Barri Rafferty, partner and president of leading public relations firm Ketchum, was inducted into the PR News Hall of Fame at a luncheon held yesterday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Effective Jan. 1, Rafferty will assume the role of CEO of Ketchum, becoming the first woman to hold that title at a top-five global public relations firm.

The PR News Hall of Fame recognizes public relations professionals who have held long-time leadership roles, serve as a source of inspiration within and beyond the workplace, and help redefine the role of communicators.

PR News noted Rafferty's commitment to mentoring as well as her role as an advocate for issues like gender parity and eliminating unconscious bias. "In the course of her career in communications, Barri Rafferty has not just reached the summit of business leadership and led award-winning campaigns – she has been a role model and champion for women in business," PR News wrote.

Said Rafferty, "I am honored and humbled to be inducted into the PR News Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of other PR professionals who have had a tremendous impact in the industry and on my own career. As I take on my new role in January, I look forward to continuing to push for innovation, creativity, diversity and inclusivity within the industry."

Rafferty joined Ketchum in 1994 and has held several strategic roles across the business during her tenure, including serving as global president since July 2016. She has led Ketchum's North Americabusiness, its largest region, through a period of growth and business expansion. She also has led the Global Brand Marketing Practice and served as director of the firm's largest office, New York.

Rafferty also is an advocate for women's leadership, serving as a founding member of Omnicom Group's Omniwomen board and having spoken on the topic of gender parity on global, cross-industry stages, including TEDxEast and the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Outside of Ketchum, Rafferty holds positions within a number of organizations, including serving on the PR Council's board of directors and the national executive board of StepUp, an organization with the mission of empowering girls from under-resourced communities to become confident, college-bound and career-focused.

About Ketchum

Ketchum is a leading global communications firm with operations in more than 70 countries across six continents. The winner of 45 Cannes Lions and an unprecedented five PRWeek Campaign of the Year Awards, Ketchum partners with clients to deliver strategic programming, game-changing creative and measurable results that build brands and reputations. For more information on Ketchum, a part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, visit www.ketchum.com.

About Omnicom Public Relations Group

Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, marketing to women, fashion, global health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,000 public relations professionals in more than 330 offices worldwide who provide their expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.