News: Advertising Association boosts management

The Advertising Association, the federation of 30 trade bodies and organisations including the Institute of Sales Promotion, has today (July 17) announced the appointment of Rae Burdon as its chief operating officer.

Burdon, who takes up the role in September, has been a senior account handler at an international level at agencies JWT, Lowe, McCann’s and Saatchi & Saatchi.

He will work alongside director general Peta Buscombe, giving her “time and space” to continue talking to government and industry at a time when the AA is set to “evolve into a very different organisation” over the next few years.

Baroness Buscombe said: “The Advertising Association has never been busier, nor had more significant issues to deal with. We aim to work with government to tackle serious societal problems and demonstrate that advertising is a force for good.

“We have had recent success in resisting harmful restrictions on advertising and we have seen off a threat to ads for BOGOFs. Added to those are issues around direct marketing, the Digital Media Group, new regulations based on EU legislation, gambling, cars and others.

“Meanwhile all around us is an unprecedented pace of change in advertising and in media of all types. We need to make sure that the Advertising Association is proactive and we need to have the resource to achieve that.

“Rae will bring some very valuable experience and achievements in the communications industry, and we are looking forward to having him on board.”

Burdon added: “Peta is creating the right kind of environment at a senior level in government and in industry. I am joining in order to allow Peta time and space to do that, and to help make things happen within that better environment.

“Over the next few years the AA should evolve into a very different organisation, better equipped to look after its members’ interests and to cope with the new demands upon the industry. I’m joining to take up that challenge and that opportunity.”