Believe everything you read and you might be forgiven for thinking WPP is a busted flush but it seems the agency group is still winning friends in high places after chief marketing and corporate affairs officer Michael Frohlich has been appointed co-chair of the influential joint government and industry forum that promotes UK creative industry exports and secures investment.
Frohlich and co-chair, Francesca Hegyi, the CEO of the Edinburgh International Festival, will be joined on the Creative Industries Trade & Investment Board by the UK’s foremost leaders from across the 12 key creative industries including film, TV, gaming, design, music, publishing, fashion and the performing arts.
Together they will develop and deliver a three-year strategy to boost the global value and competitiveness of UK creative exports.
The creative industries are rapidly changing and growing, and the new council format seeks to be more representative of the sectors as they are now, while strengthening the partnership it has with industry. This includes prioritising regional representation and addressing the concerns and challenges of the sector within the UK as well as growing exports as the third largest creative services exporter in the world.
The Sector Plan outlines a vision to increase business investment in creative organisations from £17bn to £31n by 2b035 and help creative businesses grow and create jobs.
Frohlich said: “The UK’s creative industries are an immense source of economic strength and cultural influence, so I’m excited to co-chair the new Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board. Alongside Fran Hegyi and a pan-industry group representing everything from TV and games to fashion and the arts, our mission is clear: to champion our creative industries internationally.”
Minister for trade policy Chris Bryant added: “Our creative industries are world-leading, and we’re championing them as a cornerstone of growth in our modern Industrial Strategy. A revamped Creative Industries Trade & Investment Board will help strengthen our international trading relationships, boost exports and attract inward investment to grow our economy. Congratulations to Francesca and Michael on becoming our new co-chairs – their experience and passion will be invaluable.”
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