Peter Debreceny, a consultant with the Chicago-based strategy execution firm Gagen MacDonald, and former vice president of the Corporate Relations Department of Allstate Insurance Company, is being honored with the Arthur W. Page Society's 2010 Distinguished Service Award. With more than 30 years experience in public relations and integrated communications, Debreceny has had a distinguished career in both corporate and agency life and has practiced in New Zealand, Australia and the United States.
"Peter has been a visionary throughout his career in the communications field" said Bill Margaritis, Chairman of the Arthur W. Page Society. "From his contributions to the industry in his native New Zealand to his award-winning work in stakeholder relations and corporate reputation management at Allstate, Peter's pioneering spirit and commitment to building the future of our profession is widely recognized across the industry."
The Distinguished Service Award is presented to individuals who have devoted themselves to services that help build and nurture the profession. Debreceny became a trustee of the Arthur W. Page Society in 2004 and has served as an officer of the society.
Debreceny joined Gagen MacDonald in 2007, specializing in change management, corporate reputation and social responsibility strategies. In addition to leading several of the firm's client engagements, he started its social media and CSR practices.
Previously, Debreceny was vice president of Corporate Relations at the Allstate Insurance Company where he was responsible for internal and external communications and where he won a Silver Anvil award for his pioneering work in stakeholder engagement and corporate reputation management.
Earlier in his career, he led communications for New Zealand's first two America's Cup yachting challenges in Perth, Australia and in San Diego, for which he also won a Silver Anvil. He also led the communications campaign for New Zealand's first successful environmental campaign and was a senior member of the group that organized the New Zealand entry at the 1988 World Expo in Brisbane, Australia.
Debreceny is a 2009 inductee to the PR News Hall of Fame. He has served as a trustee of the Institute for Public Relations and was chair and co-chair of the Institute from 2004 to 2008. He is chair of the Commission on Global Public Relations Research and a trustee of the Center for Global Public Relations at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
He regularly lectures on public relations topics at universities across the United States and internationally and is a member of the ACEJMC accrediting panel.
Debreceny is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and has served on the boards of the Metropolitan Planning Council of Chicago, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago and the Chicago Opera Theater. He is also the author of four books, including New Zealand: A Special Place.
The Arthur W. Page Society is honoring Peter Debreceny with the Distinguished Service Award during the 27th Annual Conference, "Being Indispensable: Culture as a Competitive Advantage" being held in Palos Verdes, CA from September 26th – 28th, 2010.
Previous Distinguished Service Award winners include:
The Distinguished Service Award was created to honor an individual, who over the years has helped strengthen the role of public relations. Successful candidates have served the profession by improving its overall value and effectiveness. The recipients of this award helped strengthen the role of public relations in our society by devoting themselves to services that help build and nurture the profession. Winners may have championed the merits of public relations; written articles and/or books; conducted opinion research; developed educational programs; and worked with students, professional groups and community groups.
The Arthur W. Page Society is a professional association for senior public relations and corporate communications executives who seek to enrich and strengthen their profession. Membership consists primarily of chief communications officers of Fortune 500 corporations, the CEOs of the world's largest public relations agencies, and leading academics from the nation's top business and communications schools. The Page Society is dedicated to strengthening the management policy role of chief public relations officers. For more information please visit http://www.awpagesociety.com/site/about/
For more information contact:
Anuneha Mewawalla
212.400.7959 ext. 102
amewawalla@awpagesociety.com
Eric Kim
646.935.4179
eric.kim@ketchum.com