The PRCA has appointed David Gallagher FPRCA as the new chairman of fellows, its group of ‘outstanding contributors’ to the PR industry.

David, who is Ketchum’s senior partner, CEO, Europe and chairman, London, takes over the role on 25 September, on the date of the PRCA National Conference and AGM. He succeeds Richard Houghton FPRCA, who has chaired the PRCA Fellows since the group’s inception in 2010.

Francis Ingham MPRCA, PRCA director general, says, “I’d like to thank Richard for all of his tremendous work over the past five years. He’s made the Fellows group the vibrant source of wit and wisdom it is –just one of his many contributions to the PRCA and to the industry it represents. David’s acceptance of the role is great news. His stature and international outlook will allow the group to be even more active and successful, and reflects London’s role as a global hub of PR excellence.”

David says, “This is a great opportunity to capture the collective wisdom and inspiration of the people who built the thriving PR business we work within today. I am honoured to be asked and to be of service to this extremely venerable group of industry veterans. As chairman, I’m keen to find ways to bridge the years of experience with the right social tools.”

David is also president of the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), the global umbrella network of 31 national PR agency trade associations that is managed by the PRCA. He is also a past chairman of the PRCA.

He is a past chairman of the World Economic Forum’s global agenda council on the future of media, and was the 2014 PR jury president for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

The 63 PRCA Fellows have been selected by the PRCA for their ‘outstanding contribution to the business of PR’. Fellows are entitled to use the designation FPRCA.

Click here to see a full list of the PRCA’s Fellows.