Ad industry welcomes new culture secretary appointment
The advertising industry has welcomed the appointment of Maria Miller as culture secretary, adding that the former ad agency boss and Texaco marketer’s experience of the industry should provide “vital” insight into the needs of the sector.
Miller was moved from her junior minister role in the department for work and pensions as part of David Cameron’s first major reshuffle earlier today (4 September). She replaced Jeremy Hunt who has taken over from Andrew Lansley as health secretary.
Before entering parliament in 2005, she was director at Rowland Group, latterly Publicis Consultants, for four years. Prior to this, she had two stints at WPP ad agency group Grey split by a four-years as a marketing manager at oil giant Texaco.
She will take on an extensive brief at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport including oversight of creative industries, media standards, broadcasting, tourism and the UK’s digital development.
The DCMS has adopted a hands-off approach when dealing with the advertising industry under Hunt’s stewardship, expressing its support for the self-regulatory system overseen by the Advertising Standards Authority.
Reacting to the appointment, ISBA – the self proclaimed “voice of British advertisers” – says it hopes to continue its “productive relationship” with the department.
Ian Twinn, ISBA’s director of public affairs, adds: “Not only is Maria an energetic and engaged minister, but she has vital personal knowledge and understanding of what advertising can do… and what it cannot.”
A spokesman for the Advertising Association says: “We look forward to discussing with her advertising’s role as a driver of economic growth and its important position among the UK’s creative industries.”
Read Marketing Week editor Ruth Mortimer’s view on Miller’s appointment here.
