This year’s PRCA Awards recognised the work of Inmarsat’s communications leader for his work as spokesman for Inmarsat, dealing with the search for the tragic Malaysia Airlines flight that went missing in March.

The leaders of the PR world gathered at the PRCA Awards 2014 at the Hilton Park Lane on Tuesday evening, in a ceremony hosted by Jamie Theakston.

Proud to announce Inmarsat's Chris McLaughlin has won the #PRCAawards Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award pic.twitter.com/XtXvB1jn95

— Inmarsat (@InmarsatGlobal) November 11, 2014

Chris McLaughlin, Inmarsat’s Senior Vice President, External Affairs & Marketing Communications, was handed the Mark Mellor Award for outstanding contribution to the PR industry, named after Firefly’s late MD Mark Mellor, whose PR career was cut short in 2012, aged 49.

The award recognised Chris’ role as Inmarsat spokesman during the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, while also being a valued member of the PRCA’s PR Council, the think-tank of the Association.

The award was handed to Chris by Firefly Communications Group CEO Claire Walker, Mark Mellor's widow. She said:

“This award is for the PR industry’s unsung heroes and heroines. Those who support from behind the scenes, keeping calm, sticking to long-term goals and commitments, just resolutely getting on with what needs to be done and making real progress. This is about going above and beyond your remunerated position; it’s about giving time and effort for the good of the PR industry. But clearly, only the most highly regarded and respected PR professionals could be recipients.

“Any PR career is all-consuming, but for Chris, 2014 was the year he found himself in the midst of the MH370 crisis, with speculation and rumour abounding. Despite the intense pressure, he still found the time to be a valued member of the PRCA’s PR Council. This is why he is a worthy winner of The Mark Mellor Award. Chris made time and gave effort for the industry, alongside his unrelenting schedule and the exigencies of his day job.”