COI Chief Leaving to Set Up Own Venture

In the UK, the Central Office of Information's Chief Executive Mark Lund is to leave in May after two years in the role, to set up a new private sector company.

Commenting on his impending departure, Lund said: 'I am proud of what we have achieved in the last two years, but I can't escape the fact that I am at heart someone who wants to run their own business more than anything else.'

COI exists to provide marcoms services to Government departments and the public sector. Last May, the Government froze all but essential COI advertising and marketing activity, and later in the year, it cut 40% of COI's headcount.

Lund has recently been involved in a Government review of the COI's future, conducted by Matt Tee, the Permanent Secretary for Government Communications.

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude stated: 'Mark has done an excellent job as COI Chief Executive and his skills will be missed in Government. I wish him the best of luck with his new venture.'

Before joining, ad agency veteran Lund was CEO of Delaney Lund Knox Warren (DLKW) and Chairman of the Advertising Association. He began his career as an Account Management Trainee at Lintas, since when he has held senior roles at Collett Dickenson Pearce and Euro RSCG. He joined Delaney Fletcher Bozell in 1995 as MD, and in 2000 he and his partner Greg Delaney led a management buy out to form DLKW.

The COI, which has begun the process of recruiting Lund's successor, is online at www.coi.gov.uk .