Advertising Association appoints Unilever’s Keith Weed as president

Weed takes over from former Camelot CEO Andy Duncan, and will focus on the ad industry’s relations with government and SMEs, as well as rebuilding trust in the sector.

Unilever marketing boss Keith Weed

The Advertising Association (AA) has named Unilever marketing chief Keith Weed as its new president.

Weed, who will take over from former Camelot CEO, now the boss of Travelopia, Andy Duncan from September, will help to guide the strategic direction of the AA. Over the the coming year that will include ongoing work with the government and small and medium-sized businesses, as well as rebuilding public trust in advertising.

He will also work closely with chairman James Murphy of adam&eve DDB, and chief executive Stephen Woodford, to head up a council of industry leaders from media owners, agencies and brands.

“It’s an honour to take on the role of president of the Advertising Association at such an exciting time for the industry,” Weed says. “I look forward to working with Stephen and the team to continue to build trust in advertising and cultivate world-class talent across the UK.”

Weed has been chief marketing and communications officer of Unilever for the last eight-and-a-half years, during which time he has led the development of the company’s sustainable living plan, developed its ‘Unstereotype’ initiative and taken a lead in the industry on cleaning up the digital advertising ecosystem.

READ MORE: Unilever’s Keith Weed on why FMCG is like a ‘heat-seeking missile’

He is also chairman of Business in the Community International and a Business in the Community board trustee, president of the History of Advertising Trust, an Effie board director and trustee of Grange Park Opera.

Woodford says: “Keith is a highly influential leader of marketing and advertising on the world stage and his strategic guidance on the biggest issues we face as an industry, not just here in the UK, but as the leading global hub for brands, media owners and agencies could not come at a better time.

“I know he will bring great insight and energy to our work over the coming years. It is a vital time as we work through the digitalisation of our industry, the shifting political sands and the changing expectations of our workforce and the wider society from advertising.”

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