Dilip Cherian, Co-founder of Perfect Relations, has been elected as the India representative to the International Public Relations Association (IPRA). Cherian would be the India representative for two years. His uncontested appointment as the Indian Council member is a significant step forward in IPRA’s efforts at promoting the profession in developing countries, especially in resurgent India.

Commenting on the development, Cherian said, “Communication consultancies in India today should now gear up to make the shift from being just one more ‘agency’ to aspiring to be a ‘high value strategic partner’ to the companies they work with. Valuing output would ultimately define the success of any creative industry in India – accountability and evaluation would be the deciding factors.”

Meanwhile, IPRA recently appointed Robert W Grupp as its President. Grupp has 30 years’ experience in public relations, with special expertise in international corporate communications. The other Board members include Elizabeth Ananto, Vice-President, Indonesia; Nigel Chism, Treasurer, UK; Alexandre Cordeiro, Portugal; Mixael de Kock, South Africa; Furio Garbagnati, Italy; Maria Gergova, President-elect, Bulgaria; Cristophe Ginisty, France; Richard Linning, UK; Melek Manisali, Turkey; Johanna McDowell, South Africa; Philip Sheppard, Belgium; Gergana Vassileva, Bulgaria.

IPRA is managed by CEO James Holt and staff at its Secretariat in suburban London. The Association has nearly 1,100 individual public relations executives in 100 countries as members.