NatWest Group’s director of corporate affairs, Simon Lewis, snatched
victory over Pielle PR chairman Peter Walker by just eight votes this
week to become IPR president for 1997.
Lewis - who at 36 is one of the youngest candidates in the IPR’s 48-year
history - will assume the role of president-elect in January.
The former chairman of the IPR’s city and financial group will work
alongside next year’s president Rosemary Brook and assume the presidency
in 1997.
Lewis’ winning manifesto stressed the need for the PR industry to speak
out on national business issues and become more ‘outward looking and
self-confident’.
Walker expressed disappointment at his defeat stating: ‘I had a very
clear view of what I wanted to achieve.’
Walker also said he was ‘saddened’ that only 20 per cent of the IPR’s
eligible voters had exercised their right to vote - a view shared by
Lewis.
‘We need to find a way to ensure people participate in the future of the
Institute,’ said Lewis. ‘People are sitting on their hands, it’s a
shame.’
Current president Keith Henshall described the result as a ‘win-win
situation’, but sided with Walker saying: ‘He is a radical thinker and
likes to stir things up, which I failed to do.’
