CIPR membership has almost doubled under Farrington's directorship over the last ten years. He has also increased the Institute's turnover from £1m to £4m and its staff from eight to 40.
Farrington was handed the award yesterday at an informal meeting with past presidents also present.
CIPR president Elisabeth Lewis-Jones said: ‘During his ten years at the CIPR Colin has been the linchpin that has drawn together the Institute's wide remit of activities and the engine that has driven their growth.'