Member Article

IPA elects City figureheads

The IPA has announced the appointment of four new city heads to strengthen the Around-the-UK team, and help deliver the most value to member agencies across the country. They are Peter Craven, Managing Partner, Madhouse, Ben Quigley, Chief Executive Officer, Different, Andy Reid, Managing Director, McCann Bristol and Andrew Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, WAA.

The new appointments, spanning Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and Newcastle, will serve a two-year term and aim to help members in their area access IPA services and participate in locally-based activity. They will also act as spokesmen for their area, raising awareness of relevant issues. All four city heads will be active in meeting fellow member agencies in their regions whose feedback will form a programme of activity for 2013.

Speaking on behalf of all the city heads, Peter Craven said: “It is going to be quite a tough challenge as agency heads have busy lives. We don’t intend to try and change the world, but if we can help to facilitate a few small changes and improvements then it will be a job well done. We are particularly keen to explore the areas of talent retention, training educational seminars and collaboration with other trade bodies for the benefit of our colleagues who are also IPA member agencies.”

The appointments are:

Peter Craven, Managing Partner, Madhouse:

Peter is joint founder and owner of Madhouse Associates, an integrated marketing agency based in central Manchester.

Initially pursuing a career client-side in sales and marketing for the pharmaceutical and computer games industry, Peter was UK Head of Marketing for Sony Psygnosis (part of Sony’s playstation empire). Fortuitously, this where he met Phil Rogerson, his current business partner at Madhouse.

Peter is married with three children and a self-confessed rugby fanatic.

Says Peter: “I want to find out what Manchester IPA members would like to see from the organisation centrally and to be the collective voice to ensure these requests are heard. I am looking forward to taking on this new challenge, and with the support and help of others in the industry, continue to keep Manchester firmly on the creative map.”

Ben Quigley, Chief Executive Officer, Different:

With a background in sales and advertising, Ben Quigley co-founded creative agency Different, in 1999 before becoming Chief Executive in 2011. The agency specialises in integrated marketing communications and is based primarily in Newcastle upon Tyne with an outreach in London.

Ben has overseen Different’s rise to a regionally, nationally and internationally-renowned creative agency, and has collected awards for cross-disciplinary creative and effectiveness including IPA Advertising Effectiveness, Roses, London Internationals, New York Festivals, CIPR Pride and Excellence Awards as well as DMA Direct Marketing Awards.

He lives in Newcastle with his wife and three children where he is a passionate advocate for North East England and holds Non-Executive Northumberland Tourism Board Directorship.

Says Ben: “The IPA city heads aim to create a greater sense of community among members in major cities across the UK outside of London, and to help members get the most from the IPA. I’m all for that, so my motivation as a city head is to fly the flag for ‘excellence’ in Newcastle.”

Andy Reid, Managing Director, McCann Bristol:

Andy bought Strange and Dawson in 2005, before selling it to Harte-Hanks in 2008 where he remained Managing Director, growing the company to a 60+ strong team. He was also a member of the international board at Harte-Hanks and headed up their international agency offering.

Taking the best elements of being a large agency, but combining them with the personal, entrepreneurial approach, Andy is committed to building the reputation of McCann Bristol both regionally and nationally. His prime focus is to put creative excellence at the heart of the agency, ensuring that all clients succeed in their sector so that the agency can continue to generate even better and more award-winning work.

Says Andy: “It’s a real honour to represent Bristol on behalf of the IPA. The city is a gateway to talent in the South West, and I’m committed not only to best practice in the region, but also to helping publicise some of the fantastic work that comes out of it. Ultimately, it’s all about giving other member agencies a voice at a national level to highlight the exciting talent and creative energy that we have. I’m also looking forward to working with my peers throughout the region to ensure their needs are met by the IPA through events and training.”

Andrew Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, WAA:

Andy founded WAA in 1986 and has led the growth in the agency organically as well as through a series of acquisitions. He has built an exceptional specialist team and continues to evolve the agency model in the process.

Working closely with the Cranfield School of Management to maximise commercial returns for clients, he is also an MBA lecturer and fellow of Warwick Business School. Most recently he has used his entrepreneurial experience as non-executive director of several new creative businesses.

Says Andy: “I’m delighted to have been appointed IPA city head of Birmingham. The city has a well-respected, thriving creative community and it’s my intention to help build on this; attracting and retaining talent, working with agencies and clients to share best practice, and ensuring Birmingham continues to be a ‘go-to’ location for national and international brands”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Different Advertising .