Posted: Thu., Jun. 4, 2009, 2:24pm PT

Philip Berk named HFPA president

Foreign Press veteran elected to seventh term

By Dave McNary

Berk

Philip Berk has been named president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. for the year 2009-10, succeeding Jorge Camara.

The HFPA made the announcement Thursday following the org's annual election meeting.

Berk, an HFPA member for 32 years, will be serving his seventh term as president. He's a correspondent for FilmInk (Australia) and Galaxie (Malaysia).

Hans Spurkel was elected VP and Meher Tatna was tapped as executive secretary. The new board of directors comprises Camara, who's chairman, Ali Sar, Ruben Nepales, Theo Kingma, Armando Gallo and Frances Schoenberger (alternate).

The HFPA oversees the Golden Globes while Dick Clark Prods. produces and NBC broadcasts the event. The parties have a contract that runs until 2011 to produce the show on the Peacock network.