ABC appoints former Unilever chief

The Audit Bureau of Circulations has appointed former Unilever marketing chief Jerry Wright as chief executive. He replaces Chris Boyd, who is leaving the role after eight years in November.

Boyd, who is also currently global president of the International Federation of ABCs, has overseen a period of major change at the media measurement body, including the growth of digital media and the introduction of the ABCe.

Wright has been working on a consultancy basis in marketing since leaving Unilever in December 2006 (MW.co.uk, 14 December, 2006). He left the fmcg giant after it sold Birds Eye, where he was brand director, to private equity from Permira. He decided against moving to a new role at Unilever.

He chaired Unilever’s Media Trading Committee for two years between 2004 and 2006, and oversaw the negotiations to move its media planning and buying account from Initiative to Mindshare

He is also a member of the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers Council and has chaired its sustainability working group.