Judy Lewis, Cofounder of Strategic Objectives, Named Chair of Canadian Council of Public Relations Firms

TORONTO, October 22, 2018 – The board and members of the Canadian Council of Public Relations Firms (CCPRF), the only national organization of leading public relations consulting firms operating in Canada, are pleased to announce the appointment of Judy Lewis as Chair of the organization effective October 2018. Lewis takes over from David Gordon, previously Managing Partner of Cohn & Wolfe, who served as Chair of CCPRF since 2013. CCPRF is dedicated to promoting the role of public relations in business strategy and organizational development and performance in Canada.

Judy Lewis is the Cofounder and Partner of Strategic Objectives. A recognized leader in the communications industry, Lewis provides senior counsel to many of the world’s leading brands and has brought corporate social responsibility to heightened importance throughout many organizations. Lewis has been active in CCPRF since its founding in 2001.

“Public relations agencies are experiencing both growth and diversification. CCPRF plays an important role in advocating on behalf of the industry and advancing the ethics and reputation of public relations as a vital strategy to connect with consumers and stakeholders. As organizations recognize the demand for more transparency in both B2C and B2B markets, public relations firms play an important role in helping to navigate communications, while being true to a code of ethics that aligns with best practices,” says Lewis. “On behalf of the CCPRF, I want to sincerely thank David Gordon for his leadership and dedication. Moving forward, my mission will be to continue to advance the reputation of our industry and demonstrate the ongoing value and contributions our members make to communities, businesses and our country”.

Public relations firms are now offering more diverse services than ever before and are making even more significant contributions to marketing and all aspects of external communications, advocacy and reputation management. As media and the marketing environment have changed, CCPRF member firms have evolved to be at the forefront – providing greater depth of services and opportunities. Consumers crave more information and experiences, are active in multiple digital channels and are influenced by new and emerging digital opinion leaders who are no longer only esteemed academics and media. CCPRF member firms identify the right solutions to communication challenges and bring the experience and resources to their clients, providing valuable insights to help them make the right decisions and enabling them to maintain and advance their relevance and success. To see a complete list of CCPRF’s member firms visit our website, here.

“I have a passion for contributing to the advancement of the very best in public relations and for the entrepreneurial spirit that is so integral to Canada’s leading public relations firms that are CCPRF members. I truly look forward to working with my CCPRF colleagues to advance the value and reputation of public relations.” concludes Lewis.

Lewis is a long-time leader in the communications field. Her firm is the only Canadian agency to have ever been recognized by the United Nations with an award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Relations. A native of Montreal and graduate of McGill, Lewis serves on the Boards of several non-profit organizations, and is the Chair of Centennial College’s Corporate Communications and Public Relations Advisory Committee. Lewis also serves as the communications strategist for The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking and is the recipient of both the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Canada and the Communications Industry.

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For further information about the Canadian Council of Public Relations Firms or to learn how to become a member of CCPRF please visit www.ccprf.ca or contact: Judy Lewis 416 366-7735.