IAB Chief Guy Phillipson to Leave in January

In the UK, IAB Chief Executive Guy Phillipson is stepping down from the role next January, after twelve years heading the industry body. He says he plans to stay involved in the media sector through advisory and non-exec roles.

Phillipson (pictured) joined IAB (Internet Advertising Bureau) in 2005, having previously spent six years at Vodafone as Head of UK Advertising, before which he was Marketing Communications Manager at Barclays Bank, and Advertising and Promotions Manager at Granada/Visionhire.

In the last decade, the UK online advertising industry has grown from £825m to £8.6bn (2015), and Phillips is credited with having transformed the organisation into a free resource for marketers, encouraging best practice and setting standards for audience measurement, brand safety, and ePrivacy through the global AdChoices programme; while also launching the IAB's Engage conference.

IAB Chairman Richard Eyre comments: 'Guy has transformed the IAB, creating a model trade organisation of 1200 businesses which has played a consistent role in building confidence in online marketing. He has achieved this with tenacity, humanity and a lot of laughs. His place in the history of online advertising is assured. We'll all miss him, but he's played a blinder'.

The organisation will consider internal and external applications for the position of CEO, with a view to appointing a successor before the end of the year.

Web site: www.iabuk.net .