About PRGN
The World’s Local
Public Relations Agency
We are a member-led network of more than 50 hand-selected public relations firms operating in key markets across the world. Each agency brings local insight, sector expertise and trusted media relationships. Together, we deliver cross-border campaigns with the speed and flexibility of independents and the scale of a global network. Founded in 1992, PRGN has grown through collaboration and shared standards.
What WE Do
Global PR Expertise, Locally Delivered
PRGN agencies collaborate seamlessly across borders to deliver communication strategies tailored to your markets. From corporate and consumer PR to digital, crisis and sustainability communications, our members combine global coordination with local market know-how.
Markets Worldwide
Independent Agencies
Team
Meet Our Global Leadership
PRGN’s elected Board represents regions around the world, ensuring global collaboration and shared standards.
Natacha Clarac
President
The 33rd President of PRGN, Natacha Clarac is general director of Brussels-based public affairs consultancy Athenora Consulting, which counsels leading European companies on impacts of new policies developed by European Union institutions. Athenora Consulting works with companies in the fields of banking, insurance and financial services, energy and utilities, tech and digital, healthcare, transport, environment and trade. A French native, Natacha builds strategies that help clients participate in the EU decision-making process.
David Wills
President-Elect
As Senior Vice President of Media Profile in Toronto, Canada, David understands the importance of strong narrative, clear messaging and compelling delivery. He draws on his natural storytelling abilities to help his clients find their voice and weave their messages together in a powerful way. After 20 years at Media Profile, David has become much more than just a storyteller; he’s now a trusted ally and respected advisor to his corporate and government clients. He has media trained CEOs and senior government bureaucrats, leaders of movements and causes, as well as high profile and aspiring politicians.
Marisa Toro
Regional VP (EMEA)
Marisa Toro is co-founder and partner of Marlow Insight, a consultancy firm that specializes in corporate influence and go-to-market strategies to strengthen business and reputation, based in Madrid, Spain. Marisa’s extensive background in communications and public affairs include communications leadership positions at Spanish and multinational companies and directing communication and public affairs for Google in Southern Europe.
Natalie Ghidotti
Regional VP (The Americas)
Natalie Ghidotti established her agency, Ghidotti, in 2007 and has developed it into a respected partner for prominent brands in the Southern region of the U.S. She is also serving as PRSA’s Chairman of Counselors Academy, a section for agency owners. Prior to her career in PR, she was a journalist for 11 years, working as a reporter and editor for The Business Press in Fort Worth, Texas, and Arkansas Business Publishing Group in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Shawn Jiang Xiaofeng
Regional VP (APAC)
Shawn Jiang Xiaofeng is Founder and General Manager of China Advocate, an agency based in Beijing with coverage to major Chinese cities. He has 20 years of experience in communications, strategic marketing and crisis management throughout Asia. At China Advocate he has developed a leading consultancy of corporate reputation and strategic marketing, serving international clients such as Boston Scientific, LinkedIn, Thermo Fisher and Byte Dance.
Brad Kostka
Treasurer
Brad Kostka is President of Rococo in Cleveland, Ohio. He leads agency management and business development at Roopco. For more than two decades, he has provided strategic communication counsel to organizations ranging from global publicly traded corporations to local startups. His expertise includes brand strategy, integrated communications, investor relations, digital marketing and corporate event planning. Brad is past president of the Cleveland chapters of the Public Relations Society of America and International Association of Business Communicators. He also serves on the boards of local non-profits.
Frédéric François
Secretary
Frédéric François is Founder and Managing Partner of Two cents in Brussels, Belgium. Frédéric had his first job as a PR-assistant of Belgian Prime Minister Wilfried Martens. The PM got fired, Fred also. After this inspiring period he discovered the world of trade fairs at Brussels Expo for nearly 10 years, focusing on sales and PR. In 2001 he created Advanced Fair to be in touch with various sectors and people, serving them with PR services and logistic support at trade fairs. “Advanced Fair’s PR department developed so well that we decided to brand it separately. This is how Two cents was born,” says Fred.
Owen Cullen
Business Development Committee Chair
Owen Cullen is Managing Director of Cullen Communications in Dublin, Ireland. Owen has been running family-business Cullen Communications since 2013 when he took the helm from his father, Founder Frank Cullen. Prior to that he spent six years with Newspaper Licensing Ireland and represented NLI as a founding member of the Press Database & Licensing Network of which he was elected to the executive board in 2011. Most recently, he served for two years as Chair of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Ireland, representing the interests of top PR consultancies.
Loreley Maldonado
Conference Committee Chair
Loreley Maldonado is Founder and CEO of Eje Comunicación in Mexico City. With more than 20 years of experience in strategic communication, public affairs and corporate reputation and crisis management in Mexico and in various countries across the American continent, Loreley is also a columnist and has been an academic speaker on Corporate Reputation and Strategic Communication. At Eje Comunicación she has led communication and reputation programs for companies and organizations including Coca-Cola FEMSA, Genomma Lab, Coca-Cola Company, Medix, Grupo IMU, Asofarma, WWF, EGADE, Latina Desarrollos Energéticas, CoRe, Diri, Stryker, Viasat and Lafayette.
Nick Leighton
Knowledge Committee Chair
Nick Leighton is Owner and CEO of NettResults Middle East, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Besides running NettResults, Nick is the author of best-selling book, Exactly Where You Want to Be: A business owners guide to passion, profit and happiness, and an Adjunct Professor at Chapman University in California, where he lectures to graduate and post-graduate classes in strategic communication.
Bill Southard
Marketing Committee Chair
Bill Southard is Founder and CEO of Southard Communications in New York. Bill launched Southard Communications in 1994 and has since experienced consistent and considerable growth and today represents a broad range of clients across a myriad of industries. In his day-to-day role at the agency, Bill drives the creative process, provides ongoing strategic counsel and manages all crisis communications on behalf of agency clients. With more than 35 years of communications experience, Bill has counseled some of the country’s leading Fortune 500 firms and prior to founding Southard has was president of Earle Palmer Brown Public Relations and previous to that General Manager with Dorf & Stanton Communications.
Chuck Norman
Membership Committee Chair
Chuck Norman is Owner and Principal of S&A Communications in Raleigh Durham, North Carolina. Chuck has wide-ranging experience in public relations, marketing, crisis communication, and branding. His experience spans a variety of industries including automotive, commercial real estate, technology, healthcare, government and municipal, associations, professional services, economic development, and chambers of commerce.
Have a specific question?
Connect with PRGN
Gabor Jelinek
Executive Director
Gabor Jelinek is the Executive Director of Public Relations Global Network. In that capacity, Gabor is the center of action, supporting the work of the President and the Executive Committee to grow and develop the global communications network. Working closely with PRGN’s Business, Marketing and Membership committees, Gabor is the driver of global business development, self-marketing, and membership retention and recruitment.