The Board of the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) has elected a new Chair, to lead the association for a two-year term. Ray Eglington, Group Managing Director at Four Communications, will be introduced to MEPRA's Members at the Annual General Meeting, and will officially assume the Chair position on 1 January 2017. MEPRA's AGM takes place on 5 December from 9-11am at the Radisson Blu, Dubai Media City.

Ray Eglington, Chairman-elect of MEPRA said: “I hope I can help build on the strong work of MEPRA over recent years, particularly in the areas of reach, excellence and voice.

"We need to continue to extend our reach, attracting new members across the whole region, with a focus on nationals in each market.

"MEPRA should continue to be a beacon for excellence in communications, whether that be through the awards, through training or through The Benchmark, which we launched this year.

“At a time when disciplines are converging, MEPRA should also be a clear voice for the PR industry, helping our members navigate the changes facing us all.”

Ray takes over from Brian Lott, executive director, group communications at Mubadala, who led the association in 2016. Brian was instrumental in successfully re-vitalising and re-branding MEPRA, and in launching the Association’s unique ‘MEPRA Leadership Majlis’ which takes place annually in Abu Dhabi. During Brian’s leadership Membership has increased by more than 60 per cent, and now includes the region’s most prominent public relations firms and many blue-chip GCC corporates.

The appointment followed MEPRA’s Charter that the Chair should be elected every two years and is elected from the current seated members of the Board. Sami Moutran from Memac Ogilvy and Deema Kingsmill-Moore from Marriott International also contested the post.

Deema Kingsmill-Moore from Marriott International was named Vice Chair after three years of consecutive service and delivering the most successful award ceremonies in the association’s history with double-digit growth in sponsorship year-on-year, and submissions increasing 70 per cent in 2016.

The Board also made an appointment to replace Sarah Campbell of Philips, who stepped down from the Board after three years. The Board appointed Hend Al Otaiba with immediate effect, who will serve the remainder of Sarah’s term on the Board through the end of 2017. At the AGM, the Board will recommend to its membership to approve expansion of its membership to 16, to accommodate two new Members - Margaret Flanagan from ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller and Amina Taher from Etihad Airways.

MEPRA was founded in 2001 by five PR heads, including Sadri Barrage, Sunil John, Tony Lewis, Jack Pearce and Barbara Saunders. It had 22 PR agency members in 2003. In 2016, over forty communications agencies and twenty corporates are part of the association, which today represents a region that employs more than 1,500 public relations communications practitioners.