The PRCA has elected Steffan Williams MPRCA, group managing director of Newgate Communications, as its new chairman. At the PRCA AGM on 26 July 2016, Williams was elected chairman, following a vote of members. He replaces Matt Neale MPRCA, president, international, Golin, who held the role from 2014.

Williams joined Porta plc, the holding company for Newgate Communications, in October 2015 following a 20-year career spent providing communications counsel to a broad range of enterprises, organisations and governments. Previously a partner at Finsbury, he had earlier founded Capital MSL in 2001, which he ran for twelve years before selling it to Publicis Groupe.

Williams has been a member of the PRCA Board of Management since 2001, with his most recent role having been vice chairman.

Williams says, “It is an honour to take on the role Chairman of the PRCA, following in the footsteps of Matt Neale’s exceptional leadership. I plan to carry on the great work of the PRCA, confirming the UK’s position as one of the world’s leading centres on all kinds of reputational advice. In particular, I plan to make the PRCA even more visible in City and Financial PR, a great strength of the PR industry, and of the UK economy alike.”

Francis Ingham MPRCA, director general, PRCA, says, “It is my great pleasure to welcome Steffan as our new chairman. His pedigree in the communications business is second to none, and together we are going to represent the PR industry with greater verve and vigour than ever before.”

Ingham continues, “The past two years working with Matt Neale have been an absolute pleasure. Under his leadership, the PRCA has grown enormously. We now represent and regulate over 20,000 PR practitioners; we have a new base in the Middle East and North Africa; we have never hesitated to stand up for our industry.”