Omnicom names IPC board director as UK media chief exec

Omnicom has poached IPC Media board director Phillipa Brown to take on the new role of chief executive of its Omnicom Media Group UK. The parent company was set up the group last September to house its two media networks, OMD and PHD.

It is not clear when Brown will take over the role. She will work closely with OMD UK chief executive Steve Williams and PHD chief executive Morag Blazey, both of whom will report to her.

Brown’s role at IPC has been taken over Fiona Dent, who was previously publishing director at lifestyle magazine, Wallpaper.

It is thought that a number of high profile figures in the media industry were approached to take over the role including Mark Cramner, chief executive of WPP’s Research International and former Starcom Mediavest European chief.

Brown, who is managing director for IPC Direct, IPC TX and IPC , has been at IPC since 1997, when she joined as group marketing director. She was appointed to the board in 2002.

She started her career as a media planner and buyer at DMB&B before moving to Bartle Bogle Heagary to join the media department, which was then headed by Richard Eyre. She is married to BBH media director Kevin Brown.