The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising has named Geoffrey
Russell, the Radio Advertising Bureau’s company secretary, to succeed
John Raad, who retires as deputy general secretary in four months’
time.
Although Russell, 47, will not officially be appointed as understudy to
Nick Phillips, the IPA’s director-general, the appointment marks Russell
out as a leading candidate to succeed him when he retires in 2001.
Russell will take over Raad’s role in overseeing the IPA’s media policy
group and represent agency interests in negotiations with other
organisations such as the actors’ union, Equity.
In Phillips’ absence he will also ensure the smooth running of the IPA
council as well as taking on his role as the trade body’s principal
spokesman.
Russell’s appointment ends a four-month search through headhunters for
somebody to fill the gap created by Raad’s forthcoming departure from
the IPA after 22 years.
He was chosen ahead of three candidates shortlisted for the job, which
he will start in January.
His 25-year career spans spells with client companies and agencies and
includes a six-year stint at the RAB. As director of special projects,
he was a leading figure in the radio industry’s successful initiative to
get the Government to scrap ’wealth warnings’ in mortgage
advertising.
Russell began as a marketer at Procter & Gamble, working on brands such
as Fairy toilet soap, Flash and Ariel. He later switched to
McCann-Erickson as an account director on Van den Bergh and Nestle
before joining the then AAP Ketchum where he handled the National Dairy
Council and Schweppes.
Phillips said: ’Geoffrey has the right mix of experience of top
advertiser and top agency. We feel very lucky to have somebody with such
a wide-ranging background.’
