IPRA-GC board for 2010-11 announced

Sultan Al Baza'i would be Executive Vice President. Humoud Al-Ghobaini, VP of Corporate Communications & PR at Saudi Arabia's Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), would be VP for the Kingdom Central Region, while Sara Al-Ayed, director of Traccs in the Kingdom, would be VP for the Western Region.

Khalid Al Khulaifi became VP for Kuwait, Fahad Al-Shihabi VP for Bahrain, Hassan Al Saleh VP for Oman, Jassim Ibrahim Fakhro VP for Qatar, and Nasser Mohammed Al Mulla Al Jasmi VP for UAE.

Sunil John, the Middle East's Director of Asda'a, took the position VP for Training and Certification, while Eatedal Al Ayyar of Kuwait became VP for membership.

The VP for Media & Public Relations went to Ahmed Abid Sheikh, and the elected board assigned Jassim Al Shuwaikh as Director At Large and Salah Al-Dhahri as Treasurer.

"We will be focusing on the development of new programs and make a concerted effort to attract new members from the kingdom and the Gulf countries," Al-Zahrani said of his plans. "We also will be hosting the organization's International Public Relations Congress in 2011 for the first time in the Middle East."

"We have all the ingredients for a successful administration," said nominating committee chairman Khalid A. Abubshait, Acting Executive Director of Saudi Aramco Affairs. "I am sure that together they will bring the chapter to a higher level."

IPRA-GC is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 2003 to meet the needs of public relations professionals across the GCC member states. The chapter also promotes the profession by enhancing members' competencies and skills through seminars, forums and workshops.