LONDON — Members of the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) have voted to move to a new, streamlined management and governance structure, with the aim of simplifying and strengthening governance, oversight, transparency and decision-making.

The changes – the results of the governance review started at the end of last year and put in place following the development of a roadmap earlier this year, after the death of director general Francis Ingham  – were approved at the association’s AGM today. An interim management board will oversee a period of transition to the new structure, in the run up to the next AGM in June 2024.

After that, the management board will be much smaller than previously, with 11 directors, including two independents, compared to an outgoing board with 27 members (and which last year was as high as 36 members). The management board will focus on business strategy, operations and the PRCA’s financial performance, and be supported by an audit, risk and remuneration committee.

The interim board will be chaired by Four Agency group managing director Ray Eglington. The other members are: Matt Brown, director of news and external relations at Transport for London; Matt Buchanan, global head of consumer PR at Ogilvy UK; Paul Church, director of strategic comms firm Connect; Kirsty Leighton, founder and CEO of Milk & Honey PR; Jennifer Robertson, founding partner of Spey; Ipelegeng Thibedi, Weber Shandwick’s Africa CEO; Stuart Thomson, founder of reputation management and public affairs consultancy CWE Communications; and consultant Sarah Waddington (Wadds Inc).

Eglington (pictured) told PRovoke Media: “This has been a good opportunity to get the right foundations in place and get the PRCA onto the next step of growth, expansion and member value, and being able to do so with transparency, clarity and accountability. I’m humbled and excited to be elected as chair and to continue to be part of implementing the governance plans over the next nine months.

“The nomination committee was aiming for an interim board that represents the membership as broadly as possible, and it’s a great group – everyone is very enthusiastic and keen to get stuck in and move things forward. It’s also really important to support the PRCA team – it’s been a difficult year for them, and the senior team have done a great job. Sarah [Scholefield] has also done an exemplary job of being chair – it’s been a huge amount of time and commitment.”

Eglington said the recruitment process for the PRCA’s first chief executive was well underway, with an announcement likely in the next couple of weeks: “We’ve put a lot of work into the recruitment process to make sure it’s gold standard in terms of diversity and inclusivity. We had more than 300 applications, which we got down to a longlist of 44, and we’ll finish interviewing the shortlist of six this week, then we’ll make the final selection.”

Also at the AGM, outgoing PRCA chair and Grayling global CEO Sarah Scholefield – who instigated the governance review – and Hanover chair Charles Lewington were appointed as honorary president and honorary vice-president respectively. The new roles have been introduced to strengthen advocacy on behalf of the industry.

Scholefield said: “I am delighted that our members have voted to accept our recommendations. We are ambitious for the PR, PA and communications industry, and for the PRCA. We are committed to remaining a strong advocate for our industry across a wider sphere and for championing the role of communications more broadly.”

Under the new structure, there will be clearer definitions of PRCA membership, with company membership open to corporate bodies, partnerships and sole traders working in public relations, public affairs or communications. Employees of company members who practise PR, public affairs or communications will be professional members of the PRCA. Associate membership status will be on offer to individuals and students who are not eligible for professional membership.

Governance and standards will be applied by the PRCA general council, the main governing body made up of all company members. The general council will be supported by membership and nominations committees, and a new standards Committee will determine codes of conduct for members.

There will be also professional boards for public affairs and for PR and communications, as well as five advisory boards, for climate communications, education, equality and inclusion, race and ethnicity equity, and global, which will advise on the development of PRCA policy.

Professional and associate members will be able to contribute to networks and interest groups, and participate in groups covering Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the English regions, as well as in countries and regions internationally.

PRCA managing director Renna Markson, who was promoted to the new role in May this year, said: “Our members are at the heart of everything we do and we feel that our new structure will make it easier for them to be involved with their trade association. There will be more opportunities to come together and build the future of our industry. We look forward to working together with our members, and to welcoming new ones.”