The International Communications Consultancy Organization (ICCO) has named Kathy Bloomgarden, CEO of Ruder Finn, a 2025 Hall of Fame inductee. The ICCO Hall of Fame honors PR professionals who have made exceptional progress in leading the internationalization of the industry.As a global visionary, Bloomgarden has spearheaded the growth of Ruder Finn’s presence in markets across the world. Since expanding the agency to India in 2011, she has forged strategic client partnerships and built tech-forward teams across the country, expanding Ruder Finn’s presence in the region to 5 offices and 130 staff members. Her early leadership in AI adoption, including establishing one of the first agency AI incubators, rf.TechLab, underscores Bloomgarden’s forward-thinking and longstanding commitment to integrating emerging technologies that power Ruder Finn’s growth strategies and deliver measurable impact for clients. Her vision has positioned Ruder Finn to lead in a new era of communications, combining local insights with global resources, and AI with human ingenuity to create meaningful impact across offices in the US, Asia, the UK and the Middle East.“I’m deeply honored to be inducted into the ICCO Hall of Fame,” said Bloomgarden. “At Ruder Finn, we’re constantly implementing new tools and solutions that define the standard of communications in the AI era, harnessing the power of innovation in a rapidly changing world. Thank you for this recognition, and congratulations to my fellow inductees this year.”Bloomgarden was officially inducted into the ICCO Hall of Fame on November 12, 2025, at the organization’s Global Summit.

Global Women in PR (GWPR) has unveiled its sixth Annual Index survey to gather insights from women working in PR and communications worldwide. The survey, available in five languages, explores topics such as flexible working, harassment, career progression, and barriers to leadership positions. GWPR co-founder Sue Hardwick emphasizes the importance of the survey in understanding the challenges women face in the industry and finding solutions to promote gender equality. The survey is open until August 31 and is supported by leading industry partners. Key areas of focus include:- Impact of flexible and hybrid working on women- Harassment in the workplace- Career progression and barriers to senior roles- Breakdown of women in senior roles across industry sectors- Effect of career breaks on career progressionBy participating in the survey, women in the industry can contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities for growth, ultimately driving positive change.The Global Women in PR Annual Index has garnered support from a coalition of industry heavyweights, including Zeno, Havas Red, Opinium, ICCO, and Shout! Communications. This collective backing demonstrates a shared commitment to empowering women in the PR and communications sector and driving meaningful change.