LONDON, 9th April, 2020
77% of PR businesses expect the current pandemic to cause a loss of earnings, according to research published by ICCO and PRovoke.
The new service – led by Lansons Chief Executive and Co-founder, Tony Langham – connects highly experienced advisors from around the world with communications leaders seeking support.
The PRCA has partnered with international associations including EACD, IABC (EMENA), ICCO and IPRA to ensure the initiative delivers support to colleagues across the world. This international collaboration is spearheaded by the Taskforce's Deputy Chair, Rod Cartwright.
Taskforce advisors will provide impartial and practical advice during 30-minute confidential consultations. Those seeking support can complete a form on the PRCA website, where they can also request advice from specific advisors. A list of advisors, along with information on how to request support, is available here.
PRCA COVID-19 Taskforce Chair, Tony Langham said:
“Communications leaders, both in-house and in consultancies, are going to be faced with some of the most difficult decisions of their lives in the next few weeks. The PRCA has gathered together an amazingly impressive group of leaders from across the world willing to give their time to help fellow professionals make the best decisions possible.”
He added “We all make better decisions when we talk things through with someone from outside our day to day world. The PRCA is hugely grateful to our volunteers and to the other international communications associations who have agreed to join us in rolling out on this important initiative”.
The service is the first in a series of Taskforce initiatives providing practical support to PR professionals during the COVID-19 Crisis. The Taskforce is supported by Deputy Chairs, Rachel Friend (leading on "Running an agency during COVID-19") and Rod Cartwright (leading on "Communicating during COVID-19).
The Taskforce is seeking more communications leaders, both in-house and consultancy, to volunteer to give their time to help their fellow professionals. They can volunteer by emailing Neha Khatwani (neha.khatwani@prca.org.uk).
The 57 who have volunteered so far are:
| Claudio | Barone | AESA (oil and gas) |
| Peter | Bowles | Clarity |
| Nicola | Brown | Reputation consultant, NB Thinks Ltd |
| Stuart | Bruce | Consultant |
| Rod | Cartwright | Rod Cartwright Consulting, ex-Ketchum, H&K and Text100 |
| Maria | Cheong | PRHK / BCW (Hong Kong) |
| Nathaniel | Cassidy | 3ManFactory |
| Amanda | Coleman | Ex Greater Manchester Police |
| Wyn | Evans | Forty Shillings |
| Rachel | Friend | Ex-Weber Shandwick |
| Michael | Gonzalez | Clarity |
| Rachel | Gilley | Clarity |
| Kate | Hartley | Polpeo |
| Ong | Hock Chuan | Consultant / Trainer |
| Lauren | Holt | Co-op |
| Mark | Hutcheon | Deloitte |
| Michael | Kelly | W Communications |
| Justin | Kerr-Stevens | Portland |
| Stephen | King | Middlesex University (Dubai) |
| Tony | Langham | Lansons |
| Helen | Lacey | |
| Antonio | Marques Mendes | Major pharma company' |
| Alex | MacLaverty | Clarity |
| Tracy | McKelligott | |
| Molly | Mcpherson | Consultant |
| Anna | Meacham | Huxley |
| Jared | Meade | Owens Community College/Consultant |
| Raju | Miah | National Crime Agency |
| Rachel | Millington | Contact - for families with disabled children |
| Ella | Minty | Consultant |
| Barbara | Nash | Barbara Nash & Associates LLC (Senior Strategist) |
| Michelle | Nelson | |
| Helen | Neal | HN Communications |
| Bossoro | Ngo | Remark Group |
| Shane | O'Donoghue | Nelson Bostock |
| Ann | Peru Knabe | US Air Force |
| Jenny | Riddell-Carpenter | BECG |
| Jennifer | Robertson | SPEY, full-service communications agency |
| Nigel | Sarbutts | PR Cavalry |
| Kerry | Sheehan | Government Communications Service |
| Sudha | Singh | Consultant |
| Emma | Smith | Sandpiper Communications |
| Lena | Soh Ng | Huntingdon |
| Marc | Sparrow | The Hoffman Agency |
| Vicki | Spencer-Francis | Cowshed |
| Jennifer | Sproul | Institute of Internal Communications |
| Samantha | Strawford | Belmon |
| David | Tarbuck | Salisbury Group |
| Penelope | Thomas | Freelance in maritime Communications |
| Sheena | Thomson | Consultant, Conduit Associates |
| Stephen | Waddington | Metia |
| Peter | Walker | Pielle Consulting |
| Mary Beth | West | Fletcher PR |
| Bess | Winston | The Winston Agency - Full Service Corporate Communications |
| Choi | Yonhee | Phillips |
| Hasan | Zuberi | Momentum PR / Council of PR Pakistan |
Further information available on request
Koray Camgoz
Head of Communications and Marketing, PRCA
E: koray.camgoz@prca.org.uk
P: +44 (0)7503 632687
WHO WE ARE
The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) is the world’s largest professional PR body.
We represent more than 35,000 PR professionals in 66 countries worldwide. With offices in London, Singapore, Dubai, and Buenos Aires, we are a global advocate for excellence in public relations.
Our mission is to create a more professional, ethical, and prosperous PR industry. We champion - and enforce - professional standards in the UK and overseas through our Professional Charter and Code of Conduct. The Code compels members to adhere to the highest standards of ethical practice.
We deliver exceptional training, authoritative industry data, and global networking and development opportunities. We also manage the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), the umbrella body for 40 PR associations across the world, and LG Comms – the UK’s national body for authorities raising standards of local government communication.
For more information, visit our website.