Barry Leggetter appointed as first PRCA international president

The PRCA has appointed Barry Leggetter as its first international president to continue to build on the presence of the industry body around the world.

Starting his role at the PRCA on 25 February, Leggetter will work closely with the PRCA’s director general, Francis Ingham, to grow and expand membership internationally. Regional offices already exist in South East Asia, Middle East and North Africa. The role will also include responsibility for delivering the ICCO Global Summit and the ICCO Global Awards.

Leggetter takes on the role after 11 years as CEO of AMEC, and following over 25 years of senior roles at international public relations consultancies, including Porter Novelli, FleishmanHillard, and GolinHarris.

Leggetter was the winner of the 2018 PRCA Mark Mellor Award for Outstanding Contribution to the PR industry, and the AMEC Don Bartholomew Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Communications Measurement and Evaluation industry.

Francis Ingham, director general, PRCA, and chief executive, ICCO, said: ‘Barry Leggetter will be a fundamental part of the PRCA’s drive to build on our status as the world’s largest PR association, and to expand our offering to other parts of the world. He will transform us from an international organisation to a truly global one.

‘Barry is a proven leader with a global perspective for driving engagement and real change and I am personally delighted he has joined us – the clearest possible sign of our intent to continue to grow globally.’

Barry Leggetter, international president, PRCA, said: ‘I’m very excited to be a part of this new challenge to help grow the PRCA and ICCO’s already impressive global reach. The PR and communications industry is increasingly international in its outlook, so it’s only right that the PRCA should be working hard to position the UK at its heart. I am delighted to be joining Francis and the team.’