Rule-making ad bodies looking for new chairman

The self-regulatory bodies that write up the codes of advertising are on the hunt for a new chairman now that incumbent Andrew Brown is to step down.

Brown has chaired the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) since 1999. He played a key part in the negotiations that saw the ’contracting out’ of broadcast advertising regulation from Ofcom as a consequence of the Communications Act (2003) and the setting up of the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP).

He has chaired CAP and BCAP through the extensive review of the advertising codes that were announced in revised form earlier this year.

Andrew says “It is time to hand over to a new generation; advertising self-regulation has changed dramatically over the last ten years in both content and remit. This process needs to continue as the business faces the challenges posed by new media.”

One of the big issues for the regulators and the body that polices the code, the Advertising Standards Authority, is the challenge presented by the internet.

CAP has been boosting promotion of its services in an effort to improve awareness and reduce complaints in recent months.

Brown will stand down at the end of March 2011 and Sir Chris Powell, chairman of the Advertising Standards Board of Finance (Asbof), will be responsible for appointing his successor.