FDH Financial Holding’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Thomson Mpinganjira, has become the first to win the newly introduced Honorary Fellow award introduced by the Public Relations Society of Malawi (PRSM) to recognise outstanding individuals in public relations in Malawi.

Mpinganjira was nominated for the award by PRSM members largely because of his group of company’s corporate social responsibility programme as well as exceptional contributions to the country PR industry.

It was presented during PRSM’s annual PR Conference which took place in Mangochi from November 28 to 30, 2019.

Chairperson of the PRSM awards committee, Thom Khanje, said Mpinjanjira was identified through nominations received by the committee from PRSM members following the introduction of the awards on November 11 this year.

He said Mpinjanjira scored highly in evaluations by the judges which looked at both the number of nominations received as well as reasons cited by the nominators.

“From the nominations and citations received, it was clear that Dr. Mpinganjira deserved the award,” said Khanje.

Some of the reasons cited included FDH’s huge social investment programme, which includes landmark sponsorships of the Malawi national football and netball teams, as well as regular donations in health and educations needs of various rural communities in Malawi.

Mpinganjira was at loss of words after receiving the award, stating it was one of the biggest honours he has received in his life.

“I’m humbled, I didn’t expect it at all,” he said.

The Honorary Fellow award was introduced by PRSM to recognise an individual from within or without the society in recognition of outstanding contribution and service to the Malawi’s PR industry and demonstration of “the values, ethos, spirit and principles that are valued in the PR profession in other public undertakings”.

Another honour conferred during the conference was the PR Profession of the Year Award which recognises one of PRSM’s members for outstanding practice in their work.