NEW DELHI, 14 October, 2019: The International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) has welcomed a new leadership team. Nitin Mantri, Group CEO, Avian WE, has become President of ICCO, while the organisation's new Vice-President is Grzegorz Szczepanski, CEO, Hill + Knowlton Strategies Poland. Mantri is the first Asian to hold this position.

Mantri had been elected Vice-President in 2017, serving under Elise Mitchell, who leads Mitchell Communications Group and is recognised as one of the top strategic communications and public relations professionals in the USA, during her two-year term. As per ICCO rules, he now becomes President until 2021.

The role of ICCO President is to lead the strategic vision and direction of the organisation, uniting a diverse membership around the most critical global PR issues. Mantri's message to ICCO members focused on increasing visibility for the role and value of public relations by raising the industry's ethical standards and instilling a sense of purpose in PR professionals to build a better world.

Mantri says, "Our profession comes with great powers of influence and with this influence comes responsibility to the public, our clients, and society. Our focus would always be to promote professional principles such as honesty and transparency at all times. At the same time, we would focus on communicating the strong value proposition we offer to businesses by helping brands to define their purpose in a way that is meaningful to society."

Mantri is a dynamic leader in the world of communications with over two decades of experience in diverse sectors. Apart from leading Avian WE, he also co-founded Chase India, a public policy firm in India. Before he joined Avian WE as its CEO, he held senior positions in Brodeur/Pleon (now Ketchum) and Genesis PR (now BCW). He is also President of the Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI), the apex body of communications and public relations consultancies in India.

ICCO board members also elected a treasurer, who serves on the Executive Committee and supervises the organisation's financial affairs. Alison Clarke for the PRCA in the UK was elected into this role. She has replaced Andrey Barannikov, CEO, SPN Communications.