Richard Thomson, nominated by the NS, will represent Regional Publications and is replacing outgoing member Chris Pennock, MD of Johnston Press’ South Midlands Publishing Unit. Tim Brooks (pictured) has been nominated by the PPA and will represent Business Media. Jo Hughff, an ISBA nominee, completes the Board’s Advertiser representation. All three new board members have extensive industry experience.
With a media career spanning almost twenty years, Richard Thomson currently holds the position of Group Newspaper Sales Manager at Newsquest Media Group, having previously held a number of senior positions with Associated Newspapers.
Tim Brooks is the CEO of BMJ Group and has had a lengthy career at the highest levels of the media industry in the UK, US and Australia. Brooks previously held the position of Managing Director at The Guardian and The Observer, and was the founding editor of Media Week in 1984.
Jo Hughff has worked at Proctor and Gamble since 1997. Having joined the organisation in a product supply role before moving into marketing, Jo now holds the position of Senior Media & Communications Manager.
The three new members complete the eighteen-strong ABC board, which meets five times annually to oversee ABC company decisions.
Jerry Wright, Chief Executive, ABC comments: “I am delighted that Jo, Tim and Richard have joined the ABC board and welcome their unrivalled understanding of the global publishing sector along with their vast experience in both general management and the buying and selling of media.”
About ABC
ABC says: “ABC is governed by the media industry, for the media industry and is the expert at setting data and process standards across multiple platforms. ABC provides a stamp of trust for media buyers, media owners, publishers and digital traders working in existing and emerging platforms.
The ABC Board consists of 18 media owners, media agencies, advertisers and trade body members – with 25 per cent of the Board representing the digital sector. The Board make strategic decisions as to how ABC is run and each industry sector is represented by a Reporting Standards Group.
ABC was established in the UK in 1931 and is a founder member of the International Federation of ABCs (IFABC), of which ABC CEO Jerry Wright is President. ABC’s digital arm was established in 1996 and was united with ABC under one brand with a new identity and integrated structure in March 2011. ABC works to deliver common international standards for measuring digital reach, engagement and loyalty, as well as creating common standards for good practice throughout the industry.
JICWEBS is the Joint Industry Committee for Web Standards. This industry-owned organisation meets 4 times a year to provide credibility, comparability and transparency for digital measurement. ABC audits digital media to these industry-agreed standards and accredits other digital service providers across the industry. Representatives on JICWEBS encompass all areas of the industry including advertisers, agencies and media owners from the following trade bodies: IPA, IPA digital, ISBA, AOP, IAB, NS, NPA.”
