The Arthur W. Page Society today announced a new slate of officers for 2006, including Roger Bolton, Aetna's senior vice president of Communications, as the new Page Society president.

Bolton, 55, will succeed Thomas R. Martin, senior vice president and director, Corporate Relations, ITT Industries, who has served as president of the Page Society in 2004 and 2005. Bolton has been a member of the Page Society since 1996, and currently serves as Treasurer.

"Under Tom's leadership, the Page Society has significantly stepped up its ability to serve our members and promote the Page Principles," Bolton said. "The Board of Trustees recently reaffirmed our mission of advancing the policy role of the chief public relations officer, and adopted new goals that will guide our efforts going forward."

"It will be my responsibility and privilege to work with the board to achieve the goals we've set for the future. I'm honored to be able to work with some of the profession's most distinguished leaders in this effort."

Those elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees are:

Vice Presidents:

• Angela A. Buonocore, vice president, Corporate Communications, The Pepsi Bottling Group
• Peter Debreceny, vice president, Corporate Relations, Allstate
• Maril Gagen MacDonald, CEO, Gagen MacDonald, LLC
• William G. Margaritis, corporate vice president, Worldwide Communications and Investor Relations, FedEx
• Tom Martin, senior vice president and director, Corporate Relations, ITT Industries
• Anne M. McCarthy, senior vice president, Global Communications, SAP

Secretary:

• Rich Jernstedt, executive vice president and senior partner, Fleishman-Hillard
  

Treasurer:

• Nancy A. Hobor, senior vice president, Communications and Investor Relations, Grainger

At-Large Members:

• James E. Murphy, global managing director, Marketing and Communications, Accenture
• W. D. (Bill) Nielsen, former corporate vice president, Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, Johnson & Johnson

Paul Basista, who continues as Executive Director, said, "It is a privilege and honor to continue working with this new team. I look forward to helping raise the bar for the Page Society."

The goals approved by the board are:

1. Provide multiple opportunities - through forums, publications and the Page Society web site - for members to receive timely knowledge about issues that affect their role as decision makers within their organizations.
2. Initiate communication and collaboration with members, other professionals and organizations to strengthen the understanding and application of the Page Principles.
3. Enhance the Society's role as a thought leader by using all appropriate channels to explain to senior corporate leadership, corporate boards of directors, and other key stakeholders the strategic role of the chief corporate public relations officer in helping the organization succeed, by operating in the public interest consistent with the Page Principles.
4. Encourage research that contributes to the profession's store of knowledge and provides practical applications to enhance and support the corporate communications function.
5. Ensure the future strength of the Page Society by involving current members, identifying and sponsoring diverse candidates for membership and ensuring their representation in the leadership of the organization, and helping develop tomorrow's leaders in the profession by supporting the development of a pipeline of diverse talent to serve as future chief corporate public relations officers.

About the Arthur W. Page Society

The Arthur W. Page Society is a professional association composed primarily of the chief communications officers (CCOs) of the world's top multinational corporations, and the CEOs of the world's largest public relations agencies. The organization's members also include academics from the leading business and communications schools.

The Page Society is dedicated to strengthening the management policy role of chief communications officers. The Page Society is upheld by management concepts, known as the Page Principles, which have been tested for more than half a century and have earned the support and respect of chief executive officers throughout the country. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Arthur W. Page Society.