Former Heinz PR head John Aspery has been elected president of the
IPR for 2003 following a knife-edge vote.
Aspery, CEO of Aspery Associates, scored 584 votes, against 513 for
Stephen Jolly, director of communications at serviced office firm
Regus.
The election saw an increased turnout of 28 per cent, up from just 17
per cent last time.
Aspery said: 'I am pleased as it was a robust campaign - that is
healthy. The high turnout pleases me too, in that members are taking
such an interest.'
Aspery will now be president-elect, supporting Financial Dynamics
partner Jon Aarons' presidency during 2002 before taking over. He said
his year as president-elect would see him working to improve regional
IPR activity.
'I will work with the incoming president and look at ways of
co-ordinating activities for regional groups. I believe we could do more
regionally in training and development, and I would like to see a
regional press officer,' he said.
Aarons said he expected Jolly to stay on the IPR executive committee and
that he would shortly be agreeing a defined role for him.
