IPA launches new Digital Business Group, co-chaired by LBi UK CEO Anil Pillai
London: The IPA has launched a new Digital Business Group, to be co-chaired by Anil Pillai, CEO of LBi UK and Chris Thurling, Managing Director of 3Sixty, and supported by new IPA Digital Business Consultant Brian Hoadley.
The Group will represent and promote a holistic approach to the provision of digital services spanning design and build, data and technology platforms, and marketing communications. It will also champion the awareness, professionalism and profitability of this sector via a programme of dedicated qualifications, collaborative marketing for talent, and educating clients and their procurement teams.
Additional members of the Group will include: Anna Watkins, Managing Director, Grand Union; Caroline Margolis, Head of New Business, VML; Charlie Wolcott, Human Resources Director, Syzygy Group; Susanne Jones, Managing Director, Critical Mass; William Makower, Managing Director, Panlogic; and Lee Woodard, Director of Client Services, Sapient Nitro.
Says Anil Pillai: “As the digital industry continues to go from strength-to-strength now is the perfect time for the IPA to be launching the Digital Business Group to address the issues arising from the sector’s on-going growth. I’m looking forward to the challenge of helping to bring new-found rigour to this dynamic and fast moving industry — in particular setting creative benchmarks for design & build agencies and implementing new standards for user-experience. As Co-Chairman I will also ensure that the Digital Business Group tackles the common issues faced across our businesses and supports initiatives to bring fresh talent in to the sector.”
Says Chris Thurling: “I am delighted to become the Co-Chairman of the new Digital Business Group. I think it’s a great opportunity for me to contribute to this new initiative from the perspective of the smaller, independent digital agency sector. Digital is rapidly re-defining what it means to be involved in the advertising business. It’s broadening the talent pool from which we need to draw and blurring the boundaries with other disciplines. In founding the DBG I think the IPA is showing its commitment to staying relevant in an industry that is going to look very different five years from now. As well as contributing to the wider debate about the impact of technology on advertising, I hope that the DBG can help raise professional standards within what is still a relatively fledging sector and contribute to attracting new talent from a diverse range of backgrounds into the industry.”
Says Brian Hoadley: “With the ubiquitous nature of digital, the IPA’s launch of the new Digital Business Group comes at an exciting time. Initially focussing on User Experience and Project Management, I believe the IPA can act as a focal point in the facilitation and provision of industry support and in driving up professional standards. We intend to work with our membership in a drive to attract new talent, create innovative training courses, and create a new set of professional digital policies and standards. I look forward to working with the dedicated and experienced group of professionals at the IPA and our digital agency membership.”
Biographies:
Anil Pillai
Anil joined LBi in 1996 and is now UK CEO, responsible for the day to day running of the agency with a single-minded focus on top-line growth, client development, new business success and LBi’s external brand profile. He is Client Sponsor on the Lloyds Banking Group account, is one of the longest standing members of the Galaxy Board, providing strategy and advice across their £120M year digital change programmes, and continues to provide executive leadership to key client engagements such as BT and Ericsson. Last year Anil oversaw the company’s new business wins, including Virgin Atlantic, Compare the Market, E-ON and Coca Cola. Anil also sits on the European Ad:Tech advisory board and is a consultant to the IPA for digital effectiveness and agency development.
Chris Thurling
Chris Thurling is the Managing Director and founding partner of 3Sixty, a 15-year-old independent digital agency based in Bristol. 3Sixty specialises in the travel and financial services sectors with clients including Deutsche Bahn, High Speed One, three major UK Airports, AXA plc and Cofunds (part of L & G). Chris is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a member of the IPA Digital Creative Group, the board member with responsibility for digital at Bristol Media and an occasional lecturer at Bristol University on digital marketing.
Brian Hoadley
Brian is a senior-level User Experience Strategist with 23 years experience in the digital and telecommunications industries, 11 years of which involve senior and board level management, consultancy, and thought leadership delivering to private and public sector clients. His previous positions have included: Senior Business Architect at Syzygy UK, Founder and Managing Director of phunQube, Head of Innovation & Product Design at Directgov, User Experience Advisor at the COI/Cabinet Office, andHead of User Experience at BBC DMI. He is currently consulting at BSkyB as a UX Strategy Consultant for Sky Creative.
In addition to the IPA Digital Business Group the IPA also runs the IPA Digital Media Group and the Digital Creative Forum. The IPA Digital Media Group’s remit is to raise the digital standard, share knowledge among members of the IPA about digital issues, and to represent the agency perspective in the digital media arena. The IPA Digital Creative Forum seeks to raise the digital standard most notably by improving the creativity, accountability and integration of interactive advertising.
The first meeting of the IPA Digital Business Group will take place on 4th August.
Visit the IPA website at http://www.ipa.co.uk.
Tags: Anil Pillai, digital business group, digital services, ipa, marketing communications, technology platforms
