executive under late CEO Francis Ingham, and as executive director since May 2023. Morbin also served on the senior management team of the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) during his time running ICCO.
During his tenure, ICCO has expanded into the Middle East and Southeast Asia and grown its services, products, events and competitions, including the annual World PR Report. The organisation, which represents PR associations and agencies in 70 countries, has also raised the profile of PR at Cannes Lions, including through partnerships with PRovoke Media and WorldCom, and given its members a platform at the Council of Europe and the United Nations, via its partnership with the UN Development Programme.
Morbin told PRovoke Media: “It has been a great privilege to serve the global PR community in such an interesting, multifaceted role. I am immensely proud of what we achieved together despite great challenges – moving the organisation from the fringes to the forefront, delivering on PR agency priorities and representing the industry at the highest level within European and global institutions.
“It’s now time for both me and the organisation to begin a new chapter. I look forward to following ICCO’s continued success.”
ICCO president and Burson Poland CEO Grzegorz Szepanski said: “I would like to give a heartfelt thanks to Rob for his transformational impact on ICCO over the past six years. He has risen to unprecedented challenges, driven new initiatives, and opened up exciting opportunities for members around the world. We wish him every success in his next venture.”
ICCO’s current leadership team includes interim CEO Andras Sztaniszlav, partner at Hungarian strategic communications agency PersonaR, who joined at the start of this year. Former ICCO and PRCA membership director Steve Miller also recently left both organisations to return to the CIPR.