Poppy McKenzie Smith is the new chair of MICA, having taken over at the start of 2022 from Mark Harrison who helped launch the Motor Industry Communicators Association last year.
A Ford press officer and freelance journalist, Poppy will steer MICA as it embarks on a year of training and networking opportunities to support industry colleagues.
Hard on the heels of winning the Guild of Motoring Writers’ young PR professional of the year award, Poppy is leading MICA with executive committee members Richard Gotch, Richard Gadeselli and Mark Harrison.
“Congratulations to Poppy and I look forward to continued work with her and the committee as we build MICA and its influence within the automotive communications world,” said Mark (pictured with Poppy).
“I am really grateful to everyone who has been involved in helping us launch MICA in 2021. Not the easiest year in which to launch, but the foundation is there to make MICA an influential support service in our industry.
MICA’s 2022 priorities are to provide fellow motor industry communicators with workshops and other events to further their development and network of peer contacts.
Poppy said: ““I am delighted to be taking the reins for MICA this year, and I look forward to building on the work done by Mark and the entire committee in 2021. We are building a calendar of unmissable masterclasses, networking opportunities and social meetups for 2022, all of which will help us in our goal of supporting our fellow communicators in the motor industry.”
MICA’s executive committee meets with other volunteer supporters online weekly. Three or four times a year the group comes together in person at automotive-related venues of interest, and these meetings plus networking (pub going) afterwards are open to members.
To become a member of MICA go to https://www.mica.org.uk/join-us/ and to join the committee, or offer another service or contribution, email info@mica.org.uk.