Seven is an auspicious number. Lucky for many, it also features heavily in scripture, Harry Potter and astronomy, to name just a few. In the UK PR industry, it now plays a role in a key shift between the two major professional bodies representing communicators in the UK, the PRCA and CIPR.

After seven years with the PRCA, deputy director general Matt Cartmell announced earlier this month that he will be stepping down on 31 August to launch his own PR agency. The PRCA announced today that taking on some of his responsibilities will be Koray Camgoz, current public relations manager for the CIPR, who has spent over seven years with the CIPR in various capacities. He will now be head of communications and marketing at the PRCA.

Francis Ingham, director general of the PRCA, says, “It’s my enormous pleasure to welcome Koray Camgoz to the PRCA team. I’ve been hugely impressed by his work at the CIPR in recent years, and I'm delighted he’ll now be deploying his expertise on behalf of PRCA members. His knowledge of our industry, combined with his international expertise make him the perfect person to head up the PRCA’s UK and international communications and marketing.”

Camgoz has held various roles in membership and development and communications during his time at the CIPR. He has overseen the organisation’s communications strategy, particularly focusing on developing its policy positions on the key issues facing the industry today. He has previous experience in comms and campaigns across the public, private and third sectors.

Camgoz says, “It’s been a privilege to work at the CIPR and I’m grateful for the support I received from colleagues and industry volunteers. I can’t wait to kick off my new role in October. The PRCA’s recent global growth makes it a particularly exciting time to join.”

Cartmell’s portfolio during his time with the PRCA grew to cover communications, marketing and events as he helped the PRCA through a period of national and global growth. He also worked heavily on issues related to licensing fees and ethics in PR. Ingham says of Cartmell’s departure, “It’s been a huge pleasure to work with Matt over the past seven years. We’ve travelled the UK together; heard and indeed given both excellent and execrable presentations; handed over hundreds of awards; and worked hand-in-glove to transform the PRCA, and to advance the interests of an industry to which Matt now returns as a practitioner. We will miss him, his Sutton Coldfield meets Southwark vowels, and his green suits very much indeed.” Cartmell also has experience in journalism and PR.

Camgoz adds that he is a supporter of the professionalism of the PR industry – a cause both organisations have fought for in recent years – as well as the commitment to industry standards. His role at the PRCA will focus on UK and global communications. He will join the PRCA on 4 October.