UKOM appoints RAB’s McArthur as chairman

UKOM, the online measurement body, has appointed Douglas McArthur, former CEO and founder of the Radio Advertising Bureau, as chairman.

UKOM

He takes over from former chairman Mark Cranmer, who stood down from the role earlier this year to join Aegis Media’s digital agency network Isobar as CEO. McArthur has been assisting UKOM in a consultancy role since Cranmer’s departure.

MacArthur spent 14 years heading the RAB and in May 2006 he launched marketing consultancy Planning for Results.

The appointment comes ahead of UKOM’s launch of its universal online planning system in January.

UKOM appointed the Nielsen Company in September 2009 as its official partner to deliver an industry-agreed online audience measurement system, which will allow advertisers and their agencies to plan online campaigns targeting specific audiences.

The appointment comes as rival web measurement firm ComScore draws up plans to launch its own online measurement currency with ABCE (nma 8 October 2009).

McArthur said, “Advertisers have been calling for a consumer-centric planning system for their investments in areas like digital display. I aim that under my chairmanship UKOM will deliver what they asked for: a planning system for digital display, digital video and mobile.”

Guy Phillipson, IAB CEO and UKOM director, said, “Douglas’s broad experience and mature approach is just what UKOM needs as we prepare to launch the UKOM Audience Planning System in just a few months.”

This story first appeared on newmediaage.co.uk