The CIPR yesterday announced the names of the first ever 'chartered PR practitioners', the people who have successfully completed the trade body's new professional qualification

CIPR Acting Director General Ann Mealor told esPResso: "Those receiving Chartered Practitioner status this year are all pioneers, setting the bar for future generations of PR leaders. They've had to successfully complete a rigorous assessment process to emerge as the profession's first Chartered PR Practitioners and are to be congratulated. This is a landmark for the CIPR and the PR profession as a whole. This status delivers parity with other business disciplines, and supports our Royal Charter obligation to promote, for the public benefit, high levels of skill, knowledge, competence, standards of practice and professional conduct".

Those to achieve the chartered status are: Matt Appleby, Golley Slater; Hilary Berg, Corporate Culture Ltd; Paul Corry, Rethink; Jonathan Cross, People, Words & Pictures Ltd; David Crundwell, PR Consultant; Jane Cumming, Platform PR Group Limited; Tricia Defty, Thinc PR; Susan Fox, Information Commissioner's Office; Pat Gaudin; Jane Howard, Mandate Communications; Emma Leech, University of Nottingham; Matthew McKay, BioMed Central; Anne Moir, Institution of Civil Engineers; Paul Mylrea, Department For International Development; Paul Noble, Noble Ink; Jay O'Connor, Influence Crowd; David Russell, East Lothian Council; Alan Smith, Altium Limited; Paul Smyth, River PR; Matt Tee, Cabinet Office; Martin Turner, NHS Warwickshire; Francoise Van Buuren; Peter Walker, Pielle Consulting Group; Jason Wassell, DLA Piper UK LLP; and Sue Wolstenholme, Ashley Public Relations.