The IPA has boosted its leadership teams with three key appointments, designed to provide valuable guidance and expertise to its wider agency community as the industry continues to recover from the pandemic.
OMD chief operating officer Christian Byron takes over as IPA Commercial Leadership Group chair from Marc Nohr, following four years in the post.
Having started his career jointly running a small publishing business alongside spells at the British Council and BBC, he joined OMD UK’s Investment team in 2001.
Working across a range of trading functions, he also developed the agencies market intelligence output and led systems development for the team before being promoted to head of investment in 2013. Byron was promoted to COO in 2018.
For his IPA agenda, Byron will be focusing on helping IPA agencies to achieve sustainable growth, with a key platform being be the IPA Business Growth Conference that takes place this year on July 6 at County Hall, London.
Meanwhile, Gill Jarvie succeeds David Shearer as IPA Chair for Scotland, while James Ray replaces Mike Leeson as IPA city head for Bristol, Cardiff and the South West.
Jarvie is a director at Republic of Media, and heads up client service in the Edinburgh office, also spearheading the Scottish Government account. In her new role she will represent Scottish agencies at the IPA Council.
Ray, who has previously held several roles at the IPA including as a council member, is CEO of CRM agency Armadillo, having joined as account executive in 1996.
Both Jarvie and Ray will serve as figureheads for the industry in their areas.
IPA director general Paul Bainsfair said: “I’m delighted to welcome Christian, Gill and James into their new positions. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Marc, David and Mike for their years of dedication and service to the IPA.”
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