MEPRA has appointed its new Chair and Vice Chair who will serve as the leaders of its Executive Board from 2019 to 2021. Jonty Summers, former Managing Director, Hanover Middle East is appointed as Chair and Lisa Welsh former Managing Director, Hill+Knowlton Strategies MENA as Vice Chair for a two-year period.
Mr Summers and Ms Welsh were voted by the MEPRA Executive Board, following an advisory ballot by the wider MEPRA Strategy Board in November. Both will assume their roles from January 1, 2019.
A former journalist with more than 20 years’ experience, Mr Summers moved to the UAE in 2009. He has served on the MEPRA Executive Board for the past 12 months while also spearheading MEPRA’s partnership with PR Week UK and participating in the planning and execution of the prestigious MEPRA Awards.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to build on MEPRA’s strong foundations as a champion of excellence in public relations. MEPRA’s work is shaped by the dynamics, creativity and energy that characterize the region. Signature events like last month’s REMAP creativity conference, the Majlis and the Awards, as well as partnerships with international bodies like CIPR, reflect this mission as we look to encourage ever greater levels of professionalism in the industry,” said Mr Summers.
Ms Welsh was listed as one of the world’s most influential PR professionals in the 2016 PR Week Global Power Book. She has served on the MEPRA Executive Board for the past 12 months where she led the planning and implementation of MEPRA’s successful inaugural REMAP Festival.
“MEPRA is transforming the communications industry as we know it, driving creativity, excellence and development across the region. I am honored to take on the Vice Chair role, and thank both Ray and Deema for their exceptional work to date, along with the executive and strategy board. We look forward to announcing next year’s strategy in January, and taking MEPRA to the next level,” commented Ms Welsh.
Nominations are now open for four vacancies on the MEPRA Executive Board. The new Executive Board Members will be voted for during the MEPRA Annual General Meeting on January 30, 2019.
