New President For Council Of Public Relations Firms.

The Board of Directors of the Council of Public Relations Firms, the public relations industry’s trade association, announced the appointment of Kathy H. Cripps as president.

Ms. Cripps, Executive Managing Director and U.S. Director, Healthcare, at Hill and Knowlton, assumes her new position with 25-years of diverse client and agency public relations experience.

She has served as vice president at Burson-Marsteller and Creamer Dickson Basford (now Magnet Communications); founded and served as president and chief operating officer of SCIENS Worldwide Public Relations, and has held media relations positions with Farberware and the Nestle Company.

She served as chair for the Counselors Academy of the Public Relations Society of America in 2000; president of the Women Executives in Public Relations Foundation; board member of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, and founding member of the board of the Council of Public Relations Firms. She has received numerous industry awards for her work. She holds an MBA in marketing from Fordham University and a BA from Queens College.

Ms. Cripps succeeds Jack Bergen, the Council’s founding president, who left at year-end to become senior vice president, corporate affairs and marketing for Siemens US.

“I am very pleased to assume the mantle from Jack Bergen. Under his leadership, the Council has accomplished a great deal in a very short time. Now the industry’s messages need to reach deeper and broader audiences,” Ms. Cripps said.

The appointment was announced by the Council’s new board chairman, John Graham, chairman and chief executive officer of Fleishman-Hillard.

“After considering 15 excellent candidates, we selected Kathy to lead the Council,” Graham said. “Her outstanding record of achievements in building a mid-size agency and growing business within large agencies, her commitment to excellence in the industry and her energy and enthusiasm made her our unanimous choice.”

“While Hill and Knowlton will miss Kathy’s leadership in our growing Health Care Practice, we are pleased that the same leadership will benefit our profession broadly in her Council role,” said Howard Paster, Chairman, Hill and Knowlton, Inc.

The Council represents the U.S. public relations industry. Founded 3 1/2 years ago by 32 charter members, it has grown to 125 member firms, including all of the top 20 firms and 80% of the top 50 firms in the U.S.

The Council’s mission is to advance the business of public relations by increasing the recognition and use of public relations as a strategic business tool. To accomplish its core objectives, the Council manages four categories of programs: business advocacy, agency management, talent recruitment and industry and media relations. Each program has a strong research component.