Esomar Promotes to Fill CEO Role

Global association Esomar has appointed Patrick de Regt as Chief Executive Officer - he is promoted from COO, a role he has held since joining the organisation six months ago. The organisation is also seeking to appoint for a new Chief Profession and Advocacy Officer role.

Esomar says De Regt has already played a key role in 'organisational transformation, operational alignment and execution' across its business. Under his leadership it now plans to focus on member experience, operational excellence, digital transformation and 'a more agile, future-ready organisation.'

De Regt brings more than twenty years' experience across operations, organisational development, digital transformation and business strategy. He spent seven years as Director of Business Development and then Head of Operations at ad agency Euro RSCG, now part of Havas; and for a decade and more divided his time between working as Managing Partner of Dutch mission-based digital agency Poet Farmer, and as co-founder of business incubator firm Marktgroep BV. Prior to joining Esomar he was interim Head of Operations and HR at ATNi (the Access to Nutrition initiative).

He holds a degree in Social and Organisational Psychology from Utrecht University and has completed multiple executive programmes at the Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland.

'As we continue strengthening Esomar's role in standards, advocacy, AI and responsible innovation, this appointment is an important step in preparing the organisation for the future,' says its President Anne-Sophie Damelincourt. 'Patrick brings the leadership, operational expertise and transformation experience needed to help us deliver greater value for members and support a more connected and responsive global organisation.'

The new Chief Profession and Advocacy Officer role will oversee areas including professional standards, advocacy, public affairs and ethical guidance, while leading its work with regulators, associations and institutional partners worldwide. The officer will also help advance Esomar's ongoing work around AI, trust and the future of the profession.

Eighty years old next year, Esomar has over 9,000 members in more than 750 companies and 130 countries. The organisation is online at www.esomar.org .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.