Supporting The IPA’s New ‘Reimagine’ Agenda – A Ringing Endorsement for Responsibility in Advertising

Today’s opening speech from the IPA’s new president, Nigel Vaz, was warmly received at the annual members’ lunch where he revealed his new ‘Reimagine’ agenda to help businesses grow and prosper through greater relevance.

For us here at the AA, it was heartening to hear the focus on the three R’s for agencies of role, revenue and, most pertinently, responsibility. Nigel talked about the importance of the UK agency community playing its part in tackling the issues of trust in advertising, something which has implications for all parts of our UK advertising industry. He referenced the publication of the Trust paper at the ISBA conference and pointed to more focus and actions around helping IPA membership take part to future-proof the advertising industry.

During the speech, we also reminded us all of the strengths of the UK advertising sector, its role as a jewel in the crown of the UK’s creative industries and the huge opportunity to export more as a world-class advertising hub. This chimes strongly with the work our Promote UK group is doing in partnership with the Department of International Trade to support the profile of UK advertising at major industry events around the world including Cannes Lions this summer. It was very interesting to hear of plans to turn the IPA’s own training programme into a world-standard MBA that will benefit all parts of our industry – clients, agencies and media. A massive opportunity to set the standard for advertising for the rest of the world to aspire to.

Nigel’s background in technology and business consultancy will surely prove invaluable as he leads the next two years’ agenda for the IPA, working closely with Paul and the team and we’re very much looking forward to working in partnership to help deliver on the new Reimagine agenda.

For more on the new IPA President’s Reimagine agenda, visit the IPA site here.