London, 30 January 2013

CIPR Council votes on tighter controls on the conduct of elections and greater opportunities for members in leadership of the Institute

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has today announced changes to the rules governing the conduct of future elections. These include the significant step of opening up the pool of potential President-Elect candidates to all voting members of the Institute.

The rule change comes after a decision by CIPR Council in November 2012 to uphold a complaint about the process employed by the CIPR for hearing an appeal over the deadline for nominations in that years’ contest and to order a fresh election for President.

At its subsequent meeting on 24 January 2013, Council voted to make amendments to the rules governing the conduct of elections (Appendix C of the CIPR Regulations) to ensure tighter controls and greater compliance in the conduct of future elections. The amendments focus on: the election timetable and application of strict deadlines, the role and remit of the returning officer; the nominations process; guidance and rules on canvassing and the processes governing disputes and complaints.

At this meeting, Council also considered the recommendation to review the criteria of eligibility for standing for President-Elect (CIPR Regulation 21). It voted to open up candidacy for the role of President-Elect to all voting members of the Institute, with a focus on skills and experience through a new nominations process and an increase to the number of nominators required. Previous eligibility criteria included a requirement to have served for at least three years on the CIPR Executive Board or Council and a requirement for only one nominator from membership.

The full timetable for the election of the 2013 President-Elect will be announced on Wednesday 27 February 2013.

CIPR Council believes that the CIPR presidency is a standard-bearer role for the Institute and the public relations community, championing the profession and advancing professional standards. Council wanted to ensure that those put forward for the presidency are drawn from the widest possible pool of suitably qualified members, in terms of their experience and leadership record within the Institute and elsewhere.

Sue Wolstenholme FCIPR, CIPR President

I would like to thank CIPR Council for making an informed decision that I believe will better equip the Institute in the future and encourage our members to take an active role in our profession’s leadership. I hope that the tightening up of rules governing the conduct of elections gives our membership and the wider industry the confidence that the CIPR takes its corporate governance seriously, and that we wish to place openness and transparency at the heart of our decision making process.

Jane Wilson MCIPR, CIPR CEO

Further detail of the specific individual amendments made to the rules governing the conduct of elections, the updated Regulations and an update Appendix C can be found via the CIPR website along with updated FAQs on the CIPR Election.

CIPR Council also considered any remaining issues relating to conduct of the election for 2013 President-Elect at the January meeting, recommending that no further action should be taken.

Notes to editors

About the CIPR

Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations is the professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK. With 10,000 members involved in all aspects of public relations, it is the largest body of its type in Europe. The CIPR advances the public relations profession in the UK by making its members accountable through a code of conduct, developing policies, representing its members and raising standards through education and training.

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CIPR Council votes on tighter controls on the conduct of elections and greater opportunities for members in leadership of the Institute