Roberts steps down from DMA

The DMA has confirmed that director of public affairs Caroline Roberts – a leading force in the direct marketing industry’s fight against tougher regulation for over a decade – has stood down from her role.
The vast majority of her duties have already been folded into former chief of operations Mike Lordan’s responsibilities; he recently became director of external affairs.
Well connected on the political scene, Roberts has been widely credited with building bridges between the direct marketing industry and Whitehall over the past decade.
She has also been one of the key figures in the UK marketing industry’s challenge to the EU data protection reforms, still making their way through Brussels. Roberts spearheaded the UK’s response to the proposals, working closely with the likes of the Advertising Association, ISBA and the UK Government.
An active member of the Conservative Party, Roberts started her career in the House of Commons, spending nine years working for the late Ray Whitney, who was MP for Wycombe, and Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Lawson.
In the late Eighties, she took up the role of director of public affairs at the Brewers & Licensed Retailers Association, staying for over 11 years and guiding the industry through huge change.
Roberts joined the DMA in June 2011. It is understood she is currently carrying out some consultancy work, but continues in her role as an independent custody visitor for the Metropolitan Police, of which she is a former panel chairman. She is also deputy chairman of governors/chairman of the curriculum committee at Garratt Park School in Wandsworth.