PRSA CEO Search

November 18, 2024

Dear PRSA members and the Communications community overall:

The candidate portal is open now through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time U.S. Friday, Nov. 29, as we kick off the search for the next chief executive officer of PRSA. This promises to be an exciting and rewarding role for a visionary, transformational and collaborative leader who will help propel PRSA into the future.

The candidate portal includes the role description and preferred candidate background, staff and budget overview, details on the PRSA Strategic Plan that the CEO will help implement and information on how to apply. In short:

• Candidates will use this Application Link.
• Candidates will upload their current resume, LinkedIn profile URL and answers to three strategic questions.

The PRSA Board of Directors has selected 12 current leaders to serve on the Search Committee. They include a cross-section of the organization, including Board officers, District and Chapter leaders, a Past Chair, past Search Committee member and our current Interim CEO. Their names and brief backgrounds are highlighted on the candidate portal.

The Search Committee will assist the Board by reviewing the online submissions and narrowing them to a diverse field of finalists who meet the position specifications. The Search Committee’s work will be conducted during the month of December. From there:

• Recommend finalists will be invited to virtual interviews with the Board in early January 2025.
  
• The leading two or three finalists will be invited to meet with the Board in person at the end of January 2025.
  

The Board has set a goal of emerging with outstanding CEO finalists and, ideally, making an offer to one of them within the first quarter of 2025. If more time is needed to find the right leader, however, the Board remains flexible and committed to doing what’s best for PRSA.      

Meanwhile, our Interim CEO Phil Bonaventura starts Jan. 1, 2025, and the transition with current CEO Linda Thomas Brooks already is under way. Phil has agreed to serve until a new CEO is on board.

The Board and Search Committee remain committed to communicating regularly and proactively with PRSA and PRSSA members, as well as the Communications community overall. Anyone with questions about the search process is invited to email me, as Search Committee Chair, at Ray.Day@stagwellglobal.com.

We value your continued support of and membership in PRSA – and are excited about all we will achieve together in 2025 and beyond.

Thank you!

Search Committee